Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The New Armin Strom Minute Repeater Resonance 12:59 First Edition
A more compact, thinner and more refined take on a highly complex chiming watch, now with four gongs, a Westminster sequence and a selectable striking mode!
Armin Strom is an undisputed champion of watchmaking in consistently exploring the physics of resonance. Since the debut of its Mirrored Force Resonance in 2016, the brand has developed a recognisable mechanical signature based on dual oscillators linked by a clutch spring. The new Minute Repeater Resonance 12:59 First Edition revisits one of its most ambitious projects, the chiming resonance watch, but re-engineers it entirely, mechanically and ergonomically.
This new piece follows the earlier Masterpiece Minute Repeater Resonance (2019, now retired), yet almost every aspect has been reconsidered. The case is now significantly more wearable, measuring 42mm in diameter and just 11.7mm thick, a substantial reduction compared to its gigantic, 47.7mm by 16.10mm predecessor. Crafted in titanium, it’s good for comfort and acoustic performance, as the material allows sound waves to travel efficiently. The slider at 9 o’clock both winds and releases the striking mechanism. Water resistance is 30m.
The dial-side design has also evolved: while still openworked, the architecture is different, with a centralised time display rather than the off-centred subdial of the earlier Masterpiece Minute Repeater Resonance.
The hours and minutes are indicated centrally on a suspended chapter ring. The lower half is almost entirely occupied by the regulation system, with twin balance wheels connected by a resonance-clutch spring. At 12 o’clock, the hammers and their corresponding gongs are fully exposed, forming a symmetrical arc across the upper section. The flying governor, with Armin Strom mentioned not once but three times, is positioned beneath the hammers and plays an important role. As the repeater is activated, it regulates the speed of the striking sequence, ensuring that the notes are evenly spaced and acoustically consistent. Traditionally, governors are hidden within the movement; this one is visible on the dial side, spinning rapidly during operation and adding a cool dynamic to the sounding spectacle.
The watch is powered by the new manufacture calibre ARR25. While the Masterpiece Minute Repeater Resonance employed calibre ARR18, developed by Armin Strom and Le Cercle des Horlogers, the ARR25 is an in-house creation. It is a hand-wound movement comprising 506 components, built with Armin Strom’s patented resonance clutch, which connects two complete and independent regulating organs. Each oscillator has its own barrel, gear train, escapement and balance wheel. Through the clutch spring, the two balances influence each other and synchronise, effectively averaging out positional errors and improving rate stability.
While most repeaters use two gongs and two hammers, the ARR25 employs four hammers and four gongs, enabling a Westminster chime. This sequence, familiar from clocks such as Big Ben, divides the time into hours, quarters and minutes using a more elaborate melody rather than simple strikes. Achieving this within a relatively thin movement, just over 6.5mm in height, requires control of space, energy and timing.
Quite possibly the most original feature of this watch is its dual striking mode. The wearer can choose between two functions. In standard mode, the repeater chimes the current time displayed by the hands, as expected. In the alternative “12:59” mode, or what we decided to call a “Show-Off” mode, the watch performs the longest possible sequence: twelve hours, three quarters and fourteen minutes, making the repeater a demonstrator of its capabilities, showcasing the full complexity of the Westminster mechanism, on demand.
The transition between these modes is precise, with the column wheel system (visible on the reverse) providing correct engagement of the selected function. A small aperture close to the dial’s centre on the left indicates the activated mode, turning white or red when the slide is operated (downward movement).
Finishing aligns with Armin Strom’s contemporary approach. On the dial side, the frosted finish contrasts with the mirror-polished hammers and gongs. Bevelled edges and polished sinks define each component. The resonance clutch spring, a critical functional element, is also carefully finished. Turning the watch over reveals a different aesthetic, with Geneva stripes, circular graining and hand-finished details applied across the bridges and plates.
The watch is worn on a grey alligator strap, closed with a titanium pin buckle. Limited to 25 pieces, this First Edition is a continuation of Armin Strom’s resonance research, but also a refinement of its most complex watches, now more compact, more wearable and more coherent. The price is CHF 390,000. For more information, please visit www.arminstrom.com.
