rmin Strom carefully maintains a pared-down approach that keeps the brand’s style of watchmaking focused on its essence. How concentrated that style may be, a new special edition, the Pure Resonance Sky Blue, heads further in that direction, squarely placing emphasis on the watch’s most remarkable feature: the visible dual balances oscillating in resonance. The special blue dial and the matt hand decorated finish are highlighting the Swiss German style of this timepiece.

The dial offers a “Kari Voutilainen hand Guilloché” subdial for time displays: Roman numerals dominate the off-center subdial displaying hours and minutes in white with steel hands, while a classic railroad track marks the exact minutes. The smaller subdial at 7 o’clock displays seconds using only a baton-shaped hand and a simple track.

The Sky blue colored hand made Guilloché dial from Kari Voutilainen has a special lack finishing (Email à froid) in order to reinforce the unique look of the dial. The Bridges are decorated with succinct, eye-catching côtes de Genève, applied for the first time in straight lines. Its absolutely spectacular movement finishing is often overlooked as the hypnotic pulsation of its clutch spring and the synchronized motion of its two balance wheels provide a mesmerizing distraction that invariably captures most of the attention.

The reason for this watch’s improved chronometry can be found in the straightforward approach to the movement: the fewer functions a timepiece must perform, the better it can concentrate on accuracy. In other words, with no superfluous functions this watch can focus fully on providing the time in marine chronometer precision. The time displays receive their portioned energy from the lower regulator, while the upper regulator remains in place to create resonance.

“My primary objective was to improve chronometric precision via the consistent maintenance of a resonance state. But that consistency was also a prerequisite to sustain a kinetic spectacle on the dial side of our watch. With a great deal of time and effort, our technical and aesthetic ambitions were both ultimately achieved,” stated Claude Greisler, co-founder and master watchmaker.

The outward design of the Pure Resonance perfectly reflects the purity of Caliber ARF16. It is housed in a slim 42 mm white gold case with reduced lugs and crown and practically no bezel, though the characteristic lip at 6 o’clock remains – an homage to the ability of Armin Strom to customize any of its watches as well as to founder Armin Strom, who offered this space to clients for personal engraving (and it can still be used for that).

This special edition of the Pure Resonance looks and acts just like a “normal” three-handed watch. And this remains in line with the philosophy of Armin Strom as a brand: just good, proprietary mechanics presented in an impeccably finished and interesting way. The Pure Resonance Sky Blue is limited to 3 pieces.

Technical specifications: Pure Resonance Sky blue

Reference: PUR-3214

Indications:

Movement: hours, minutes, seconds

Movement: Armin Strom manufacture calibre ARF16; Manual-winding, patented resonance clutch spring, 2 mainspring barrels; Regulating system: two independent regulation systems connected by a resonance clutch spring; Power reserves: 48 hours; Dimensions: 34.40 mm x 7.05mm; Frequency: 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph); Finishing: base plate and bridges are decorated to the highest quality level; Jewels: 38; Number of components: 206

Case: White gold; Sapphire crystal front and case back with antireflective treatment; Diameter: 42.00 mm; Height: 13 mm; Water resistance: 50m

Dials: Sky blue colored hand guilloché by Kari Voutilainen

Hands: polished steel

Strap: delivered with a black alligator strap and stainless-steel double-folding clasp.

Edition: Limited to 3 pieces

Price: CHF 74,000. - (without TVA and taxes)