ReviewRemarkable Resonance: The Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance—First Edition

Resonance is a fascinating phenomenon—one that was discovered by Christiaan Huygens, a Dutch scientist and inventor of the pendulum clock, in 1656. When he hung two pendulums on a common beam, he found that they influenced one another and eventually moved in synchrony. However, it wasn’t until more than a century later that Antide Janvier, the royal clockmaker to Louis XVIII, produced three double-pendulum clocks exhibiting the phenomenon. Abraham-Louis Breguet, the legendary watchmaker, then created resonance clocks and a few resonance pocket watches in the early 19th century based on Janvier’s work. To this day, only a select few have attempted, and even fewer have succeeded, in creating resonance in a wristwatch. It’s worth noting that none of the top-tier watch brands have ever offered a timepiece that makes use of the phenomenon. And just a few independents can lay claim to that distinction. Armin Strom are one of them. The Mirrored Force Resonance was released in 2016, and as you can imagine, with its release, the horological world rejoiced with a resounding hurrah!

Resonating Success: The Watch’s Pièce de Résistance

Now, Armin Strom have decided to revisit their milestone creation from a new perspective and reimagine its looks, proportions, and functionality, using a fresh and elegant design language. While the twin oscillators connected via the patented ‘resonance clutch spring’ are still the main focus of the piece, the case has been completely redesigned from the ground up in thinner proportions (43mm by 11.55mm), with slimmer, more elegant lugs and a very modest, distinctive Armin Strom ‘lip’ at six o’clock.

The raised ‘box’ glass, in sapphire crystal, has been revamped for a more open, three-dimensional look, displaying the revolutionary, one-of-a-kind movement from different angles. The two balance bridges, in particular, have been open-worked to improve visual harmony. The hours and minutes are still displayed on an off-centred dial, with twin continuous dials for seconds running in opposite directions and separating the resonance mechanism from the dial. Equipped with the ability to be reset and synchronised with the pusher at two o’clock, the seconds sub-dial allows for the verification of the resonant rates as well as an indication of any variations from a shock or disturbance. 

The stainless steel-cased Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance First Edition is a 48-hour manual-winding timepiece

The two balance bridges have been open-worked to improve visual harmony

Steely Resolve: A Sound Use Of Materials 

The resonance clutch spring is made of steel, which functions more consistently than high-tech materials such as silicon, along with being well-suited to temperature changes. Using proven materials and modern techniques extends the lifetime and enhances serviceability, making the movement future-proof.

The raised ‘box’ glass, in sapphire crystal, has been revamped for a more open, three-dimensional look, displaying the revolutionary, one-of-a-kind movement from different angles

The stainless steel-cased Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance First Edition is a 48-hour manual-winding timepiece, and is equipped with a dark blue alligator leather strap, with white stitching. Limited to 25 pieces worldwide, the watch comes with a decade-long warranty, and is sure to resonate with any true horological enthusiast out there.