Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Ice Blue

The pursuit of chronometric perfection has led watchmakers down numerous paths of mechanical innovation. Among the most complex and fascinating of these is the principle of resonance. First observed in the 17th century, this physical phenomenon involves the synchronization of two oscillating bodies, leading to a more stable and accurate system. In the world of high-end watchmaking, successfully harnessing resonance within the confines of a wristwatch is a monumental achievement. The independent Swiss manufacture Armin Strom has made this very science a cornerstone of its identity, culminating in creations that are as mechanically brilliant as they are visually compelling. Their latest offering, the Mirrored Force Resonance Ice Blue, is a striking testament to this dedication.



Armin Strom, the company, carries the name of its founder, a man who became a legend in the watchmaking community for his mastery of skeletonization. From his workshop in Burgdorf, Switzerland, Mr. Strom spent decades meticulously cutting away excess material from movements, transforming them into intricate, transparent mechanical sculptures. His work was not merely decorative; it was a philosophical statement about revealing the soul of the machine. This core idea of "transparent mechanics" became the brand's DNA, a legacy that would be carried forward and amplified in an unexpected way.



In 2006, the brand entered a new era under the stewardship of two childhood friends, Serge Michel and master watchmaker Claude Greisler. Having grown up in the same town, they were captivated by the work of Mr. Strom. Rather than simply continue the tradition of skeletonizing existing movements, their ambition was far greater: to transform Armin Strom into a fully integrated manufacture. They established a new facility in Biel/Bienne and set out to design, develop, and produce their own calibers from the ground up, merging traditional Swiss-German horological principles with a bold, contemporary vision.



This revitalization led to the creation of several watchmaking pillars for the brand, with the Resonance collection standing out as its most technically ambitious. The collection is built entirely around the complex challenge of synchronized timekeeping. The Mirrored Force Resonance Ice Blue is the latest chapter in this ongoing exploration, a piece that refines the aesthetic while continuing to showcase the profound mechanical ingenuity at its heart. It represents the brand’s relentless drive to not just display the movement, but to make its scientific principles a central part of the visual and functional experience.



Visually, the timepiece is a study in controlled asymmetry and depth. The entire spectacle is contained within a substantial 43 mm stainless steel case, which serves as a frame for the mechanical theater within. There is no traditional, full-coverage dial to speak of. Instead, the observer’s eye is immediately drawn to the left side of the watch, where the intricate dance of the resonance mechanism is on full display. Two balance wheels, oscillating in perfect opposition, are the stars of the show. They are held in place by beautifully hand-finished bridges, whose anthracite color provides a muted, industrial contrast to the moving components.



The architecture of the movement is deliberately open, inviting the viewer to look past the balances and into the gear train. Two open-worked barrels are visible, hinting at the power source for this complex machine. Directly above the twin balances are two separate seconds counters, each with a three-armed hand. These counters run in opposite directions, one clockwise and the other counter-clockwise, providing an immediate and constant visual confirmation that the two regulating organs are indeed synchronized and beating in harmony. This entire mechanical tableau is a direct nod to the brand's heritage of skeletonization, but evolved into something more profound—a functional transparency.



Contrasting this mechanical density is the serene and striking dial on the right side of the watch. For this edition, Armin Strom has introduced a captivating "Ice Blue" color. This is not a simple flat blue, but a surface brought to life with a traditional sunray guilloché pattern. This intricate engraving, accomplished by hand on a classic rose engine lathe, consists of fine lines radiating from the center. The result is a dynamic surface that playfully captures and reflects light, creating a sense of depth and vibrancy that constantly changes with the viewing angle. It provides a cool, calming counterpoint to the kinetic energy of the exposed mechanism.



The off-center dial is framed by a black circular satin-brushed chapter ring, which adds a sharp, defined border to the display of time. Upon this ring are applied, polished baton indexes. These markers, along with the new beveled and polished hands, are meticulously crafted to catch the light, ensuring legibility while contributing to the overall sense of meticulous finishing. The rhodium-plated hands are manufactured entirely in-house by Armin Strom, a testament to their vertical integration and commitment to controlling every aspect of the watch's creation.



The heart of this watch is the manually wound Caliber ARF21, a movement that represents a significant breakthrough in the horological application of resonance. Its development was the result of years of intensive research by Claude Greisler and his team. While the concept of resonance has been understood since Christiaan Huygens observed two pendulum clocks synchronizing on a shared beam in 1665, translating that to the micro-scale of a wristwatch has always been a formidable challenge. The ARF21's solution is both innovative and exceptionally effective.



The caliber features two completely independent regulating systems. Each has its own mainspring barrel, gear train, escapement, and balance wheel. The key to their synchronization is Armin Strom's patented Resonance Clutch Spring. This specially designed and shaped component provides a direct mechanical link between the two hairsprings. This clutch is a marvel of micro-engineering, machined from a single piece of steel, and it is this spring that transmits the vibrational energy from one oscillator to the other, encouraging them to find a shared, stable frequency.



This direct coupling allows the two balance wheels to synchronize far more quickly and reliably than systems that rely on the subtle transmission of vibrations through the movement's mainplate. The result is enhanced chronometric stability and a higher degree of precision. The two balances, beating at a frequency of 25,200 vibrations per hour (3.5 Hz), effectively average out each other's minute errors, whether caused by shocks, gravity, or temperature fluctuations, leading to a more consistent rate over time. The movement provides a power reserve of 48 hours.



A unique feature that enhances the user's connection to the mechanism is a pusher located at the 2 o’clock position on the case. This pusher activates a flyback function for the twin seconds hands, instantly resetting them to zero. This allows the owner to perform a fascinating visual experiment. After a disturbance or after winding the watch, the owner can wait a few moments for the balances to re-synchronize, then press the pusher. Watching the two second hands begin their journey in perfect, mirrored unison provides tangible proof of the resonance mechanism's effectiveness.



The commitment to craftsmanship at Armin Strom extends to every single component, whether visible or hidden. The brand’s philosophy dictates that the quality of finishing is paramount, and this is evident when viewing the watch through either the front or the back sapphire crystal. The bridges are decorated with traditional Geneva stripes and feature hand-beveled and polished edges, a painstaking process that creates sharp internal angles and brilliant, reflective surfaces that can only be achieved by a skilled hand.



Other decorative techniques are employed throughout the caliber, including perlage (circular graining) on the mainplate and black-polishing on the screws. This latter technique creates a surface so perfectly flat that it appears black from most angles, flashing to a brilliant silver when it catches the light just right. This level of detail is not merely for show; it is an integral part of the watchmaking process at the manufacture.



Further underscoring their dedication to perfection, every single watch at Armin Strom is assembled twice. The movement is first fully assembled, tested, and regulated. It is then completely disassembled, and each component is cleaned and meticulously checked for any imperfections before the final assembly takes place. This double-assembly process ensures that both the mechanical precision and the integrity of the hand-finishing meet the brand's exacting haute horlogerie standards.



The case of the Mirrored Force Resonance Ice Blue is crafted from stainless steel, a material choice that lends the watch a contemporary and robust character. Its 43.00 mm diameter and 11.55 mm height give it a confident presence on the wrist, while the relatively contained lug-to-lug distance of 49.60 mm ensures it remains wearable for a variety of wrist sizes. The surfaces of the case are finished with a combination of polished and brushed textures, creating a pleasing interplay of light. Both the front and back crystals are sapphire and treated with an anti-reflective coating to maximize visibility of the mechanical artistry within. The watch has a stated water resistance of 3 ATM, appropriate for a mechanically complex dress piece.



To complement the cool tones of the case and dial, the watch is fitted with a dark blue Alcantara strap. This material, known for its use in high-performance automotive interiors, provides a soft, suede-like texture that is both comfortable and durable. The strap features white stitching that picks up on the brighter elements of the dial and is secured with a classic stainless steel pin buckle, also finished to the high standards of the case.



The Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Ice Blue is a bold statement piece that perfectly encapsulates the brand's identity. It is a tribute to the historical science of chronometry, brought into the 21st century through modern engineering and a unique aesthetic vision. It appeals directly to the collector who appreciates not just the "what" of a watch, but the "how" and the "why."



This timepiece is not a mass-market product. In keeping with Armin Strom's low-volume, artisanal approach, the Mirrored Force Resonance Ice Blue is a strictly limited edition. Only 15 pieces will be created for collectors worldwide, ensuring its exclusivity. The price for this piece of advanced mechanical art is set at $90,000, a figure that reflects the extensive research and development, the in-house manufacturing, the intricate hand-finishing, and the sheer mechanical novelty of the Resonance Clutch Spring system. It is a watch for those who find beauty in the transparent and complex science of movement.



Case: Stainless steel; Diameter: 43.00mm; Height: 11.55mm; Lug-to-Lug: 49.60mm; Water-resistance: 3 ATM; Sapphire crystal and case back with anti-reflective treatment.

Movement: Manually wound Caliber ARF21; Patented Resonance clutch connecting two independent regulating systems; Frequency: 25,200 vph (3.5 Hz); Power Reserve: 48 hours; Twin seconds counters with flyback reset pusher at 2 o'clock.

Dial: Off-center ice blue dial with hand-operated sunray guilloché pattern; Black circular satin-brushed chapter ring with applied polished baton indexes; Rhodium, facetted and polished hands.

Strap: Dark blue Alcantara strap with white stitching; Stainless steel pin buckle.

Price: $90,000

Reference Number: ST25-RF.05

Notes: Limited to 15 pieces. The watch showcases two synchronized balances connected by a patented clutch on the dial side. Each timepiece is assembled twice to ensure mechanical and finishing integrity.