Independent Biel/Bienne-based Swiss watchmaker, Armin Strom, has really outdone itself with their latest ultra-complicated timepiece that combines its patented resonance technology with a minute repeater.
Celebrating their 10th anniversary since becoming a true manufacture, the Masterpiece 2 Minute Repeater Resonance is available in a 10-piece limited edition which symbolizes this occasion.
Technologically, the watch utilizes the Armin Strom’s existing resonance know-how, which is effectively the only true mechanical resonance that exists in watchmaking today and is certified as such by the CESM (a Swiss technology think tank). We fully reviewed one of the resonance watches last year, but of course, this 10th-anniversary timepiece takes that watch a step further.
With the help of an outside horological firm, Le Cercle des Horloger, Armin Strom was able to add a minute repeater function to the already complicated resonance timepiece. Even though the resonance complication alone is quite an achievement, offering this classical and prestigious watchmaking function, that companies such as Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet are best known for, is a testament to how far Armin Strom has come as a company.
The watch measures 47.7 mm and 16.10 mm and is crafted from grade 5 titanium, which is arguably one of the best metals for enhancing the sound of minute repeaters.
With a heritage in skeletonized watches dating back to its eponymous founder, Armin Strom, this flagship timepiece is open-worked and virtually all components of the manually wound movement are visible on either the front or the back.
From the frosted and beveled rose gold balance bridges, which support the dual resonance oscillators at 6 o’clock to the dual three-dimensional gongs which are mirror polished to perfection, every one of the 408 components works together to create a masterpiece, both audibly and visually.
The co-founder and head of watch engineering at Armin Strom (Claude Greisler) recently met with Professional Watches to discuss the new timepiece and that interview will be coming to the site in the future. Thank you to Watches of Switzerland SoHo for letting us film the interview and take the photos for this article in their store. The Watches of Switzerland flagship SoHo location recently became the exclusive authorized dealer for Armin Strom timepieces in New York City.
Armin Strom watches will also be available to see up close at Watch Time New York 2019, which takes place on October 25th and 26th at Gotham Hall.
What impressed me the most about the new Minute Repeater, beyond the obvious horological advances, is how loud the minute repeater chimes are, and the elevated level of finishing, such as the mirror-polished gongs and hammers, which remind me of what you might expect from movement finishing masters such as Kari Voutilainen, Greubel Forsey, or A. Lange & Sohne.
The retail price for the Minute Repeater Resonance is $380,000. Learn more at Armin Strom.
