Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Manufacture Edition Blue
The Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Manufacture Edition Blue builds on the success of the brand’s inaugural Mirrored Force Resonance model, released in 2016. Harnessing the physical phenomenon of resonance, Armin Strom is able to achieve precision comparable with a tourbillon and even better rate stability. Last year, the brand released a new updated version of the watch, the so-called ‘First Edition’, featuring a new, more refined case and display. Now, Armin Strom has entered its blue period, releasing a limited edition model, rich in cerulean hues.
The pursuit of perfection
Perfection may be an elusive goal, dwelling somewhere beyond the horizon, however, in the esoteric world of Haute Horlogerie, the finest watchmakers remain undeterred, continuously striving to attain excellence. When it comes to the finest timepieces, design, artistic crafts and peerless finishing are much in evidence. But ultimately, the most important goal of any watchmaker is to achieve extraordinary precision.
Tourbillon
The tourbillon, patented by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1801, is an ingenious mechanism designed to counter the adverse influence of gravity on the regulating organ. The escapement and regulating organ are placed within a revolving cage, usually rotating 360° every minute. A wristwatch fitted with a tourbillon will prove less susceptible to positional influence, thereby delivering superior precision.
For many horophiles, the spectacle of seeing the cage, escapement and balance wheel all in motion, revealed via a dial-side aperture, proves a mouthwatering prospect. Nevertheless, the rationale for creating a tourbillon was born out of a desire to heighten precision.
Armin Strom, Biel
Armin Strom, the Biel-based firm synonymous with crafting expressions of Haute Horlogerie, is very familiar with the merits of Breguet’s invention. Indeed, the firm offers several models equipped with the gravity-defying device.
Gravity Equal Force
However, the Swiss marque has never restricted its gaze to just one means of attaining superior chronometric performance. Indeed, Claude Greisler, co-founder of Armin Strom and Master Watchmaker, has relentlessly sought to create increasingly precise watches using a variety of means. For example, he masterminded the brand’s Gravity Equal Force model, an automatic timepiece fitted with a ‘constant force transmission’. Equipped with a stopworks and motor barrel, the model delivers impressive rate stability and precision.
But, when appraising Greisler’s body of work, perhaps his most impressive achievement relates to the physical phenomenon of resonance.
Antide Janvier
Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695), the Dutch mathematician and inventor, famously patented the first pendulum clock in 1656. On one occasion, the Dutchman noticed that two pendulums mounted on a common beam somehow influenced one another, eventually moving in synchronicity, albeit he did not understand why.
Antide Janvier (1751-1835), a French clockmaker produced three clocks that harnessed the phenomenon of resonance to deliver superior precision. Some years later, Abraham-Louis Breguet constructed both resonance clocks and pocket watches, drawing on Janvier’s work.
F.P. Journe presented his Chronomètre à Resonance in early 2000. Equipped with two regulating organs, positioned in close proximity to one another, both balance wheels move in synchronicity. There is no physical connection between the balance wheels and it would appear that the effect of resonance is caused by air perturbation.
The first Mirrored Force Resonance was released in 2016
In 2016, Armin Strom, the independent Manufacture, released its inaugural Mirrored Force Resonance. In this instance, the company achieved resonance using a patented clutch spring connecting two balance wheels. When launched, the brand said the resonance’s movement delivered comparable precision to a tourbillon and proffered superior rate stability.
Since the advent of Mirrored Force Resonance back in 2016, the mechanism has become an important facet of the brand’s DNA.
Mirrored Force Resonance – First Edition
Last year, the company unveiled the Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance – First Edition. Despite being a huge fan of the 2016 model, I thought the First Edition of 2022 looked sharper and more refined. The case featured slimmer lugs, the brand’s ‘lip’ at 6 o’clock was less obtrusive and the hands seemed just a tad neater. However, the high-end Manufacture hadn’t completely jettisoned the styling of the 2016 model, on the contrary, it retained Armin Strom’s distinctive design language.
Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Manufacture Edition Blue
Now, the Maison has released the Mirrored Force Resonance Manufacture Edition Blue. Measuring 43mm in diameter with a case thickness of 11.55mm, the case of this latest model is identical to the First Edition’s housing. Formed of stainless steel, the Manufacture Edition Blue has a wonderfully defined torso and looks elegant from every angle.
Unequivocally modern, the display sits beneath a raised sapphire glass box, inviting light to bathe each dial element with brightness and endowing the display with a becoming sense of depth.
Grenage finish
The hour and minutes are presented off-centre on a blue dial. The central area of the dial is enriched with a grenage finish while the hour track is snailed. Two small seconds displays overlap the left flank of the dominant hour and minutes dial. Each features a snailed track, a three-arm hand and is connected to its own dedicated balance. Pressing the pushpiece at 2 o’clock resets the running seconds displays.
Haute Horlogerie
Look beyond the openworked seconds displays and you will see perlage, graining and hand bevelling. Likewise, view the movement via the exhibition caseback and you will discover more peerless finishing. In fact, the inventory of finishing techniques on this watch is impressive and, without question, worthy of the term ‘Haute Horologerie’.
Clutch spring
As previously stated, the Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance is fitted with two balance wheels linked via a clutch spring. The balance wheels rotate to and fro, while the clutch spring moves backwards and forwards, east to west, bestowing a fabulous animated spectacle.
Throughout the composition, Armin Strom has juxtaposed vertical brush with highly polished surfaces, imbuing the model with a sumptuous appearance. The Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Manufacture Edition Blue is presented on a dark blue Alcantara strap, reinforcing the neoteric character of the watch.
Claude Greisler and Serge Michel
Since 2006, Claude Greisler and Serge Michel have guided the brand, making it what it is today. A Manufacture in the truest sense, the firm makes screws, pinions, wheels, etc. Indeed, should you ever have the opportunity to tour the firm’s production facility, you will witness profile turning, CNC and wire erosion machines working to infinitesimal tolerances. Furthermore, you will observe parts being hand-finished to exacting standards. Quite simply, Armin Strom makes exceptional timepieces.
But, despite the excellence of Armin Strom’s watches, I suspect Claude Greisler is secretly masterminding other means of attaining even greater levels of precision. Perfection may be unobtainable, but it seems Claude and his team get a little closer to it with each passing day.
Further reading
Technical specification
- Model: Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Manufacture Edition Blue
- Reference: ST22-RF.05
- Case: stainless steel, diameter 43mm, height 11.55mm, water resistance 3ATM (30 metres), sapphire crystal to front, exhibition case back.
- Functions: hours, minutes, twin-seconds
- Movement: Caliber ARF21; hand-wound movement; frequency 25,200 Vph (3.5Hz); 39 jewels; power reserve 48 hours; 276 components.
- Strap: Dark blue Alcantara strap with white stitching and double folding clasp in stainless steel
- Price: £62,000 – (RRP as of 28.2.2023)
- Limited Edition: 50 pieces