The "Midnight Purple" story continues at Armin Strom with a bold new chapter. This distinctive colour, deeply rooted in the history of the independent manufacture and inherited from founder Armin Strom himself, now extends beyond the dial and into the movement itself. Expressed through the newly released Orbit Midnight Purple, the signature midnight purple fumé dial remains at the centre of the composition, paired for the first time with a frosted midnight purple mainplate beneath to strengthen the visual connection between display and mechanics.

Powering the watch is the manufacture Calibre ASS20, developed and produced entirely in-house around the world's first on-demand date display on a ceramic bezel. This innovative mechanism rethinks the relationship between wearer and complication by displaying the date only when requested. Activated by a pusher at 10 o'clock, the date hand moves from its neutral position to indicate the current date on the bezel and advances automatically at midnight. A second press returns it discreetly to 12 o'clock, leaving the dial free from unnecessary information.

Beyond its avant-garde functionality, the timepiece focuses heavily on exceptional visual details. Hand-polished steel hands and applied hour markers are filled with Super-LumiNova®, complemented by signature numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock crafted from solid Super-LumiNova® blocks that create a striking visual presence after dark. Housed in a 43.4 mm stainless steel case framed by a black ceramic bezel, the timepiece is completed by a fully integrated stainless steel bracelet, delivering a cohesive fusion of modern sports-luxury and unique aesthetics.

Visible through the sapphire crystal and caseback, the movement highlights Armin Strom's dedication to transparent mechanics and haute horlogerie finishing. The purple mainplate creates a distinctive visual foundation, contrasting with rhodium-coated components and hand-finished finger bridges, while hand-polished bevels, perlage, and circular graining enrich every surface. To ensure both mechanical precision and finishing excellence, each watch is assembled twice. Limited to just 20 pieces worldwide, the Orbit Midnight Purple is one of the most recognisable and collectible expressions of the System 78 collection to date.
 

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The year 2026 marks a historic milestone for the Moritz Grossmann manufactory in Glashütte, as it celebrates the 200th birthday of its visionary founder and namesake, born on March 27, 1826. A genius watchmaker, scientist, author, and initiator of the German Watchmaking School, Grossmann profoundly shaped the craft of horology and the fate of his hometown. Rather than merely imitating historical concepts, the modern manufactory honors his legacy by blending his cutting-edge philosophy with modern engineering. This dedication to technological perfection and exceptional aesthetics cements its place among the world's elite elite watchmakers.

To commemorate this bicentennial occasion, the brand has unveiled its third anniversary special edition: the TEFNUT Silver-Plated by Friction. Debuting on April 29, 2026, this launch presents an exclusive premiere for collectors—the very first time that the sleek TEFNUT model is made available in a stunning 750/000 yellow gold case, alongside a 750/000 white gold version. Both variations pay homage to their heritage by incorporating an "1826" engraving on the balance cock and showcasing a vintage 1875 "M. GROSSMANN" logo on the dial.

At the heart of the timepiece lies the ultra-flat manufactory calibre 102.1, a hand-wound movement measuring just 4 mm in height and 26 mm in diameter. This compact footprint enables the watch to retain its remarkably elegant, low-profile silhouette. The calibre embodies classic Grossmann pillar movement architecture with a 3/5 plate, incorporating his signature raised gold chatons, an optimized mainspring barrel with bilateral jewel bearings, and a stepped balance cock with a micrometer screw. Each component is meticulously hand-finished to ensure absolute technical and visual distinctiveness.

The defining aesthetic feature of this model is its striking dial, which boasts a rare "silver-plated by friction" finish. Executed entirely by hand in the brand's ateliers, a master artisan brushes a specialized paste of silver powder, salt, cream of tartar, and water onto the brass surface to create a velvety, fine-grained texture that beautifully diffuses light. To provide a contemporary contrast, the numerals, minute scale, and historic logo are rendered in a vibrant green hue. Hovering above are extraordinarily fine, hand-crafted lance-shaped hands, polished in gold for the yellow gold model and annealed to a brown-violet tone for the white gold edition. Each variation is strictly limited to just 12 pieces worldwide.

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