What We Know
Straum has launched a new take on their integrated bracelet sports watch this week, shifting the focus from evoking nature to getting out and exploring. Fittingly named, the Expedition is the first watch in a new collection which Straum is calling “Built For”. This will stand as a second pillar in the brand’s offering, alongside the “Inspired By” collection, under which umbrella all the brand’s previous releases fall.
The most obvious visual cue that something here has changed is the redesigned dial, which swaps the deeply textured, colorful approach of previous Straum releases for a much more utilitarian vocabulary. With bright orange accents, huge amounts of lume, and subtly grained but largely flat dials, the emphasis is less on pure aesthetic appeal and more on legibility and practicality.
The same approach has been taken with the case, which has been redesigned, but again, in largely subtle ways. The Grade 5 titanium case — which measures 38.2mm across, 45.7mm lug-to-lug, and is 11mm thick — has been reworked with broader case flanks, a stepped bezel, and a significantly enlarged screw-down crown meant to be usable in the cold or with gloves on. All together, the Expedition is decidedly new, but still clearly and recognizably a Straum. By default, the new watch comes fitted with a black FKM strap, though a new fully Grade 5 titanium case is also available for a modest upcharge, and since the watch uses Straum’s strap system, any pre-existing straps and bracelets from Straum will fit this watch.
At launch, the Expedition is available in three dial configurations, each of which brings a unique style to the watch. The white dial brings with it a fully luminous treatment, and it is finished with black PVD hour markers and hands. The titanium dial is made of grade 5 titanium, has markers made of white cast lume, and is finished with the same luminous PVD hands as the white dial. The last dial, Midnight Blue, is a special launch edition. Limited to 200 pieces, it is finished in a deep, greyish blue and uses the same white-cast lume numerals as the titanium dial, but swaps the PVD hands for nickel-plated ones.
The Straum Expedition is available for pre-order today, with delivery due starting in March 2027. On an FKM rubber strap, each model is priced at $2,750. That number climbs to $3,100 if opting for the matching grade 5 titanium bracelet.
What We Think
There aren’t many micro-brands that have impressed me as much as Straum over the last few years. They seem to have a remarkably developed and mature identity for a brand that launched its first watch just five years ago, and a character that I’m not sure I’ve experienced anywhere else. Also, their watches are just very, very good. Still, while I’ve been hugely impressed by what the brand has offered thus far, I’ve never been quite so moved as to put my money where my mouth is.
With the Expedition, that could very well change. The move from nature-inspired to fit-for-purpose — and the subsequent change in aesthetic that brings with it — makes a huge difference in the appeal of these watches to me (as does the inclusion of a full lume dial), and I’m really curious to see how I will feel about these watches once I’ve had the chance to see them in person (which will be very soon, so stay tuned).
The Basics
Brand: Straum
Model: Expedition
Diameter: 38.2mm
Thickness: 11mm
Case Material: Grade 5 titanium
Dial Color: White (with full lume), Titanium, or “Midnight Blue”
Indexes: Applied markers, PVD Black or Luminous
Lume: Yes, ample.
Water Resistance: 10 ATM
Strap/Bracelet: FKM rubber or matching Grade 5 titanium.
The Movement
Caliber: La Joux-Perret LJP G100
Functions: Time and Date
Power Reserve: 68 Hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Jewels: 24
Chronometer Certified: No
Pricing & Availability
Price: $2,750 on FKM Rubber, $3,100 on Grade 5 titanium bracelet
Availability: Pre-Order open, delivery in March 2027.
Limited Edition: Midnight Blue dial limited to 200 pieces.
For more, click here.
