Only Watch 2017 – The Artistic Armin Strom Manual Made With Painter Hunt Slonem

For Only Watch 2017, the 7th edition of the biennial charity auction, Armin Strom have created a special piece for the event. One of the 49 participating brands this year, the modern Swiss watchmaker’s unique timepiece is a fusion of their own horologic talents and those of the expressive American painter, Hunt Slonem. Here is the Artistic Armin Strom Manual Hunt Slonem.

The Armin Strom Manual Hunt Slonem Only Watch 2017 unique edition is presented in the classical titanium case of 43.4mm, which has previously been used on various models of the brand – such as the Skeleton Pure Air. For this model, it fastens to the wrist with a black alligator strap, featuring a cool hornback style with contrasting white stitching. In order for the main focus of this unique watch to be its artistic dial, and not watchmaking complications, Armin Strom have chosen to power it with their simplest movement, the calibre AMW11. This manually wound option which incorporates a small seconds, is however, not bereft of evidence of this brand’s watchmaking prowess.  It features a 5-day power reserve from a single barrel, a slow frequency rate of 2.5Hz and finely decorated and hand-engraved main-plate and bridges. As is a tradition of this brand, the movement has been developed and manufactured in-house.

The dial side of the Armin Strom Manual Hunt Slonem Edition Only Watch 2017 is a screen onto which Hunt Slonem’s contemporary art has been transferred. A composition of pastel hues and powerful lines, it continues the artist’s “bunny paintings” series.  The successful future bidder of this piece will not only acquire this unique watch, but also a hand-signed Hunt Slonem original artwork, which takes up the colours and motifs of the timepiece in a 46cm x 31cm format. For this work entitled “Rex”, the artist has used metal pigments in oil paint as the base for his characteristic linear styling.

Hunt Slonem (born July 18, 1951) is an American, New-York based, painter, sculptor, and printmaker. He is best known for his Neo-Expressionist paintings of tropical birds and bunny paintings. Slonem’s works are included in many important museum collections all over the world (over 250 museums) and he exhibits regularly at both public and private venues.   He has also received numerous honors and awards. The choice for bunnies refers to the Chinese zodiacal sign of his birth year, the hare, a symbol which he has been using since the early 1980s.

Only Watch is a biennial fundraiser for research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy –  Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies (AMM). Organized under the patronage of HSH Albert II de Monaco, the 7^th edition gathers a record 48 participants. Only Watch 2017 will be auctioned by Christie’s in Geneva in November 2017. For more information, please visit www.onlywatch.com.

Technical Specifications – Armin Strom Manual Hunt Slonem Edition Only Watch 2017

• Case: 43.4mm diameter x 13mm height – grade 5 titanium, polished and brushed – sapphire crystal on both sides – 50m water resistant
• Dial: Unique dial with Hunt Slonem’s painting transferred
• Movement: Calibre AMW11, in-house – manual wind – 2.5Hz frequency – 5-day power reserve – hours, minutes, small seconds
• Strap: Alligator leather with titanium pin buckle
• Unique Piece for Only Watch 2017 – delivered with hand-signed original painting
• Estimate: CHF 10,500 – 18,500