This is a wristshot of the Armin Strom Orbit wristwatch, worn by its creator Claude Greisler during a meeting earlier this month in Denver.

The Orbit, which debuted in March 2022, represents a lot of firsts, most notably, it’s the first-ever watch with a date function displayed on a bezel. It’s also the first Armin Strom timepiece offered with an integrated bracelet, as well as the Biel-Bienne-based manufacture’s first watch to feature a ceramic bezel.

Built around Armin Strom’s constant force automatic movement architecture, the Orbit caliber has an unusual column wheel configuration — as seen in high-end chronographs — which actuates the date function (not a chronograph function). The date function can be activated on demand by pushing the button located on the case flank at 8 o’clock. Once pushed, the hand instantly jumps the large red arrow-tipped center date hand to the current date by way of pointing to 1-31 on the fixed bezel. If the date needs to be adjusted, additional pushes to the same button at 8 o’clock will correct the day as needed. The date can also be adjusted the more traditional way, by simply using the crown. Although, I cannot see why anyone would want to pull out the crown and set the date that way when it can be done so effortlessly with the push of a button. Making the date-changing experience even better is the fact that each button press will have the smooth and reassuring feel of activating a column-wheel-equipped chronograph.

The Armin Strom Orbit First Edition retails for $29,500 and you can read more about it here and here.

During our meeting, I also took a handful of shots of the Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire which features a Kari V backplate on the dial side.