Ever the horological masterminds, the Biel/Bienne-based brand has released two new iterations of its fabled Orbit model — this time in Lime Green and Ice Blue! Both pieces continue to build on the legacy of an industry-first complication.

The 1960s were a fascinating time for the watchmaking industry. Often referred to as a golden age for horology, the decade saw the debut of some of the most important timepieces in history. It was an era when icons like the Rolex Daytona, Omega Speedmaster, and TAG Heuer Carrera and Monaco were just beginning to find their footing, while revolutionary creations like the Seiko Astron would go on to redefine the very future of watchmaking. Amidst the glitz and glam of these legendary pieces, however, stood an unconventional yet masterful watchmaker named Armin Strom, who founded his eponymous brand in 1967.

A pioneer in skeletonization and restoration, Strom built a philosophy around revealing — not concealing — the soul of a watch, proudly pulling back the curtain to showcase the intricate mechanics within. After decades of remarkable (and at times even world-record-breaking) craftsmanship, the brand would eventually be passed on in 2006 to master watchmaker Claude Greisler and businessman Serge Michel. Revitalising the company, they opened Armin Strom’s first in-house manufacture just three years later — yet they stuck with the same guiding principle: to design, build, and embody the soul of a watch from the inside out.

This is what can be found in almost every Armin Strom model – everything from the face of the watch to its very heart is on display. This, combined with design concepts unique to their Manufacture, has resulted in what you see today: the watches of tomorrow, made for today, and unafraid to show exactly what they’re made of.

Adding to this remarkable catalogue in 2022 was the incredible Orbit line, part of a larger series known as System78. What made the Orbit special was its on-demand date display. It used a fixed ceramic bezel and intricate mechanics built into a pointer date mechanism to show the date at the simple touch of a button. But with such a limited initial run, not every haute horlogerie enthusiast had the chance to experience the true brilliance behind this line. In 2025, however, the collection has returned in full force (no pun intended): first in March, with a purple iteration, now joined by striking green and blue renditions.

With an integrated bracelet and openworked dial, the timepiece is an exercise in design principles unique to Armin Strom’s manufacture.

The new Armin Strom System78 Orbit models share the same case dimensions as their predecessors. At 43.4mm in diameter, 44.35mm lug-to-lug, and 12.6mm thick, both pieces are certainly sizeable – yet, given their complexity, they present a surprisingly understated profile. Encased in stainless steel, both watches also feature integrated bracelet setups, offering a noticeably different (and sightly larger) wearing experience to the traditional timepiece – though, given that integrated bracelets are all the rage these days, chances are you’ve encountered one before.

In keeping with Armin Strom’s original vision, the System78 Orbit line isn’t afraid to show it all – shifting the watch dial to the side to present the movement in stunning detail. We’ll get to that a little later, but this doesn’t mean they’ve neglected the dial by any measure. Complete with a smoky fumé finish and offered in either Lime Green or Ice Blue, the former is vibrant and energetic, while the latter feels calmer and more refined by comparison. Regardless, both dials add depth to the openworked design of the System78 Orbit, keeping Armin Strom’s timepieces grounded whilst enhancing their contemporary aesthetic.

Unafraid to show off the heart of the machine, the Armin Strom System78 Orbit’s ASS20 movement is available to see from the dial.

As stunning as it is, the true highlight of an Armin Strom isn’t what’s on the surface, but rather what lies beneath. Without the need to turn the watch over, the movement is fully visible within – the in-house Calibre ASS20. This automatic movement, complete with a micro-rotor, beats at an uncommon 3.5Hz (25,200VpH) and offers a 72-hour power reserve. Its beat rate isn’t the only unusual feature, as the movement also incorporates Armin Strom’s patented Equal Force Barrel. Unlike other watch movements, whose energy and accuracy begin to diminish as the power reserve runs low, the ASS20’s Equal Force Barrel ensures the beat rate – and by extension, the watch’s accuracy – is maintained right up until it stops.

What truly sets the ASS20 apart is its unique complication, the only one of its kind in the modern watch landscape. By pressing the pusher at ten o’clock, the central hand – complete with a pointer shaped like the Armin Strom logo – instantly jumps to the date displayed on the black ceramic bezel. If left active, the hand will advance automatically each day, with a retrograde mechanism that allows it to snap back to the first of the month when needed. At any moment, however, pressing the pusher again will return the hand to its neutral position.

My Thoughts

Do any of you remember The Jetsons? Not much for me, mind you – I wasn’t around when they first aired, and I only had so many sick days from school to catch it on daytime television. However, the cultural impact of The Jetsons still lingers, as the show’s wonderfully 60s-style projections of the future opened many of us up to ideas and creations we never thought possible.

One of the best examples of this spirit in watchmaking is MB&F, which, under the stewardship of Max Büsser, delights in creating wacky yet spectacular Horological Machines to honour his childlike imaginings. I would certainly put Armin Strom in that same category, though; Yes, their intentions are purely horological – to create a mechanically perfect timepiece – but the craftsmanship and engineering they have become renowned for consistently produce watches that look as though they’ve stepped straight out of a piece of science fiction.

With the addition of two more System78 Orbit models, Armin Strom only strengthens that case. Their brilliance seems boundless, and I truly believe that long after we’re gone – when George Jetson is sitting comfortably in his flying car – he’ll be tempted to strap an Armin Strom to his wrist. The timepieces of tomorrow are available today.

References:

  • Lime Green Dial: ST25-OR.05
  • Ice Blue Dial: ST25-OR.21

Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 43.4mm case diameter x 44.35mm lug-to-lug x 12.6mm thickness
  • Case Material: Stainless steel with black ceramic bezel
  • Dial: Openworked with Lime Green/Ice Blue fumé nine o’clock subdial
  • Movement: Automatic Cal. ASS20 with on-demand date pointer retrograde complication & patented Equal Force barrel
  • Power Reserve: 72h
  • Beat Rate: 3.5Hz (25,200VpH)
  • Water Resistance: 50m (5bar)
  • Strap: Integrated steel bracelet with butterfly folding clasp

International RRP: CHF 36,000

Availability: Limited to 20 pieces per reference. See ArminStrom.com for more information.

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