Armin Strom Pure Resonance Ultimate Sapphire watch
What started out as an idea for a unique Armin Strom timepiece turned into a passion project to be shared with a lucky few. The Pure Resonance Ultimate Sapphire is an exclusive collaboration between renowned watch collector Horomariobro and independent watch company Armin Strom. And Denver retailer Oster Jewelers is the very limited edition’s singular purveyor, whose founder, Jeremy Oster, contacted Armin Strom co-founder and master watchmaker Claude Greisler to get the project rolling.
The movement of the Armin Strom Pure Resonance Ultimate Sapphire watch is visible via a transparent case back.
If you’re not familiar with Horomariobro (@horomariobro on Instagram), suffice it to say that he’s a US West Coast-based watch collector and photographer with a penchant for details and a near-microscopic approach to taking pictures. This has garnered him tens of thousands of social media followers who share his interest in fine watchmaking and his quest for the unique. If you’re not all that familiar with Armin Strom, all I can say is, do yourself a favor. This avant-garde brand, based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, is known for its low-volume artisanal approach to watchmaking and its commitment to exposed dial-side movement mechanics. Oh, and its hand finishing is nothing short of exquisite.
Thus the three came together to bring this 10-piece edition to fruition, and the result is the 42mm steel-cased Pure Resonance Ultimate Sapphire, the most minimalist Resonance to date. The stunning sapphire dial is devoid of the small seconds counter and the characteristic “lip” on the case at 6 o’clock, as well as the Armin Strom logo—with a subtle AS symbol engraved on the movement in its place. These significant changes draw further attention to the clutch spring connecting the two balance wheels oscillating—in resonance—toward and away from each other. The steel hour and minute hands are manufactured by Armin Strom and are filled with SuperLuminova.
Armin Strom Pure Resonance Ultimate Sapphire watch was inspired by a collaboration with Horomariobro.
The watch is fitted with the manually wound Armin Strom manufacture Caliber ARF16. The 213-component movement has a frequency of 25,200 vph and offers power reserve of 48 hours; it measures in at 34.40mm x 7.05mm. The black PVD-treated gear train bridges are decorated with a unique grain d’orge guilloche pattern by renowned Finnish watchmaker Kari Voutilainen, while the other decorations are crafted in-house. Don’t miss the grainy texture on the winding bridge, which is a lovely example of tremblage—a time-intensive embellishment requiring a custom engraving tool.
The open-worked back of the watch reveals the crown wheel’s updated ratchet mechanism and also displays Armin Strom’s seal of origin. Here you’ll also find an engraving, “Horomariobro,” and the watch’s unique serial number within the limited edition. Priced at $59,000, the watch is delivered with a black fabric strap with contrasting stitching in light gray; a stainless-steel double folding clasp affixes it to the wrist.
