We covered the Armin Strom Mirrored Forced Resonance in detail in 2016. The watch has turned out to be a runaway success for the small manufacture (read the story of the manufacture here) and is their current best seller. But they have not rested on their laurels. They pioneered a Configurator which allows a customer to customise the watches to his own ideals. And earlier this year, they released a streamlined version of the Resonance, and dubbed it the Armin Strom Pure Resonance.
Available in red gold and stainless steel (as shown) the Pure Resonance is a purist approach to the concept of forced resonance.
Armin Strom Pure Resonance
The design is simplified to reflect the purity of the watch. In general, the approach is to pare down to the essentials. And concentrate on the dual balances oscillating in resonance. Two models are available with the usual AS nomenclature – the Water for the stainless steel case. And Fire for the rose gold case. The Pure Resonance Water is delivered with a blue dial, and the Fire with a black dial.
In rose gold, the Pure Resonance takes a different persona from its SS brother, almost seem like a different watch.
The case, dial and hands
The case remains largely the same, except it is now reduced in size to a slimmer 42 mm stainless steel or 18-karat rose gold case (1.4 mm smaller than the original version) with reduced lugs and crown and practically no bezel. The characteristic lip at 6 o’clock remains – an homage to the Armin Strom founder’s intent of providing a place for a personal engraving.
The dial now offers just two subdials for time displays: Roman numerals dominate the off-center subdial displaying hours and minutes in black and blue with blued steel hands, while a classic railroad track marks the exact minutes. The smaller subdial at 7 o’clock displays seconds using only a baton-shaped white hand and a simple track.
The bridges, now exposed on the dial side is decorated with côtes de Genève, applied for the first time at ARMIN STROM in straight lines. These stripes provide an interesting interplay with incident light. Under some angles, it all but almost disappears, and at others, it is prominent and provides a nice foundation to set off the double balances.
The movement
Then the movement, as it is the raison d’être of the watch.
The caseback shows the double mainsprings and the double transmission wheels to wind up the watch.
The core of the watch remains the same as in the Mirrored Forced Resonance. The Caliber ARF16 has two movement trains, both independent of each other except that they are connected at the balance springs by a specially shaped spring. This spring, called the resonance clutch spring passes information from one train to the other, resulting in a resonance condition, where both trains are beating at exactly the same frequency.
Rather than providing two seconds hands, one rotating counter clockwise, the design purity of the Pure Resonance demands that it be simplified. Claude Greisler did this by eliminating the twin seconds flyback mechanism of Caliber ARF15, replacing them with one clear-cut subsidiary seconds subdial. With it, the pusher at 2 o’clock.
By eliminating parts which are not essential, the watch’s chronometry is improved. The time displays receive their proportioned energy from the lower regulator, while the upper regulator remains in place to create resonance.
Finishing on the movement remains exceptional, but retaining the original intent of good finishing without ornamental embellishments. All the haute horlogerie elements are catered for with consummate ease.
Concluding Thoughts
The Armin Strom Pure Resonance is a variation of the theme of the Mirrored Forced Resonance. The concept is simplified, and the watch is made smaller and sleeker to fit more wrists The design is very clean looking, with the vestigial bezel. We also find the côtes de Genève plates on the dial side to be less fussy than the open work style used in the Mirrored Forced Resonance.
We think the Pure Resonance is perhaps more handsome than its bigger brother the Mirrored Forced Resonance. The sleek size, and the simplified movement, focus on chronometry appeals to us very much. Especially for those of us who have a weakness for blue dials – the Pure Resonance Water in stainless steel takes our breath away.
Armin Strom Pure Resonance Specifications and Prices
PURE RESONANCE WATER
Manufacture movement ARMIN STROM calibre ARF16
Manual-winding, resonance clutch spring, small seconds,
off-centre time indications
Frequency: 25,200 vph
Jewels: 38
Number of components: 206
For more info on calibre, see last page
Case Stainless steel
Sapphire crystal and case back with antireflective treatment
Diameter: 42.00mm
Height: 12.00mm
Water resistance: 50m
Dial ring Blue dial with roman numerals
Hands Stainless steel
Straps Delivered with a genuine black alligator strap and stainless
steel ardillon buckle as well as an additional black rubber
strap. A double-folding clasp in stainless steel is available as
an option.
Retail price CHF 49,000.
PURE RESONANCE FIRE
Manufacture movementARMIN STROM calibre ARF16
Manual-winding, resonance clutch spring, small seconds,
off-centre time indications
Frequency: 25,200 vph
Jewels: 38
Number of components: 206
For more info on calibre, see last page
Case 18ct rose gold
Sapphire crystal and case back with antireflective treatment
Diameter: 42.00mm
Height: 12.00mm
Water resistance: 50m
Dial ring Black dial with roman numerals
Hands 18ct rose gold
Straps Delivered with a genuine back alligator strap and rose gold
ardillon buckle as well as an additional black rubber strap. A
double-folding clasp in 18kt rose gold is available as an
option.
Retail price CHF 62,000
CALIBRE ARF16
15¼‘‘‘
Characteristics:
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds
Winding mechanism: Manual winding
Impulse: Two independent, symmetrically mirrored regulators
Plate and bridges: Plate and bridges are decorated at the highest quality level
Regulating system: Two independent regulation systems that stabilize each other
connected by a resonance clutch spring
Frequency: 25,200 vph
Number of jewels: 38
Number of individual parts: 206
Diameter: 34.40mm
Height: 7.05mm
Power reserve: 48 hours
