Titanium & Green – Meet Collective’s Take On The Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force (Live Pics & Price)

Independent watchmaker Armin Strom, a true vertically integrated manufacture based in Biel, has long demonstrated its mastery of chronometry. Of course, most of us will remember the mighty complex Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance and its stunning movement. Another watch from the brand that has long caught our attention is the Gravity Equal Force, a watch that is all about delivering stable power to the escapement. Today, by teaming up with Collective Horology, Armin Strom delivers what’s probably the most unique and original take on this technically-advanced watch.

The Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force marked the launch of the System 78 collection, which now also includes the Tribute 1 model. The purest and slightly simpler expression of the work done by the duo at the head of manufacture regarding chronometry, this watch re-engineered one of the most crucial yet often overlooked parts of the movement, the barrel – the source of energy of the movement. The Gravity Equal Force tackles the main problem linked to the barrel – the uneven delivery of torque – by creating a special Geneva stop-work, just like some rare hand-wound movements, but specifically adapted to an automatic movement. Indeed, this watch is also a self-winding piece that features a micro-rotor. If you want a more in-depth and technical look at this model, we encourage you to read this article.

Taking this already impressive watch as a base, Collective Horology, a member-only collective that creates collaboration-based watches, has decided to bring the heat and some boldness to the Armin Strom, by giving it a tactical, almost military look – yet still with high-end watchmaking in mind. The list of evolutions is long – Collective claims that it’s their most customized collaboration yet – and the result is striking, to say the least.

It all starts with the case. Surely, it retains the same design as before, and the same proportions (41mm x 12.65mm). But for the first time in this collection, the case is now made of grade 5 titanium, thus retaining the combination of brushed surfaces and polished accents. As for the habillage, this Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force P.03 for Collective also comes equipped with a new strap, a cool and casual khaki green bi-material rubber-leather strap closed by a titanium pin buckle.

Collective has also extensively reworked the components of the dial, starting with a new black background with Frag guilloche pattern done by Comblémine. Next, the most striking elements are the three signature finger bridges, which have been milled to add some texture and depth. The dial for the hours and minutes receives a new khaki colour, with a matte finish and a black gradient effect. The small seconds subdial is also khaki, with an azurage finish. And there’s more… namely, a new combination of luminous hands and markers. Mostly, the hour markers are now far bolder, filled with SLN and designed with a combination of batons and Arabic numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock – resolutely more modern and sportier.

The back reveals the same in-house Caliber ASB19 as other models from the collection. Wind by a micro-rotor and delivering a comfortable power reserve of 72 hours, its escapement beats at an unusual but well-calculated frequency of 3.5Hz (or 25,200vph) that Armin Strom considers optimal. The movement is designed and produced in-house at the brand’s manufacture in Biel. Like every Armin Strom watch, its ASB19 automatic winding calibre will be assembled twice. After its first assembly, the movement is painstakingly disassembled and each individual part is cleaned, dried, reassembled and lubricated before being meticulously regulated, tested, and returned to the case. And as explained above, it comes with several tricks to improve chronometry.

The Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force P.03 for Collective is now available for orders, exclusively from collectivehorology.com. It is limited to 30 pieces and priced at USD 25,000. More details at arminstrom.com.