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Armin Elements Regulator Watches Hands-On

I've been fascinated by the upcoming collection of Armin by Armin Strom, Elements watch collection (that I previously mentioned here). The four versions are each named by another element, giving us the Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. The very interesting dials are special because they are designed well enough to live with as your daily watch. Reading the unique regulator retrograde displays puts a smile on my face. The watches use modified manually wound ETA Unitas movements, and are very nicely decorated - a hallmark of the Armin Strom watches. The dials have separate indicators for the hours, minutes, seconds, and the date.

I got to spend some time with these watches and check them out a bit. Armin Strom would like me to remind you that these are pre-production prototypes. So the final ones will a have much nicer fit and finish. You can see how nicely the movement is decorated with a unique circular polish pattern. The dial has an intense depth and detailed look. Operating the watch is simple via the crown. One thing that I am not totally happy with is the pusher located at about 10 o'clock that is used to adjust the date. I don't mind a pusher for this function, but I think it should have been protected (so that you don't accidentally press it), and designed to be a bit more attractive. It just looks a bit blase compared to the crown. Otherwise the case is done nicely. The reptile straps are awesome. Thick and very well made. The certainly have that hand-made feel. The extension lip sticking out of the bezel at 6 o'clock is used by Armin should you want personalized initials engraved on the watch.

Pictured is the Armin Elements Air model in its "light and airy" white and blue tones. I quite like the summery look of the watch. Aside from the pink gold cased Fire version of the watch, the Elements collection starts at about $17,600. To get an Armin Strom watch you can contact their US distributor at (724) 263-2286.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Armin Elements Watches

Tags: air, Armin, earth, Elements, fire, regulator, Strom, watch, watch of the day, WatchOfTheDay, water

Armin Regulator Elements Earth Watch Finally Spotted

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

I was quite excited about the Armin (by Armin Strom) Elements watch collection when it was first announced (seemingly a while ago). "Armin" seems to be a more sporty side line to the standard Armin strom collection of watches that is very elegant and traditional in focus. One thing that both lines share is the appreciation for dial skeletonization. You can see the modern style of partial skeletonization on the Elements watch here. The collection comes in a few colors. Each one representing a different Element. The pictured version is "Earth." Though I was initially excited about the line, now I am impressed and really want to get my hands on one of these beauties. One of the major strengths that the Elements watch is its ability to function as a comfortable everyday watch, save for one that looks different than most other everyday watches.

This watch has a titanium case, and here it has been coated in PVD black. The movement is manually wound with a 46 hour power reserve. The regulator display style has a different dial for the hours, minutes, and seconds, while there is also a retrograde date display. I believe that the pusher at 10 o'clock is to change the date. Each Armin Elements watch is part of a limited edition of just 100 pieces. This image indicates that the watch should now be ready for prime time. Price for the pictured version will retail at $18,850.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Armin Elements Earth Watch back

Tags: armin, earth, elements, regulator, strom, watch

Armin Elements Regulator Watch Collection

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

"Armin" is a new branding exercise from the watch maker Armin Strom, who began the brand in 2006. Taking his last name out, he also moves on to much sportier models, maintaining their high level of exclusivity. The new Elements collection is a fascinating line of watches based on a new Armin in-house movement; the Armin Strom calibre ASR07. The movement is a manually wound (with 46 hours of power reserve) regulator movement that includes a date complication. All information is laid out in subdial, with the minutes and date dials using retrograde indicators. The theme involves uses of overlapping circles that together present a partially skeletonized, yet functional display of the time.

The Elements collection focuses on four models. You guessed it, they are the Earth, Wind, Fire, and Air. As such, the color tones of the watch cases, dials, and straps attempt coordinate with their specific elemental theme. Each 43mm wide case is constructed out of titanium, with models like the Fire being plated in gold, and black PVD coating on the Earth model. Each strap is a shaded tone of alligator leather. The look of this limited edition (100 of each model) series is endearing, and consistent enough to look good years from now, even when the techie skeletonized look has officially past its prime.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Armin Elemental Watch collection