Tag: Kari Voutilainen

ArminStrom_GravityEqualForceUltimateSapphireSalmon_1100x667_1

December 17 2025

Armin Strom Reimagines The Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire In Salmon

MRSTATELESS ARMIN STROM, NEW RELEASES 2025, Guilloche, Kari Voutilainen, Skeletonized, Small Seconds 0

Armin Strom expands its Gravity Equal Force collection with a new visual execution: the Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Salmon. While the model’s architecture and mechanics remain unchanged, this latest iteration introduces a salmon-colored, PVD-coated mainplate, adding a distinctive aesthetic variation to one of the brand’s most technically advanced watches.

Part of the System 78 collection, the Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire reflects Armin Strom’s contemporary approach to independent haute horlogerie, combining visible mechanics, innovative engineering, and traditional hand craftsmanship.

Case and Exterior

The watch is housed in a 41 mm stainless steel case with a modern profile that balances sharp architectural lines with comfortable proportions on the wrist. Extensive use of sapphire defines the model, with a sapphire crystal on the front and a sapphire caseback at the rear, allowing an unobstructed view of the movement from both sides.

The Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Salmon is paired with a grey nubuck leather strap, complemented by matching stitching and keepers, which reinforces the technical yet restrained aesthetic of the watch.

Movement and Constant Force Technology

Powering the watch is the in-house Armin Strom caliber ASB19, developed and manufactured at the brand’s facility in Biel. This automatic movement is notable for being the first to integrate a stop-work declutch mechanism within the barrel in combination with a micro-rotor.

This patented system is designed to ensure a constant delivery of force to the balance wheel throughout the entire power reserve, contributing to improved isochronism and timekeeping stability. By limiting the usable portion of the mainspring to its most consistent torque range, the stop-work mechanism helps maintain stable performance, while the compact micro-rotor allows for a slimmer movement profile without compromising winding efficiency. The caliber operates at a frequency of 25,200 vibrations per hour and provides a 72-hour power reserve.

Open Architecture and Visual Design

A defining feature of the Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire is its open architecture, which places the movement at the center of the visual experience. Industrial-inspired bridges, skeletonized components, and exposed mechanical elements dominate the dial side, eliminating the need for a traditional dial.

In this version, the mainplate is finished with a salmon-colored PVD coating, creating a warm contrast with the steel bridges and polished components. The color treatment adds visual depth while remaining aligned with Armin Strom’s technical and contemporary design language.

Hand Finishing and Guilloché Work

Manual finishing remains a cornerstone of Armin Strom’s watchmaking philosophy. Each component of the ASB19 movement is finished by hand, with techniques such as beveling and polishing of the edges, circular graining, Geneva stripes, perlage, and black polishing applied throughout the caliber.

The salmon-colored mainplate is further distinguished by an intricate hand-guilloché pattern, developed in collaboration with independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen. This traditional decorative technique adds texture and refinement, enhancing the visual complexity of the openworked movement without detracting from its technical focus.

Production and Availability

The Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Salmon is produced in strictly limited numbers, with an annual production of 25 pieces. Each watch is assembled twice by Armin Strom’s watchmakers to ensure optimal performance and finishing quality, a process that inherently limits overall output.

The watch is priced at CHF 27,500, positioning it within the high-end segment of independent Swiss watchmaking.

A Glacier On The Wrist: The Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Blue

MRSTATELESS ARMIN STROM, NEW RELEASES 2025, Guilloche, Kari Voutilainen, Skeletonized, Small Seconds 0

Armin Strom continues to redefine mechanical watchmaking with a timepiece that masterfully balances innovation and tradition. The Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Blue, part of the brand’s System 78 collection, is a showcase of horological advancement wrapped in a refined and contemporary aesthetic. As part of a limited annual production of just 25 pieces, this model stands out not only for its technical ingenuity but also for its striking glacier-inspired design.

A New Standard in Constant Force Delivery

At the heart of this timepiece lies a solution to a long-standing challenge in watchmaking: how to deliver constant force from the mainspring to the escapement. The Gravity Equal Force achieves this with a groundbreaking stop-work declutch mechanism integrated directly into the barrel. Unlike conventional automatic watches where power delivery can vary depending on the winding state of the mainspring, this mechanism ensures consistent torque, optimizing chronometric performance over the full 3-day power reserve.

This innovation—visible from the dial side—uses a Geneva cross system that prevents the barrel from fully unwinding, restricting it to its optimal tension zone. As a result, the amplitude of the balance remains more stable, enhancing precision. Armin Strom’s decision to expose this component rather than conceal it underscores the brand’s commitment to mechanical transparency and educational design.

An Architectural Dial Layout

The dial is a carefully composed orchestration of symmetry and depth. On the right, three openworked finger-style bridges are arranged vertically, each securing critical elements of the movement. This visual structure echoes classical pocket watch construction while presenting a resolutely modern face.

The main timekeeping display—off-centered to the left—is formed from light grey sapphire crystal, allowing the wearer to observe the mechanism beneath. A small seconds sub-dial intersects the disc, providing additional dimensionality. All hands are faceted, polished, and filled with Super-LumiNova for legibility in low light.

A notable aesthetic flourish is the mainplate, adorned with a barley grain hand-guilloché pattern. This intricate decoration, produced by Comblémine SA, the dial atelier led by Kari Voutilainen, undergoes a 3D PVD process to achieve its icy blue tone, invoking the serene, reflective hues of alpine lakes and glacial surfaces.

Movement and Finishing

Inside, the watch is powered by the in-house caliber ASB19, an automatic movement with a visible micro-rotor integrated into the dial side. The rotor, secured at 1 o’clock, operates with minimal thickness, allowing the case to maintain a slim profile of 12.65 mm. With a case diameter of 41 mm, the watch wears elegantly across a range of wrist sizes.

The movement is hand-finished to haute horlogerie standards. Features include hand-bevelled bridges, perlage on the baseplate, polished screw heads, and Geneva stripes—all completed in-house at Armin Strom’s Biel-based manufacture. Each movement is assembled twice to guarantee mechanical reliability and aesthetic perfection.

Case and Strap Details

Crafted in stainless steel, the case exhibits alternating brushed and polished surfaces that enhance its structural definition. Sapphire crystals on both the front and back offer an unimpeded view of the movement, inviting enthusiasts to engage with the watch on both an artistic and technical level.

Completing the package is a blue nubuck leather strap with ice blue stitching—a subtle nod to the watch’s wintry theme. This refined pairing contributes to both comfort and visual cohesion.

Limited and Exclusive

The Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Blue is produced in a limited annual series of 25 pieces, emphasizing its exclusivity. It is priced at CHF 27,500, offering collectors a rare combination of mechanical innovation, artisan finishing, and wearable elegance.

Armin Strom Unveils Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire In Rose Gold

Ricardo Amaral ARMIN STROM, NEW RELEASES 2025, Guilloche, Kari Voutilainen, Rose Gold, Skeletonized 0

Armin Strom continues to evolve its high-mechanical Gravity Equal Force series with the introduction of the Ultimate Sapphire Rose Gold edition, blending the technical prowess of the brand’s in-house developments with a refined precious metal case.

At the heart of the 41mm timepiece lies the ASB19 calibre, a self-winding mechanical movement that incorporates Armin Strom’s patented stop-work declutch mechanism. Originally developed in 2019, this technology ensures that torque from the mainspring is transmitted uniformly, contributing to more stable timekeeping throughout the entire 3-day power reserve.

The case is crafted from 18k rose gold, measuring 12.65mm in thickness and 48.09mm from lug to lug. Its surfaces alternate between brushed and polished finishes, highlighting the geometric structure of the design. Anti-reflective sapphire crystals on both sides provide clear visibility of the movement and the architectural composition within.

A standout aesthetic element of this model is the off-centre sapphire dial, which integrates a small seconds display. The transparent dial reveals the mechanics below and is accompanied by rhodium-plated pink gold hands filled with Super-LumiNova for legibility in low light. Positioned between 4 and 5 o’clock, a discreet power reserve indicator offers a practical complication without disrupting the visual balance.

On the left side of the dial, three skeletonized finger bridges secure the visible components of the movement in place. These hand-finished bridges not only emphasize the watch’s openworked character but also offer an unobstructed view into the transmission of energy from barrel to gear train.

The mainplate features a brown PVD coating and is enhanced by a hand-guilloché “grain d’orge” pattern — executed by renowned artisan Kari Voutilainen — providing both visual richness and traditional finishing techniques. The open layout exposes the movement’s gear train and barrel, staying true to the brand’s “Mechanics First” philosophy.

Inside, the Calibre ASB19 operates at 25,200 vibrations per hour and is micro-rotor equipped. Fine decoration techniques such as Geneva stripes, perlage, mirror-polished bevels, and black-polished screws underscore the high level of craftsmanship expected from Armin Strom’s atelier.

Completing the ensemble is a matte brown nubuck leather strap, secured with an 18k rose gold pin buckle that matches the case. The Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Rose Gold is limited to 20 pieces annually and is available at a retail price of CHF 39,400 (plus taxes).

RODA Event: Kari Voutilainen Speaks In Lisbon

MRSTATELESS NEWS 2025, IPR, Kari Voutilainen 0

Next Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, the Instituto Português de Relojoaria (IPR) will host a remarkable RODA event at the Medeiros e Almeida Museum, located at Rua Mouzinho da Silveira 4, 1250-194 Lisbon. This special occasion will feature none other than Kari Voutilainen, one of the most renowned independent watchmakers in the world.

The event will open with a captivating musical performance on the Portuguese guitar and conclude with a customary farewell drink, offering guests a warm and engaging atmosphere to appreciate the artistry of watchmaking.

Kari Voutilainen, celebrated for his exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to traditional watchmaking, is widely regarded as a master of guilloché — the intricate art of engraving patterns on watch dials. His timepieces are known for their unparalleled beauty, precision, and meticulous attention to detail. Voutilainen’s ability to seamlessly blend traditional techniques with innovative design has earned him numerous accolades in the world of haute horology.

This RODA promises to be an unforgettable experience for watchmaking enthusiasts, providing a unique opportunity to hear directly from one of the greatest figures in contemporary watchmaking.

Interested in participating? Register and purchase your ticket here.