Armin Strom Pure Resonance Special Edition Salmon Watch Review
The Armin Strom Pure Resonance Special Edition Salmon is a limited edition of five pieces, coming on the back of the ‘Sky Blue’ and ‘Sea Green’ editions. The Salmon guilloché dial is handcrafted on a rose engine lathe by the artisanal watchmaker, Kari Voutilainen. US-based Meehna Goldsmith provides her take on this latest expression of Haute Horlogerie.
Armin Strom Pure Resonance Special Edition Salmon – another rendition of the resonance
Armin Strom enters the arena with another rendition of the resonance complication, the Pure Resonance Special Edition Salmon. In the same family, it joins the previously released Pure Resonance ‘Sky Blue’ and Pure Resonance ‘Sea Green’.
Against the monochromatic backdrop, the “Salmon” grabs your eyeballs with its coppery-colour dial, hand-engraved on a lathe with a guilloché pattern. You wouldn’t necessarily think that a dial described as “salmon” would be especially appealing. Au contraire. No doubt about it, this one is a definite head-turner that will certainly garner surreptitious peeks at your wrist. The credit goes to the highly regarded independent horologist, Kari Voutilainen who designed the dial.
Armin Strom Pure Resonance Special Edition Salmon – at first glance
At first glance, the ‘Salmon’ looks deceptively simple with its clean, off-centre dial that notes only hours, minutes and seconds. A nice touch is the hand-finished steel hands manufactured by Armin Strom. However, a closer look reveals two stacked balance wheels between 8 o’clock and 10 o’clock. That’s where you can see the magic of resonance in action.
Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695)
Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens, who invented the pendulum clock in 1656, first discovered the physical phenomenon of resonance. But it wasn’t until the next century that Antide Janvier, royal clockmaker to Louis XVIII, created three clocks that put the phenomenon into action using two pendulums. Abraham-Louis Breguet also built resonance clocks to take advantage of the potential timekeeping benefits.
Synchronicity
What exactly is resonance and why is it a big deal? When a body is in motion, it causes vibrations to its surroundings. Another body with a similar frequency in close enough proximity will absorb the energy from the first, causing it to sync up. How does this relate to improving timekeeping tolerances? Let’s say one of the pendulums (or balance wheels) receives a shock and slows down, throwing it off its oscillation frequency. The second will increase in speed by the same amount. Resonance offers the opportunity to get the regulators back in antiphase rhythm, meaning the bodies are moving in sync, but in opposite directions.
Achieving resonance in a clock, which is stationary, is no easy task and takes precise adjustment. Try tapping into that phenomenon for a wristwatch, which can take a wild ride on your wrist. F.P. Journe was the first to figure out how to capture the phenomenon back in 1999 with the Chronomètre à Resonance released in early 2000.
Armin Strom Pure Resonance Special Edition Salmon – the Resonance Clutch Spring
Few brands have attempted resonance in a wristwatch because of its finicky nature. Armin Strong is one Manufacture that took on the challenge and successfully tackled the task, debuting the Mirrored Force Resonance in 2016. Years of research by Claude Greisler and Armin Strom resulted in the patented Resonance Clutch Spring. This innovative device harnesses the power of resonance further (and makes it more stable) by joining two hairsprings via a steel resonance clutch spring connected to the balance spring studs. This allows the vibrations to travel more directly to the hairsprings instead of through the less reliable air. Thus, the clutch allows resonance to happen faster, improving stability and rate.
Armin Strom Pure Resonance Special Edition Salmon – closing thoughts
Armin Strom has staked out its place as an innovative Manufacture, not timid about pushing the boundaries. Limited to 5 pieces, the Armin Strom Pure Resonance Special Edition Salmon offers a striking look with an impressive complication sure to entertain at a cocktail party.
The Armin Strom Pure Resonance Special Edition Salmon comes in a 42 mm white gold case, secured with a black alligator strap with stainless-steel double-folding clasp and costs CHF 59,000. Sadly, the model is now sold out, which serves to confirm its notable desirability.
Further reading
Technical specification
- Model: Armin Strom Pure Resonance Special Edition Salmon
- Reference: ST17-RP.65
- Case: stainless steel; diameter 42 mm; height 13 mm; water resistance 5 ATM (50 metres); sapphire crystal to front; exhibition case back.
- Functions: Hours; minutes; seconds
- Movement: Caliber ARF16; hand-wound movement; frequency 25,200 vph (3.5 Hz); 38 jewels; power reserve 48 hours; 206 components.
- Strap: Black alligator leather strap and double folding clasp in stainless steel
- Price: CHF 59,000 – (RRP as 22.9.2023) – SOLD OUT
- Limited Edition: 5 pieces