There are watches that tell time, and then there are watches that make you reconsider what a timepiece can truly do. Armin Strom’s Orbit Midnight Purple is for anyone beginning to explore serious independent watchmaking as it is precisely the type of watch that ignites an obsession with horology.
The Orbit first came on to the scene in 2022 as part of Armin Strom’s System 78 collection, recalibrating the humble date complication by moving it from the dial to the bezel. In this new Midnight Purple iteration, that concept brings considerable drama.
Midnight Purple Delivers Unmistakable Personality to the Orbit
The color is to die for – a rich purple fumé sub-dial which extends visually into the movement, where the frosted mainplate and exposed mechanics create a remarkably seamless composition. Beneath the dial, the manufacturer’s ASS20 caliber puts its mechanical architecture on display, including the micro-rotor, column wheel, Equal Force barrel and openworked bridges.
The real party conversation starter on this timepiece is the on-demand date. Push the pusher at 10 o’clock and the central date hand jumps to the corresponding date engraved around the ceramic bezel. Push it again and the hand resets to its resting position at noon, while the mechanical memory wheel continues tracking the date. For new watch collectors, that kind of mechanical theater is exactly what makes independent watchmaking so compelling.
An Entry Point into the World of Serious Horology
The Orbit Midnight Purple serves as an entry-level timepiece by introducing new aficionados to the ingenuity, finishing and unconventional thinking that distinguish independent watchmakers from the mainstream luxury establishment. The gorgeous colors don’t just stop at purple as there are blue and green hues to consider as well. And with its 43.4mm stainless-steel case, integrated bracelet, 72-hour power reserve and 50-meter water resistance, the Orbit remains simultaneously wearable yet still precious.
My Orbit-al Take
Armin Strom proves that an everyday complication can become extraordinary. It is particularly special for emerging watch aficionados eager to understand why collectors become obsessed with mechanical artistry; the Orbit Midnight Purple is a spectacular place to begin.
Triston has covered the global watch industry, including Watches & Wonders, with previous horological coverage for The Manual and other domestic and international publications. His watch journalism and commentary are also syndicated on Yahoo.
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