Armin Strom has unveiled the Mirrored Force Resonance Zeitgeist 1665, a creation imagining how a Resonance wristwatch might have appeared if the phenomenon had been mastered centuries ago.
Since the 17th century, watchmakers such as Christiaan Huygens (1629–1695) have pursued Resonance — the phenomenon where two balance wheels synchronise through subtle vibrations to deliver chronometric consistency, meaning a watch gains or loses the same number of seconds each day.
This consistency was once vital for marine navigation, as accurate longitude calculations depended on steady, predictable timekeeping.
Yet despite the efforts of masters like Huygens and Antide Janvier (1751–1835), Resonance timepieces remained impractical for real-world use due to their fragility; the phenomenon could not withstand motion, shocks, or environmental variations. For more on this topic, read our feature article: “In pursuit of precision: mechanical resonance and watches“.
Drawing inspiration from Janvier’s 18th-century Resonance Clock, Claude Greisler, co-founder of Armin Strom, succeeded in 2016 in developing a wristwatch capable of maintaining stable Resonance even in dynamic conditions (our review here).
Following the Zeitgeist pièce unique in platinum presented at the end of 2021, this new edition is limited to just 25 pieces and crafted from stainless steel.
The Mirrored Force Resonance Zeitgeist 1665 incorporates the Armin Strom Manufacture’s milestone achievement of stable and resilient Resonance in a slim and refined 43 mm x 11.55 mm case, offering optimal everyday wearability and water resistance to 3 ATM (30 metres / 100 feet).
The Calibre ARF21_ZG, a hand-wound movement developed entirely in-house using traditional watchmaking metals such as German silver, steel, and brass, can be admired through the front and rear sapphire crystals.
By exposing the entire mechanism, the Zeitgeist also pays tribute to the brand’s long-standing tradition of skeletonisation.
Comprising 260 components, with rose gold-coloured PVD-coated bridges and main plate, the movement beats at a frequency of 3.5 Hz (25,200 vibrations per hour) and offers a power reserve of 80 hours.
Cantilevering off the edge of the movement, the Resonance Clutch Spring and dual balance wheels take centre stage, appearing almost suspended in space.
Crafted from a single piece of steel, the Resonance Clutch Spring transfers energy between the two hairsprings, quickly bringing the balance wheels into resonance.
This flexible suspension connecting both hairsprings and balance wheels also enhances the watch’s resistance to shocks and vibrations.
The stainless steel hands, manually crafted by Armin Strom, along with dial components in 18-carat white gold with a “vernis laqué poli” finish, complete the ensemble. A push-button at 2 o’clock controls the twin seconds flyback.
Finishing is executed to the highest Haute Horlogerie standards, with hand-bevelled and polished bridges, black-polished screws, perlage, Geneva stripes, and circular graining.
Matched with a dark grey Alcantara strap with grey stitching and a stainless steel pin buckle, the new Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance Zeitgeist 1665 (ref. ST25-RF.ZG) is priced at CHF 82,000.
