The Armin Strom Masterpiece 2 watch houses 408 components and offers resonance as well as minute repeater.
Back in July, we here at ATimelyPerspective were one of the first to unveil the world’s first minute repeater with complex built-in resonance. The Armin Strom Minute Repeater Resonance, the second watch in the brand’s masterpiece line, is one of this year’s most complex and exciting minute repeaters on the market. The world’s first Resonance Chiming watch, a $350,000 timepiece, was born to celebrate Armin Strom’s 10thanniversary.
While the brand had existed as an eponymous company operated by master watchmaker Armin Strom — a master at skeletonization — since 1967, it was not run as a watch manufacture, but rather as his personal business. However, in 2009, long-time family friend of Strom’s, Serge Michel and his partner, watchmaker Claude Greisler, launched Armin Strom as a brand. Today, the company has its own fully integrated Manufacture in Biel/Bienne, is making its own movements and has become a force in the independent watch brand arena.
With its “think outside of the box” attitude and a commitment to precision and chronometry, Armin Strom has been leading the pack when it comes to resonance.
The Caliber of the Armin Strom Masterpiece 2 is equipped with the brand’s patented Resonance Clutch System.
Understanding Resonance in Watchmaking
Before we discuss this watch, it is important to understand what resonance is in the realm of timekeeping. Resonance, essentially, is when two similar objects feed off of each other’s motion to stay in sync. In this case, the objects remaining in sync offer upgraded precision, a conservation of energy and more.
This 47mm titanium Minute Repeater Resonance watch deftly combines a sonorous minute repeater with Armin Strom’s patented Resonance clutch spring system (which was three years in the research and development stages). It is certified by the Center Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique as being a true resonance system.
Essentially, the watch features two vertically stacked and inverted movements with pinions that not only drive the hours and minutes, but also the repeater hammers. The movement is so complex that it consists of more than 400 individual parts – created both by Armin Strom and Cercle des Horlogers (minute repeater experts). For a lot more details on the technical aspects of this watch, read this. Just 10 will ever be made.
Armin Strom Masterpiece 2 Minute Repeater Resonance watch.
Which Armin Strom Watch Is In The GPHG 2019 Event
So, with all of this magnificence in one timepiece, it leaves watch lovers wondering why the Masterpiece isn’t one of the final contestants in the Grand Prix d’ Horlogerie (GPGH) 2019. The answer is fairly simple. At the point in time when watch brands had to submit their timepieces to the GPGH for jury consideration, the Minute Repeater Resonance had not yet been unveiled to the world. The watch only made its quiet debut in July and its larger debut last month.
However, because of all of the work Armin Strom put into resonance over the past few years, it stands to reason that the brand would have a watch candidate in the final lineup. So, which Armin Strom Watch made it into the GPHG final category entrants? The Pure Resonance Rose Gold.
Not only is the Pure Resonance Rose Gold in the GPHG lineup, but also, and more importantly, it is aptly selected in the Chronometry category. This watch also houses the brand’s patented Resonance system. For complete details on that manual-winding mechanical wonder, read this.
Armin Strom Pure Resonance watch is a finalist in the Chronometry category at the GPGH 2019.
