Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Rose Gold

Time and space converge in the latest masterpiece of haute horlogerie: the Grand Planetarium Eccentric Meteorite. This extraordinary timepiece is crafted from a genuine meteorite fragment—once part of an asteroid’s core, drifting through space for billions of years before falling to Earth 50,000 years ago. Now, this celestial relic has been transformed into an exceptional watch, uniting cosmic heritage with unparalleled horological innovation.

At the heart of this timepiece lies a groundbreaking complication: the Eccentric Planetarium, the only mechanical Grand Planetary Complication in the world that accurately displays all eight planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth and her Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—moving in real time around the Sun. This breathtaking mechanism captures the celestial dance of our Solar System with unmatched precision, making it a true marvel of both astronomy and watchmaking.

A Celestial Fusion of Science and Art
Master watchmaker Pim Koeslag has meticulously sculpted this timepiece, ensuring that its construction reflects the grandeur of its cosmic origins. The meteorite case, weighing 47 grams, is carefully crafted out of a 1.09 kg space stone. This extraordinary material shaped by the universe itself, features a unique Widmanstätten pattern, formed over millions of years of slow cooling in space, making each case truly one of a kind.

The dial is a celestial spectacle in itself: crafted from aventurine glass (goldfluss), it mimics the night sky, complete with zodiac constellations. The Eccentric Planetarium features hand-painted planetary orbits, while the meteorite dial ring, set between Mars and Jupiter, signifies the asteroid belt and contains real fragments of a martian nakhlite meteorite —a piece of another world encased within this exceptional timepiece.

A Timepiece Beyond Time
Encased in domed sapphire crystal, the 44mm meteorite case showcases the celestial ballet within. The sapphire crystal case-back reveals the movement’s intricate craftsmanship, while the dark blue hand-stitched leather strap and platinum folding clasp complete this cosmic masterpiece.

“The Grand Planetarium Eccentric Meteorite is more than a watch. It is a link between humanity and the cosmos, a way to wear the universe on your wrist,” says Pim Koeslag.

This timepiece is a tribute to time itself. From a star’s death to an asteroid’s journey, from its fall to Earth to its transformation into an exceptional watch—each second it measures is an echo of the vast cosmic history it carries.

An Exclusive, Limited Edition for Collectors
The Grand Planetarium Eccentric Meteorite is available in a strictly limited edition, with a maximum of 3 pieces, depending on the avaibility and quality of the rough meteorite material. So far, Christiaan van der Klaauw has been able to produce only 2 pieces from the available material, making this timepiece an exceptionally rare collector’s item. This extraordinary creation offers the unique opportunity to own a fragment of a star, forever marking the passage of time.

About Christiaan van der Klaauw
Christiaan van der Klaauw is one of the most prestigious watchmaking houses in the Netherlands, specializing in astronomical watches. Founded in 1974, the brand has distinguished itself by its ability to integrate astronomical complications innovatively and artistically into high-precision timepieces. The Grand Planetarium eccentric model is one of its most iconic Grande Complication, representing the quintessence of art and science.

Swiss Prestige, the Hong Kong distributor for Chronoswiss, transformed the XX bar of Rosewood Hotel into a kaleidoscope of horological wonder on June 20th. The exclusive cocktail event, themed "Into the Modern Mechanical with Colors," brought Chronoswiss's "Modern Mechanical" philosophy to life in a multisensory experience.

Instrument de Vitesse, a new opus in the La Fabrique collection, revives the golden age of timed races. This single push-piece chronograph seems to have been plucked from the dashboard of a vintage GT car. It is equipped with a single timing hand – the centre seconds hand – and can time a maximum of one minute. With its sleek and refined retro sports look, Instrument de Vitesse is intended for enthusiasts of watchmaking history and culture. Housed in a 39-mm steel case, its 4.20 mm manually wound Manufacture calibre ensures that the finished timepiece is less than 10 mm thick. Instrument de Vitesse is available with an ivory-white or ebony-black dial in two limited series of 25 timepieces each.

Appearances can sometimes be deceptive. At first glance, Instrument de Vitesse does not appear to be a classic chronograph. With its three central hands, it looks like a watch... with three hands, but the tachymeter scale running around the outer edge of the dial reveals its chronometric function. For this is a chronograph presented in its purest expression, dedicated to timing short bursts – a measuring instrument designed to take average speed readings over a maximum of 60 seconds. This, in turn, casts new light on the crown, which also acts as the chronograph’s single push-piece to set the slender centre seconds hand in motion.

Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, 26 June 2024: Following the inaugural redesigned One Week First Edition that made its debut in 2023, Armin Strom unveils a new version of the successor to its first-ever manufacture movement with the One Week Manufacture Edition. The highly architectural openworked movement, housed in a sleek and sporty steel case with an integrated bracelet, is now presented in a range of grey and anthracite hues. Limited to 100 pieces, the One Week Manufacture Edition foregoes colour to bring out the beauty of its uniquely constructed manual calibre.

15 years ago, independent watchmaking brand Armin Strom took a major leap that would forever change its trajectory. Realising that the path to true independence lies in mastering every step of the process, it established its very own manufacture in Biel. A year later, the first timepiece produced by its vertically integrated manufacture was unveiled: the One Week. Entirely developed and manufactured in-house and designed with symmetrical harmony in mind, it stood out thanks to its unique movement architecture featuring two barrels that together provide a seven-day power reserve. This milestone marked the beginning of many new calibres and innovations by the Armin Strom manufacture, showcasing their dedication to the science of movement and garnering the admiration and respect of even the most discerning and seasoned collectors.

The new One Week Manufacture Edition completely reimagines this milestone calibre in line with the brand’s recent bolder, more three-dimensional approach to calibre design, all in a sleek and serene execution that further highlights its ingenuity and uniqueness. The mainplate, bridges and parts, visible on the dial thanks to the openworked movement design, are anthracite PVD coated for a striking look.

As Armin Strom founder Serge Michel notes: “Collectors who missed the opportunity to get a first edition of the redesigned One Week will now have another chance. The Manufacture Edition of the new One Week will be limited to 100 pieces.”

Sporty yet classy, this model exudes calmness and serenity with its anthracite tones and the symmetrical harmony of its in-house movement.

The 41.5 mm diameter Constant Force Tourbillon 11 watch in 18-carat yellow gold, released by Arnold & Son as a limited edition of 11, is driven by a hand-wound mechanical movement. Equipped with two barrels to give a 100-hour power reserve, this timepiece was entirely developed and built at the manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It is fitted with a constant force mechanism visible on the enamel dial and is regulated by a tourbillon that can be seen on the back. The architecture of this calibre is inspired by that of the timekeeping instrument driven by the first tourbillon created by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1808, based on a chronometer movement designed by John Arnold. This first tourbillon regulator, now in the British Museum, was given to John Roger Arnold by the Paris-based watchmaker in honour of his scientific collaboration and friendship with his father. The Constant Force Tourbillon 11 timepiece, designed to mark the end of the 260th anniversary celebrations of John Arnold’s legacy, pays tribute to the watchmaker’s ingenuity and his close association with Abraham-Louis Breguet.

The greatest watchmakers of the Age of Enlightenment often knew each other. Some of them exchanged views and appreciated each other despite language barriers and political obstacles. And this was the case with John Arnold and Abraham-Louis Breguet. These two watchmakers, undoubtedly the most productive of the second half of the 18th century, forged a friendship that nothing could shake, not even the throes of war between the two countries or the French Revolution. Aware of their respective talents, during Abraham-Louis Breguet’s frequent trips to London between 1789 and 1791, they shared their views and knowledge of the principles of timekeeping, furthering the science of timekeeping, which in their eyes definitely knew no frontiers.