The introduction of 18K rose gold for Armin Strom’s One Week Skeleton adds warmth and elegance to one of the brand’s most architectural designs.
Armin Strom, a watch brand that is known for highly technical creations, has released one of their iconic timepieces in an 18k rose gold case, adding glamour and luxury to an already beautifully skeletonised watch. As a long-time fan of skeletonised watches, Armin Strom resonates deeply with my appreciation for mechanical watchmaking. From the brand’s Resonance and Dual Time collections, to the more “subdued” One Week Skeleton, the varying degrees of complexity are matched equally by the beautiful skeletonisation work of the movement.
Armin Strom recently gave the Resonance collection an 18k Rose Gold look, which not only enhanced the timepiece’s luxury appeal but also made it more visually appealing. This same treatment has now been given to the One Week Skeleton collection, giving a brand new interpretation of the iconic architectural One Week design.
While the other skeletonised timepieces from Armin Strom showcase mechanical complexity to its highest calibre, the One Week Skeleton, I feel, is the most wearable, while still retaining the openworked concept from the brand and being “a tribute to Mr. Armin Strom’s pioneering artistry in skeletonisation”. As the name suggests, the One Week Skeleton features a staggering 7-day (168 hours) power reserve, which is stored by two large barrels that you can see directly from the dial.
Now, for the very first time in the collection, the One Week Skeleton appears in 18k Rose Gold, giving the timepiece a much warmer character. The use of this material gives the watch a distinctive presence on the wrist, a harmonious balance of technical craftsmanship and precious metal elegance.
Case Design
The One Week Skeleton is presented in a 41mm x 10.60mm case, with a lug-to-lug distance of just 44.35mm, making this technical timepiece a pleasure to wear on the wrist. While the 41mm diameter aligns perfectly with modern watchmaking standards, it’s the 44.35mm lug-to-lug measurement that really defines how the watch wears, allowing it to sit snugly on the wrist, even for smaller wrists.
The 18k Rose Gold material certainly enhances the visual factor of the timepiece, while the case’s polished and brushed surfaces give a refined presence. The fact that the skeletonised framework of the movement has a “darkened” aesthetic, combined with the black textile strap, allows the 18k Rose Gold case to stand out even more prominently.
Dial Design
The skeletonised details of the dial have been carefully thought out so that not only the readability of the dial remains intact, but the essential elements that power the timepiece are in full view. As mentioned earlier, the two large power barrels that deliver the 7-day power reserve are shown at 1 o’clock and 5 o’clock, with the ratchet wheels that wind the barrels also on display. Mirroring the large circular displays is the skeletonised seconds counter at 9 o’clock.
The synthetic rubies (jewels) used throughout the dial add colour outside of the rose gold aesthetic, which, even though it may be subtle, gives the watch more character. The rose gold of the case is also used on the dial elements, such as the bridges for the dual power reserve barrels, the hour indices, and the hands (including the sub-counter hand). Combined with white SuperLumi-Nova, the indices and hands stand out nicely against the darkened skeletonized framework of the movement, which enhances readability of the time.
Movement
At the heart of the One Week Skeleton is the hand-wound Calibre ARM21 movement. This is a reinterpretation of Armin Strom’s first in-house Calibre, the ARM09. The ARM21 Calibre has been designed with functionality in mind, with the 7-day power reserve being the driving force. The movement also operates at a frequency of 3Hz (21,600 VpH), which ensures consistent precision and stability over the extended power reserve.
The designers created this movement to be openworked from the start, which means that all the essential elements, such as the barrel, gear train, power reserve, and regulating organ, are shown on the dial side for a mechanical aesthetic and visual impact. The movement also features highly detailed hand-finishing, such as the hand-polished bevels, Geneva stripes, circular graining, and finely finished screw sinks, demonstrating the brand’s uncompromising attention to detail.
Initial Thoughts
The One Week Skeleton showcases Armin Strom’s skeletonisation philosophy in a more restrained form, making it perfect for those who want a daily wearer with mechanical artistry. The introduction of the 18k rose gold material gives the timepiece a noticeably warmer appearance while adding to the luxurious character of the watch. I personally love the dark aesthetic surrounding the gold elements, as the two colours complement each other perfectly in contrast.
Despite the technical nature of the timepiece, the proportions are perfectly suited to daily wear. With a 41mm case, 10.60mm thickness, and a compact 44.35mm lug-to-lug, the watch naturally hugs the wrist, making it comfortable and well-balanced even over extended wear.
What makes the One Week Skeleton stand out the most, however, is how effortlessly it balances complexity and wearability. It delivers the visual complexity and mechanical beauty expected from Armin Strom, while remaining approachable, refined, and genuinely practical. Limited to just 50 timepieces worldwide, this combination makes this new rose gold version feel like the right evolution of an already iconic design.
Reference: Armin Strom One Week Skeleton Rose Gold (RGW-OW.65)
Specification:
- Dimensions: 41mm x 10.60mm thick, lug-to-lug: 44.35mm
- Case Material: 18k Rose Gold with polished and brushed surfaces.
- Dial: Skeletonised dial with double power barrel display. Constant seconds counter at 9 o’clock. Rose gold indices and hands.
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment.
- Water resistance: 100 meters
- Movement: In-house Calibre ARM21 offering 168 hours (7 days) power reserve while operating at 3Hz (21,600VpH).
- Strap: Black textile strap with 18k rose gold pin buckle.