Introduction: A Tribute to Resonance in a Wristwatch
Armin Strom has long been at the forefront of exploring resonance in timekeeping. The new Mirrored Force Resonance Zeitgeist 1665 continues this tradition by imagining what a portable resonance watch might look like if conceived centuries ago. It blends scientific curiosity with historic design cues to produce a timepiece that speaks to both engineers and enthusiasts alike.
Historical Context: From Huygens to the Modern Wrist
The concept of resonance traces back to Christiaan Huygens, who in 1665 observed two pendulum clocks synchronizing when placed in proximity. This discovery laid the groundwork for a mechanism that could stabilize precision through coupled oscillations. Modern watchmakers, including Armin Strom, have carried that legacy forward, culminating in a movement that makes resonance a literal, visual, and technical feature on the wrist.
Design Philosophy: Retro-Futurism with 17th–18th Century Cues
The Zeitgeist 1665 is a study in retro-futurism, merging period styling with contemporary watchmaking techniques. The 43mm stainless steel case is sculpted with sharply angled lugs and a bezel lip, while the dial reveals a deep dive into the movement. The display eschews a traditional dial for an offset hours/minutes disc, with twin running seconds on the left. The result is a reading experience that feels both historic and forward-looking.
Dial and Movement: A Portrait of Craft On Display
At first glance, you notice the dial’s cream-white, lacquered tracks and heat-blued hands crafted in-house. The hours/minutes indication is intentionally opened to expose the AFR21_ZG in-house calibre. The left-side view is dominated by the two balance wheels and their independent gear trains—each with its own barrel—linked only by a clutch spring. This arrangement lets the two oscillators influence one another while maintaining independent regulation.
Technical Mastery: How Resonance Is Achieved
Armin Strom’s twin-regulator system is connected by a unique clutch spring, allowing the balance wheels to breathe in synchrony. When desynchronization occurs, the running seconds subdials reveal the misalignment, providing a visual cue long appreciated by connoisseurs. A quick press at 2 o’clock resets the running seconds hands, restoring harmony in an instant. The movement runs at 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph) and benefits from a two-barrel setup to deliver up to 80 hours of power reserve.
Finishing and Craftsmanship: A Thing of Beauty
Every one of the 260 movement parts is treated with meticulous finishing. The mainplate and bridges feature a fine-grained matte rose gold PVD, complemented by hand-bevelled edges, black polished screws, and varied brushing. Skeletonised barrels and a clearly visible clutch spring add depth to the spectacle of the mechanism. Each Zeitgeist model bears hand-engraved status and is produced in a strictly limited run, underscoring its exclusivity.
Availability and Price: A Collector’s Proposition
The Mirrored Force Resonance Zeitgeist 1665 arrives on a grey Alcantara strap with matching stitching, quick-release pins, and a steel pin buckle. Limited to 25 pieces, it carries a price tag of CHF 82,000 before taxes. While steep, the value is anchored in technical prowess, artisanal finishing, and the rarity of a resonance-focused wristwatch.
A Nod to the Past, A Glimpse of the Future
All told, the Zeitgeist 1665 is more than a watch. It is a wearable chronicle of scientific curiosity and independent watchmaking prowess. By placing Huygens’s discovery under a modern lens, Armin Strom crafts a timepiece that educates the eye as it pleases it, making the mysterious waltz of two oscillators legible and beautiful on the wrist.
