With a limited edition of 50 piecesfor this watch, Armin Strom continues the design evolution of the horological revolution that is only fully achieved by the independent Biel/Bienne watch manufacture: the harnessing of the near-magical physical phenomenon of resonance.
The open-worked movement is the star of the Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance. It is yet another execution proving the fact that Armin Strom is the world’s only watch brand that has fully cracked the code of how to use resonance in a wristwatch. With unique technology, developed and manufactured entirely in-house, the independent watch brand is able to synchronise two movements in one timepiece in order to achieve higher chronometric precision and consistency.
But first, let’s take a look at the new off-centre, green dial featuring a textured grenage finish. The machine-green hue is inspired by some vintage equipment still used alongside contemporary state-of-the-art machines in Armin Strom’s fully integrated manufacture. “We chose this green because it harmonises with the polished and decorated parts of the open-worked movement. And the grenage finish gives a contrast to the polished indexes. This frizzy, kind of frosted surface reflects some light – but it is not too loud. It doesn’t overwhelm your attention and it shouldn’t compete with the movement,” says Armin Strom’s Master Watchmaker and co-founder, Claude Greisler.
When it comes to the open-worked movement framing the green dial, it is really a showcase for the handmade decoration techniques that are mastered in-house by Armin Strom’s watchmakers. The 3D-shaped balance bridges and all chamfers are hand-polished, and the dial side surfaces are also hand-worked with frosted, perlaged or circular-grained finishes. All parts of the movement – even the invisible ones – are painstakingly decorated with artisanal mastery; a process that sometimes takes 10 times as long as manufacturing the part itself. In addition, the movement is assembled by hand twice to ensure an uncompromising commitment to quality.
Armin Strom is the only watch brand that has fully harnessed the power of resonance, which has mesmerised the world’s best watchmakers since the 17th century. This scientific phenomenon occurs naturally, since two bodies vibrating at a similar frequency automatically strive towards a common frequency. And when two bodies vibrate in resonance – be it radio waves, quantum physics or watchmaking – they are more precise, stronger and more stable and resilient than on their own.
Instead of waiting for nature to reach a resonant state between the two balance wheels, Greisler and his team invented the Resonance Clutch Spring, which was first introduced in 2016 after years of research and experimentation. This patented, ingeniously bent spring directly connects the hairsprings, thus keeping the two balance wheels in a perfect resonant state. The swiftly undulating spring and two balance wheels moving to and from each other also make an unexpected and mesmerising dial-side kinetic spectacle.
The Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Manufacture Edition is an extremely rare and complex union of science and Swiss watchmaking of the highest artisanal standards and superlative chronometric performance.
“This watch is all about achieving the highest precision possible. And for me as a watchmaker, hand decoration is very emotional – you can express yourself and add your signature to a watch movement,” said Claude Greisler. “It is not strictly necessary – but thanks to hand decorating and unusual details like the green grenage dial, a watch becomes a piece of art.”
