What We Know
It feels like the general consensus among some collectors so far is that brands are playing it a bit conservatively at Watches and Wonders this year. Well, not Armin Strom. Smashing it out of the park with their most complicated, technical, and impressive watch to date, the Swiss brand announced a new resonance model featuring a minute repeater that chimes with four hammers on four gongs for the traditional Westminster chime.
But there’s more than that. There is a selection option, where you can switch from the normal repeater chiming function to chiming 12:59 on command, the time with the longest sequence possible: 12-hour chimes, three-quarters, and 14 minutes. If you’ve ever owned a minute repeater but struggled to show off the full flex at a moment’s notice—and who hasn’t?—this watch is for you.
Powered by the incredibly complex Armin Strom Caliber ARR25, the watch has a pretty modest 40-hour power reserve but makes up for it with other impressive features. All of this builds on Armin Strom’s ‘Masterpiece 2,” which featured a minute repeater and resonance system. But it’s much more complex. The front side shows the flying governor on full display at 12 o’clock, regulating the chimes (where the four polished hammers and gongs are also visible). You can also see one of Armin Strom’s signature features: the dual balances and resonance clutch. These are highlighted so you can see how Armin Strom approaches the idea of resonance and syncing (with two independent systems that are connected by a clutch) more directly than a brand like F.P. Journe, which relies on vibrations through the mainplate. The rear shows the two barrels for the two resonators and gear trains. All of this is hand-finished, balancing finishing with technicality.
The watch looks incredibly legible, with many of its great parts on display, but also a lot of blank space for the hands to contrast against. The only indices are the titanium outer track at the edge of the dial. If you think that sounds great, but it should add up for an unwearable watch, well, you’re wrong there. The new Minute Repeater Resonance 12:59 First Edition comes in a 42mm by 11.7mm thick titanium case (with 48mm lug-to-lug). The watch is a serious piece of engineering, so it comes on a serious-sounding strap: a matte grey alligator strap with dark grey stitching and a titanium pin buckle (though I think it would look great on a sailcloth strap). The price, however, is very serious: CHF 390,000 for one of the 25 pieces being made.
What We Think
To steal a phrase from professional wrestling, here comes Armin Strom from the top rope. Oh my god! I think they just killed it. If you expected an affordable watch (with the number of complications, gongs, and chimes that I explained), then I don’t know what to tell you. But putting price aside, this is an incredibly impressive release. A Westminster chime is one of the most beautiful things in watches and very difficult to pull off. Add in the resonance and the wearable size, and it’s a watch worth looking at more closely. We’ll see if we can get a peek at it in the coming week.
The Basics
Brand: Armin Strom
Model: Minute Repeater Resonance 12:59 First Edition
Reference Number: M26-RMR.5N
Diameter: 42mm
Lug-to-Lug: 48mm
Thickness: 11.7mm
Case Material: Titanium
Dial Color: Dial plate (skeletonized)
Indexes: Anthracite titanium dial ring with silver railroad track
Lume: None
Water Resistance: 50m
Strap/Bracelet: Matte grey alligator strap with dark grey stitching and titanium pin buckle
The Movement
Caliber: Armin Strom Caliber ARR25
Functions: Hours, minutes, minute repeater
Diameter: 34.4mm
Thickness: 6.53mm
Power Reserve: 40 hours
Winding: Manual
Frequency: 3.5Hz
Jewels: 74
Chronometer Certified: No
Pricing & Availability
Price: CHF 390,000
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: 25 pieces
For more, click here.
