Armin Strom is launching today the ZEITGEIST, a one-of-a-kind timepiece featuring a resonating dual regulator. Price CHF 160,000 / € 150,000
Armin Strom's first Mirrored Force Resonance model - 2016
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the brand's resonance technology, the Swiss manufacture is presenting today the Zeitgeist, a unique piece that puts the spotlight on their Resonance Clutch Spring and its capability to ensure maximum precision while delivering a fascinating spectacle on the dial side.
By exposing the entire mechanism, the Zeitgeist also pays tribute to the tradition of the brand in the art of skeletonization.
More than just a commemorative timepiece, this special wristwatch marks the next chapter for resonance watches.
Mechanical resonance is a physical phenomenon which can affect most objects. Due to resonance, even a relatively weak vibration in one object could drive another object to oscillate. In watchmaking only few watchmakers attempted to take advantage of this phenomenon to improve accuracy, precision and rate stability of a timepiece.
Taking inspiration from the works of master watchmakers of the past like Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695), Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823) and Antide Janvier (1751-1835), Armin Strom invested a lot of efforts and research in the application of resonance principles to oscillating systems (to find more on the history of resonance watches you can read this feature article).
In fact, two oscillating mechanisms can transmit vibrational energy between each other, each affecting the other’s rate. When two balance wheels are mounted to a common structure, small vibrations – i.e. waves of energy – are shared through the structure supporting the oscillators, whose rate will be averaged by speeding the slower up and slowing the faster down until they perfectly synchronize holding each other at a consistent rate.
Based on Breguet’s experiments, Armin Strom learned that the most effective way to create resonance was to link the two oscillators via the shared suspension, the Resonance Clutch Spring in the Zeitgeist (and in the previous Mirrored Force Resonance models).
Crafted from a single piece of steel, the Resonance Clutch Spring is designed to transfer energy between both hairsprings and quickly bring the balance wheels into resonance. Armin Strom remarks that this new generation of resonance is the quickest and most reliable on the market, synchronizing faster than any other watch using resonance.
This flexible suspension connecting the two hairsprings with its balance wheels also contributes to make the watch more resistant to shocks or vibrations. For sure, a theoretical precision would be pointless without reliability and consistency.
The choice to make the Resonance Clutch Spring in steel is due to the fact that this material has proved to perform more consistently than high-tech materials like silicon. This approach is in line with the attention of the brand to always deliver timepieces that are built to last over time, also using proven materials and modern methods that will increase longevity and ensure full serviceability.
The 43 mm x 11.55 mm case in platinum houses the manufacture Caliber ARF21_ZG, hand-wound a movement created in-house by Armin Strom’s watchmakers using traditional watchmaking metals like German silver, steel, and brass.
Comprised of 260 components, the movement beats at a frequency of 3.5 Hz (25,200 vibrations per hour) and guarantees an autonomy of 80 hours. The push-button at 2 o'clock controls the twin seconds flyback.
The stainless steel hands manually crafted by Armin Strom and few dial components in 18ct white gold with “vernis laqué poli” finish complete the ensemble protected by sapphire crystals on both sides. Cantilevering off the edge of the movement, the Resonance Clutch Spring and dual balance wheels play the role of the protagonists, almost suspended in space.
Matched to a black alligator leather strap with double folding clasp and water resistant to 5 ATM (approximately 50 metres / 165 feet),he one-of-a-kind Zeitgeist (ref. PT21-ZG.50) by Armin Strom has a price of CHF 160,000 / Euro 150,000 / US$ 170,000. arminstrom.com
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