Armin Strom Orbit Purple

Based out of Biel, Switzerland, Armin Strom established its own unique aesthetic through their popular Gravity Equal Force and Tribute 1 collections. Dedicated to openworked movements and often unusual complications, the brand’s Orbit captured the attention of collectors for its creativity when it was released a few years ago. Now, Armin Strom returns with an all-new model of the beloved Orbit in a striking purple fumé dial and black DLC case.  

Beyond the striking new color palette, the Armin Strom Orbit Purple reimagines the date function. As the naked eye notices quickly, the date is indicated on the ceramic bezel. What may first appear to be a tried-and-true retrograde is more complicated with the novelty of an on-off monopusher at 9 o’clock. By pressing the monopusher, the owner of this timepiece can watch the date indicator jump from the “off” 12 o’clock position to the current date. This interactivity is facilitated by what the brand calls the “column-wheel date” complication. Typically found on chronograph movements, the introduction of a date function powered by an invisible column wheel helps drive and stabilize the date indicator as it jumps around the dial. 

From the perspective of creativity, it’s rare to see date mechanisms in any other form than their usual date-windows or on the periphery of the dial. As co-founder and master watchmaker, Claude Geisler mentioned, “we wanted to create a new type of date display and function that looks good and reimagines a popular complication. No one had ever created a watch displaying the date with an on/off function of this kind on the bezel. I love it because it’s a fun, exciting way to play with the date indication.”

With short lugs and its black fabric strap, this 43 mm timepiece wears comfortably on smaller wrists. Limited to 20 pieces, the Orbit Purple represents the finest in creative modern watchmaking.