Skeletonizing by ARMIN STROM Swiss Watch Manufacture

Skeletonizing is the most challenging and the most intricate form of watch embellishment, and at Armin Strom — thanks to the more than forty years’ experience of the company’s founder — also the most traditional one.

To begin with, all the material that is not essential for the mechanical stability of the movement is removed from the plates and bridges by sawing and filing.

The architecture of the movement and the engagement of the wheel train are exposed in this way, and the watch becomes a work of art to be appreciated in three dimensions.

Armin Strom spends around one week on each watch.

The working instruments of the skeletonizer are the fretsaws and countless files, which he himself sharpens for use in his work.

And because skeletonizing involves handwork, all the watches differ from on another in numerous details.