Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Fire. A real technical feat, the Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance The new Mirrored Force Resonance timepiece, introduced today by the Swiss independent watchmaker Armin Strom, features a patented resonating dual regulator developed for maximum precision while displaying its fascinating mechanism on the dial side. Fire (ref. RG15-RF.5N) will be produced in a limited edition of 50 pieces with a price of Swiss Francs 67,000.
In physics, resonance is a phenomenon in which two oscillating bodies in close proximity influence each other and eventually synchronize at a preferential frequency with one body acting as the "exciter", and the second as the "resonator".
The new Mirrored Force Resonance timepiece, introduced today by the Swiss independent watchmaker Armin Strom, features a patented resonating dual regulator developed for maximum precision while displaying its fascinating mechanism on the dial side.
Highly complex to develop, a resonance mechanism has the primary goal to increase precision and rate stability and utilizes two independent mainsprings, gear trains, escapements, and balances, each connected by a rack and pinion to allow fine tuning of the distance between them.
Precise adjustment of the distance between the two regulators is necessary to incite resonance, which sees the two balances finding a concurrent rhythm in opposite directions in order to average out errors for maximum accuracy.
The main advantages of resonance are three:
1. A stabilizing effect on timekeeping (advantageous to accuracy).
2. A conservation of energy (think of a professional cyclist riding in the shadow of another cyclist in a racing situation).
3. A reduction of negative effects on timekeeping accuracy due to outside perturbation such as shock to the balance staff, which in turn keeps the rate more stable and increases precision.
The resonant Calibre ARF15 is a manually wound movement that was conceived, manufactured, assembled, and regulated in-house. It beats at a 3.5 Hertz (25,200 vph) frequency, allowing the observer to really appreciate the patented, resonant regulators in action as well as the symmetrical twin display of seconds. The power reserve is 48 hours.
Developing the resonance clutch spring needed to realize the Mirrored Force Resonance’s twin display of seconds was a real challenge. Armin Strom’s technical director Claude Greisler and his team spent two and a half years perfecting the shape and characteristics of the steel spring: calculating, optimizing, simulating, testing, and improving until the spring had the optimal, unique form needed to connect the two sets of oscillators, each comprising twin balance wheels and balance springs.
If the 48-hour power reserve has been exhausted and the movement requires to be wound again, the twin balance wheels will need approximately 10 minutes to become synchronous. In case of any outside influence in the form of shock, it takes only a few minutes for the two balances to find their resonant rhythm once again.
This behaviour is explained by the fact that the resonance clutch spring connects the balance spring studs which receive the impulses rather than the balance wheels.
The dial is dominated by the resonance mechanism but the time can be read very clearly thanks to the large rose gold hands and the offset black sub-dial. The effect of the two connected oscillators making their revolutions in opposite directions - one rotating clockwise and the other counterclockwise - is simply mesmerizing.
The push-button at 2 o’clock resets the twin seconds’ displays to zero, simultaneously resetting the twin balance wheels.
Water resistant to 50 metres / 165 feet, the rose gold case of the Fire version has a diameter of 43.40 mm with a thickness of 13.00 mm.
The new model is matched to a genuine brown alligator horn-back strap and rose gold ardillon buckle as well as an additional brown rubber strap. A double-folding clasp in rose gold is available as an option.
A real technical feat, the Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Fire (ref. RG15-RF.5N) will be produced in a limited edition of 50 pieces with a price of Swiss Francs 67,000. arminstrom.com
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