Armin Strom Zeitgeist 1665 3N, resonance dresses in gold

Armin Strom brings a more classic accent to his research into resonance. The new Mirrored Force Resonance Zeitgeist 1665 3N combines the contemporary architecture of the ARF21 caliber with a 3N yellow gold-colored plate and bridges, creating a stark contrast to the black lacquered dial. Produced in only 25 pieces, the timepiece keeps at its heart one of the most characteristic technical themes of the Swiss maison: the synchronization of two independent adjustment systems through the physical phenomenon of resonance.

Between tradition and contemporary architecture

The aesthetic stems from the contrast between gold and black. The plate and bridges have a matte 3N yellow gold finish, while the off-center dial in "vernis laqué poli" noir creates a deep background against which the construction of the movement and the manual workmanship emerge. The thermally blued steel hands, produced and finished in-house by Armin Strom, reinforce the reference to traditional watchmaking. Everything is housed in a 43 mm steel case, 11.55 mm thick, combined with a dark gray Alcantara strap. The design idea declared by the maison is to imagine what a resonance wristwatch could have looked like several centuries ago, if the watchmakers of the time had had contemporary knowledge and technologies.

The principle of resonance

The historical reference dates back to 1665, the year in which Christiaan Huygens observed the synchronization of two pendulum clocks. Armin Strom translates that principle into the in-house ARF21 caliber, where two independent adjustment systems are connected through a patented resonance clutch. The vibrations are thus transmitted between the two systems until the balances are synchronized. The aim is not only to create visual symmetry, but to maintain synchronization during use on the wrist and contribute to chronometric stability. The movement operates at 3.5 Hz, or 25,200 vibrations per hour, and offers a power reserve of 80 hours through two independent barrels. A flyback mechanism also allows the two seconds hands to be reset to zero simultaneously.

Mechanics become part of design

The skeletonized plate leaves the resonance system widely visible, creating the impression that the mechanism is suspended within the movement. The gold-colored surfaces thus also become a backdrop for craftsmanship: hand-beveled and polished corners, black-polished screws, perlage and circular satin finishing.

Armin Strom extends the same care to the less visible parts of the movement. Each watch is also assembled twice: the first phase is used for construction and operation, the second for the final verification of precision and performance. The caliber comprises a total of 260 components and 39 jewels.

Only 25 pieces

The Mirrored Force Resonance Zeitgeist 1665 3N is made in just 25 pieces worldwide. Each case back is individually engraved with the words "1 out of 25". The price is set at 82,000 Swiss francs. Armin Strom uses the color of gold not to transform the case into an exercise in opulence, but to highlight what constitutes the heart of the project: the architecture of the movement, manual work and one of the most fascinating mechanical phenomena in the history of watchmaking.

By the editorial staff, Avion Luxury Magazine

Text source and photos: Copyright © Armin Strom Press Office