Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, 29 August 2024: Swiss independent watch brand Armin Strom celebrates the 15th anniversary of its fully-integrated Manufacture by reimagining its most historically significant innovation, the resonance complication, in an entirely new Dual Time GMT Resonance First Edition. The new timepiece is presented in a hotly-anticipated 39-mm case size made in 18-karat white gold and limited to 25 pieces.
Embracing a symmetrical design language with two identical time dials, this First Edition timepiece comes in an elegant 39-mm round 18-karat white gold case. And like all Armin Strom First Editions, it includes a 10-year extended warranty.
Armin Strom once again demonstrates its mastery of ‘the science of movement’ with a finely-proportioned Dual Time Resonance timepiece, delivering unprecedented resilience against disruption of the Resonance phenomenon.
Reflecting on Armin Strom’s new Dual Time GMT Resonance, founder Serge Michel noted:
“Having two completely independent watch movements in a single timepiece creates the logical demand for an iteration that displays two time zones. The success of our first Dual Time inspired us to build a smaller and more elegant Dual Time Resonance watch. To do this, we further developed our concept and arranged the two movements vertically. And we couldn’t be happier with the result.”
Two dial-side kinetic elements unite to form a mesmerizing spectacle
The kinetic spectacle of Resonance is on full display on the dial side of the timepiece. The synchronized motion of two balance wheels operating in a state of Resonance, combined with the hypnotic pulsation of the clutch spring ‘breathing’ as it transmits vibrations between them, offers their owner a mesmerizing spectacle that brings a sense of wonder to the everyday.
Two fully independent time zones
Another valued aspect of the timepiece is its ability to set the two time zones entirely independently. Most dual time zone movements only permit independent adjustment of the hours, with only a few allowing half-hour settings. However, Armin Strom’s Dual Time GMT Resonance lets users set both the hours and minutes to any desired time on each of two identical dials.
Two movements in one new caliber
The Dual Time GMT Resonance First Edition is powered by the new Armin Strom manufacture caliber ARF22, a manually-wound Resonance movement and the 18th caliber designed and produced in-house under the direction of Claude Greisler, Armin Strom’s co-founder and master watchmaker. Two independent, symmetrically mirrored oscillators operate in anti-phase to become synchronized mirror images of each other via the natural phenomenon of Resonance. The caliber features two mainspring barrels providing a power reserve of 42 hours, all wound by a single crown at 4 o’clock. Two separate gear trains drive the independent time displays. The engraved and mirror-polished day/night indicators depicting the sun and moon are mounted on 24-hour wheels directly on the movement. Two crowns positioned on either side of the case allow for the independent setting of each dial.
While many of the most visually-intriguing features are visible on the dial side, the case back further reveals the distinctive symmetrical architecture of the movement. The Dual Time GMT Resonance movement also offers a unique winding experience with a corresponding dial-side animation. The ratchet click system on the dial side of the timepiece provides this animation on the watch face, transforming the winding of the movement into a multi-sensory experience.
Unlike traditional click mechanisms connected to ratchets, the Dual Time GMT Resonance’s three-dimensional ratchet mechanism is connected to a pinion that is positioned between the two barrels to distribute the load more evenly. This two-part system consists of a bottom gear with Breguet teeth fixed to the main plate, and a top element with a spring connected to the axis. This approach provides more precise engagement and disengagement of the winding mechanism resulting in more consistent performance, more efficient energy transfer, reduced friction and wear on components, smoother operation and better overall durability for the winding system.
Two symmetric dials
The Dual Time GMT Resonance First Edition features two symmetric sky-blue dials, each with a grenage finish. Armin Strom offers the only Resonance timepieces in active production with dual symmetric time dials.
Two symmetric day/night indicators
Dual engraved and mirror-polished day/night indicators depict the sun and moon to indicate AM/PM for each of the time dials.
Two symmetric crowns
Two crowns, positioned on either side of the case at 4 and 8 o’clock, allow each dial to be independently set.
Two straps
Secured by an 18-karat white gold pin buckle, the Dual Time GMT Resonance First Edition comes with two straps: A matte gray alligator strap with sky-blue stitching and a light gray alligator strap with pearl-gray stitching.
Artisanal craftsmanship
For the First Edition, the dials feature a sky-blue grenage finish, surrounded by black azurage chapter rings set with applied polished baton indexes that complement the faceted hands. The engraved and mirror polished day/night indicators depicting the sun and moon are mounted on 24-hour wheels directly on the movement. For the first time, the twin balance bridge is crafted from steel and designed with a flat surface that is hand-polished to achieve a mirror finish in accordance with the highest standards of traditional haute horlogerie decoration.
The lavish hand-finishing and decoration of this caliber includes hand-polished bevels, screws and countersinks, along with circular graining, perlage and Geneva stripes. The juxtaposition of anthracite and silvery tones further emphasizes the visual depth and dramatic contrast.
What is Resonance?
In watchmaking, a state of Resonance is generated by housing two movements in a single case in such a way that the balance wheels of both movements will naturally influence and regulate each other in real time via the mutual sharing of almost imperceptible vibrations. This sharing enables the twin balance wheels to become fully synchronized and regulate each other in a natural state of Resonance, thereby counteracting the negative effects of gravity and wrist movement on timekeeping. The key benefits of Resonance, in timepieces that can resiliently maintain the phenomenon, are its ability to maintain consistent timekeeping and to maximize timekeeping precision. Chronometric consistency means that a timepiece will gain or lose precisely the same number of seconds every day. Chronometric consistency was historically sought after for hundreds of years in order to solve the “Longitude Problem”, which required consistent timekeeping for more precise calculations of longitude in the context of maritime navigation.
How is Armin Strom’s approach to Resonance different from others?
Armin Strom’s approach to Resonance is fundamentally different from other Resonance timepieces in several key ways. Armin Strom Resonance timepieces utilize a patented, built-for-purpose suspension system known as a “clutch spring”, inspired by Antide Janvier’s Resonance Clock, to act as a vibrational intermediary between the balance wheels. This is in contrast to others who rely on legacy parts of the movement, such as a main-plate, to transmit vibrations. By virtue of its resiliency against disruption, Armin Strom’s innovative approach can leverage Resonance to proactively prevent oscillation-rate deviations caused by external factors such as wrist motion, gravity and temperature changes rather than merely remediating oscillation-rate errors after-the-fact (when affected balance wheels would otherwise eventually drift back into a state of Resonance). For these reasons, alternative approaches cannot offer the same resilience, predictable chronometric benefits and chronometric consistency as does an Armin Strom Resonance timepiece. This differentiated approach very effectively ensures that the twin balance wheels of an Armin Strom Resonance timepiece will remain synchronized in all positions with resilience against disruption, thereby providing unparalleled chronometric consistency and precision.
As noted by master watchmaker and co-founder Claude Greisler:
“Huygens had his wood beam transmitting the necessary vibrations between his pendulum clocks and Antide Janvier had the shared suspension of his pendulums. Their accomplishments inspired us to develop a built-for-purpose suspension for the reliable transmission of vibrations between the two balance wheels of a Resonance wristwatch in order to achieve the resilience against disruption that Huygens had so ambitiously imagined in the year 1665.”
Technical specifications: Dual Time GMT Resonance – First Edition
Reference no. WG24-DT.90
Indications: Two independent time displays each indicating hour, minutes and day/night
Left crown for setting time of left dial; right crown for setting time of right dial and winding
Movement: Armin Strom manufacture Caliber ARF22
Anthracite PVD-colored main plate
Winding mechanism: Manual winding
Regulating system: Two independent regulating systems connected by a resonance clutch spring
Power reserve: 42 hours
Dimensions: 34.15 mm × 4.92 mm
Frequency: 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph)
Jewels: 40
Number of components: 231
Case: 18-karat white gold
Sapphire crystal and case back with anti-reflective treatment
Diameter: 39.00 mm
Height: 9.05 mm
Water resistance: 5 ATM
Dial: Sky-blue grenage dials with black azurage chapter rings and applied polished baton indexes, rhodium-plated day/night discs
Hands: Rhodium, faceted and polished
Strap: Delivered with two straps – a matte-gray alligator strap with sky-blue stitching and a light-gray alligator strap with pearl-gray stitching – with 18-karat pin buckle
Limited to 25 pieces
Price: CHF 115,000 / EUR 133,300 / GBP 114,000 / USD 120,700
