It seems as though the independent watchmakers have been on fire over the past half a decade or so. It’s like wave after wave of really cool stuff coming out, and it’s been as consistent as it’s been frequent. The next independent watchmaker to open up their atelier and show the world the full might of their horological abilities is Armin Strom with the Dual Time Resonance Masterpiece 1.
This is not an easy watch to breakdown, particularly due to the fact that this is, by no means, an ordinary timepiece. The Dual Time Resonance Masterpiece 1 is just that, a masterpiece. And often the minutiae details of masterpieces and works of art can go somewhat overlooked, disregarded for the sake of looking at the bigger picture. So as awesome as the Dual Time Resonance Masterpiece 1 is in totality, I think it’s important to look at its finer details, too.
Dimensionally, the Dual Time Resonance Masterpiece 1 is a big watch, no two-ways about it. And boy does it boast some big numbers. Its titanium case measures 59mm in diameter, 43.40mm in length and 15.90mm in thickness. It features a whopping 419-components, and each of its two conical power reserves can hold 110-hours of power reserve. The Dual Time Resonance Masterpiece 1 is big in numbers and in presence.
But to call this watch ordinary would, of course, be doing it a disservice. From an aesthetic perspective, the Dual Time Resonance Masterpiece 1 really is a great looking watch, albeit very different. This is a dual time watch, so that means at any given moment to separate and completely independent time indications will be shown. The masterful way that Armin Strom have achieved this, however, is very interesting.
Instead of having one movement displaying two time zones, Armin Strom have incorporated two separate movements, each displaying an independent time zone. So complex the process of creating this movement was, that Armin Strom’s co-founder and technical director Claude Greisler exclaims, “Developing a perpetual calendar or tourbillon would have been far easier than the years we spent calculating and validating the Resonance Clutch Springs, it was uncharted territory”. The Resonance Clutch Springs actually works to marry up with the regulators controlling the two independent movements, basically keeping things in check and ensuring the smooth recording of time. Sounds simple, but it took Armin Strom three years of research and development to achieve its seamless integration into the Dual Time Resonance Masterpiece 1.
So, what are the benefits of resonance? First off, you get a stabilising effect on timekeeping, thus improving accuracy. Then you get better conservation of energy. And finally, there’s a reduction in negative effects on the movement, keeping the rate stable and ensuring better accuracy.
The Dual Time Resonance Masterpiece 1 does, however, have a fairly polarising look to it. As different and steampunk-like as it looks, it will surely draw some critics. Oh, it’s too big. Oh, it looks too similar to something from MB&F or Angelus Watches. I understand the comparisons, and I too draw the same line of similarities to MB&F HM1 and HM2, and the Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumière. But that’s not a bad thing. These are very successful watches, built on platforms the world hadn’t yet seen. And now we have something else that can go enter the fold of avant-garde high horology: The Dual Time Resonance Masterpiece 1!
I’ve long been a fan of Armin Strom, and while the Dual Time Resonance Masterpiece 1 is probably too outside-the-box for me, I can definitely appreciate its purpose, its technical prowess and its unconventional aesthetic.
The Armin Strom Dual Time Resonance Masterpiece 1 will be released in a limited edition of 8-pieces, and will cost $250,000.
Ratings:
Movement: 5/5
Aesthetics: 3/5
Wearability: 2/5
Affordability: 1/5