Armin Strom represents a unique fusion of the swiss-german horological tradition with avant-garde ‘transparent mechanics’ and an unwavering commitment to horological innovation. Our watches are designed to both showcase how our movements actually work and to validate the attention to detail that goes into their production. Whether with a loupe or with the naked eye, with an Armin Strom timepiece there will always be something captivating to see.
Minute Repeater Resonance 1259 First Edition
4 500 000 kr
12:59 Anytime.
Armin Strom introduces the Minute Repeater Resonance 12:59 First Edition, a fully new development inspired by Masterpiece 2, expressed through entirely new proportions and mechanical architecture. Engineered in a more compact 42 mm case, with a slimmer profile, while reaching a new level of mechanical complexity. Requiring meticulous attention to every component.
This evolution is accompanied by a significant increase in mechanical intricacy. The striking system has been expanded from two to four hammers and four gongs, while a newly developed function introduces an additional level of interaction. Through a dedicated selector, the wearer may choose between the conventional indication of time or activate the 12:59 sequence - the longest possible strike of the mechanism.
Beyond its technical advancements, the watch is defined by a singular design language, marked by purity of form and balanced proportions. While remaining fully openworked and three-dimensional, the composition is expressed with greater restraint, favouring softer lines and a more fluid architecture. The resonance clutch has been reoriented to animate upward, bringing the oscillating interaction to the forefront, while the twin balance wheels remain visually anchored on the dial side.
The display is centred, reinforcing a strong sense of equilibrium, as the overall composition focuses on essential elements alone: the resonance system, the four hammers and gongs, and the visible flying governor regulating the cadence of the strike. Conceived as a lasting expression of the complication, the design achieves a rare balance between mechanical intensity and visual harmony, while remaining unmistakably rooted in Armin Strom’s signature transparency
Calibre ARR25: Setting new standards.
At the heart of the timepiece lies the entirely new manual-winding manufacture Calibre ARR25, developed, engineered and produced in-house. Built around Armin Strom’s patented resonance clutch, the movement synchronises two independent regulating systems - each with its own barrel, gear train, escapement and balance wheel - operating in harmonic resonance.
This dual architecture significantly increases mechanical complexity, requiring the precise coordination of twice the number of components found in a conventional striking movement.
The minute repeater mechanism itself has been developed to match this level of sophistication. Equipped with four hammers and four gongs within a remarkably thin construction, the movement delivers a full Westminster chiming sequence. A flying governor, visible on the dial side beneath the hammers, regulates the cadence of the strike, ensuring acoustic consistency and offering a dynamic visual indication.
A further innovation lies in the integration of the 12:59 function, allowing the wearer to select between two distinct striking modes. In standard operation, the watch chimes the time indicated by the hands. Alternatively, it delivers the longest possible sequence - 12 hours, three quarters and fourteen minutes.
This transition is governed by a column wheel system, ensuring precision and reliability. The selected function is indicated via a discreet aperture (white / red), and activation is performed through a slider at 9 o’clock, which both winds and releases the striking mechanism.
Finishing, Tone by Tone.
Beyond its mechanical sophistication, the watch reflects Armin Strom’s commitment to hand craftsmanship. Every component is meticulously finished by hand, with a complete 360-degree decoration by a dedicated in-house team.
On the dial side, the finishing reveals a balance between polished and matte surfaces. The hammers, gongs and resonance clutch spring are mirror-polished, contrasting with the frosted mainplate and bridges. Hand-bevelled edges, polished sinks, and refined textures enhance depth and definition.
The flying governor stands out as a focal point, combining hand-bevelled edges, circular graining, and a contrasting matte engraved surface.
Turning the watch over reveals traditional finishing techniques such as Geneva stripes, straight and circular graining, alongside contemporary textures, creating a composition rich in detail, depth, and visual contrast.
Technical specifications:
Reference:
-
M26-RMR.5N
Indications:
- Hours, minutes
Functions:
- Resonance, Minute Repeater 12:59
Movement:
-
Movement: Armin Strom manufacture Caliber ARR25
- Winding mechanism: Manual winding
- Regulating system: Two independent regulating systems connected by a resonance clutch
- Power reserve: 40 hours
- Dimensions: 34.40 mm × 6.53 mm
- Frequency: 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph)
- Jewels: 74
- Number of components: 506
Case:
- Titanium
- Sapphire crystal and caseback with anti-reflective treatment
-
Diameter: 42.00 mm
-
Height: 11.70 mm
- Lug-to-Lug: 48.00mm
-
Water resistance: 5 ATM / 50 m
Dial ring:
- Titanium, anthracite
Hands:
-
Stainless steel, decorated by hand
Strap:
- Matte grey alligator strap with dark grey stitching.
- Titanium pin buckle
Edition:
- Limited to 25 pieces
About Armin Strom
Armin Strom is an independent watch company based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. Armin Strom timepieces offer a unique fusion of the Swiss-German horological tradition, avant-garde “transparent mechanics” and an unwavering commitment to horological innovation. The hallmark of the brand’s low-volume, artisanal approach to watchmaking is its commitment to exposed dial-side movement mechanics, with every part hand-finished to the highest haute-horology standards.
Armin Strom was established in 1967 by Mr Armin Strom, a legend in the art of hand-skeletonization. In 2006, the stewardship of Mr Strom’s legacy became the responsibility of Master Watchmaker Claude Greisler and businessman Serge Michel, who together revitalized the brand with the opening of Armin’s Strom’s first fully-integrated Manufacture in 2009. Today the brand designs, develops, mills, embosses, galvanizes, hand-finishes and assembles all of its own watches in-house, enabling Armin Strom to bring even the most complicated ideas to life without any of the compromises that typically stem from reliance on a supply chain.
When ‘Mr. Armin Strom’ retired from watchmaking, he transferred ownership of his brand to two boys (by then adults) who had had frequented his workshop so often together in childhood: businessperson Serge Michel and Master Watchmaker Claude Greisler.
In 2009, the revitalized Armin Strom built upon Mr. Strom’s historical legacy with the opening of its first fully-integrated Manufacture; located in Biel, Switzerland.
Today the Manufacture produces all of our timepieces in-house and with great reverence for the Swiss-German watchmaking tradition. Our extraordinary team of dedicated engineers and artisans, led by Master Watchmaker Claude Greisler, uphold that tradition with uncompromising passion and commitment.
Serge Michel is the scion of one of the most prominent families in Switzerland. His unwavering passion and commitment to the business of the Armin Strom Manufacture have made him both the sponsor and the driving business force behind the brand.
Fascinated by watchmaking and watch collecting from a young age, he and his childhood friend Claude Greisler shared a dream of co-founding a watch company; one that would someday produce watches of the very highest quality in the Swiss-German tradition. Today that dream has become a longstanding reality.
Beyond his life in the Manufacture, Serge is a husband and proud father of two girls. His other passions include global travel and wine collecting. Nothing brings a bigger smile to Serge’s face than introducing the latest Armin Strom creation to good friends over a dinner paired with several bottles of fine wine.
Claude Greisler is “a watchmaker’s watchmaker.” His greatest passions are watches (past and present) and complicated watchmaking. In actual fact, watchmaking has been a Greisler family profession for generations. Claude’s training began in his grandfather’s workshop, which led to his formal training, beginning with his completion of a four year program at the “School for Watchmakers and Rhabilleurs” in Solothurn, Switzerland; followed by a two-year program in movement restoration at Centre Interrégionalde Formation des Montagnes [CIFOM] in Le Locle; and then a further two-year program at CIFOM focused on the development and construction of complicated timepieces. Upon the completion of his 8 years of watchmaking education, Claude honed his craft as a watchmaker at Christophe Claret (a brand known for its ultra-complicated timepieces) as the next step in his longstanding ambition: to dedicate himself to the design and production of horologically significant timepieces. Beyond his watchmaking obsession, Claude is also a passionate skier and outdoorsman. Together with his wife, Gaby, Claude explores the Swiss backcountry as often as his responsibilities at the manufacture will allow.
Manufacture
At Armin Strom, we’re obsessed with every detail of every watch that we make. We develop, mill, emboss, galvanize and hand-finish all of our watches in-house. We adhere to the very highest haute-horology standards because we know that Armin Strom collectors appreciate looking at more than just the time.
At Armin Strom, our highly qualified and dedicated team invests an incredible amount of enthusiasm, passion and effort to create watches that are mechanically exceptional and meticulously well-finished. “The only difference between the possible and the impossible is that the impossible takes a little longer.” [Mrs. William Tilton, “The Washington Herald”, 1921].
Our passion for ‘transparent mechanics’ is at the core of our watchmaking design philosophy, but perfection in our execution and in the long-term reliability of our watches is always paramount. These priorities are the hallmarks of the Swiss-German watchmaking tradition. We honor that tradition with every watch that we produce at the Armin Strom Manufacture.
Decoration
Hand engraving
Every piece is unique.
Steel burins in various sizes and wax-coated holders are the tools of the engraver.
In the engraver’s hands, each workpiece becomes a unique work of art. The engraver draws their own motif design on the workpiece with a needle according to their original drawings; working under the microscope.
Polishing
Embellishing every part of a movement makes every Armin Strom watch akin to a hand-crafted piece of jewelry.
Working bare brass or steel by hand is time-consuming work: edges of plates, bridges and levers must be perfectly chamfered or, as watchmakers call it, beveled. Every part is then polished to perfection, even when the embellishment won’t be visible in the finished watch.
Beveling and polishing requires a trained eye and fingertip sensitivity together with both patience and perseverance. For example, even a relatively small part like a pallets bridge will require at least half an hour to complete – and often more than that.
Traditional Grinding
Here a classic fine watch-making finishing technique known as “Geneva Stripes” (Côtes de Genève), is displayed. They’re created via the use an abrasive disc that’s applied in perfectly straight lines to create the Côtes de Genève on the workpiece.
Circular graining (Perlage) is a decorative motif reminiscent of clouds, typically used on main plates. To achieve this pattern, the watchmaker uses an abrasive pencil and gently makes contact with the workpiece, gradually working across the whole surface. This creates the characteristic overlapping circular grained motif.
All rotating parts of an Armin Strom movement are embellished with a circular grinding pattern.
Assembling
Up to this point, they were all just individual parts – turned, milled, polished and decorated. Now the watch will begin to take shape.
The watchmaker uses a pressing tool to insert the jewel bearings for the spindles of the toothed wheels into the plate and bridges. This is a crucial operation. The way the jewels are pressed in influences the correct vertical play of the gear-train. Do the gear-wheels and pinions mesh together correctly? Does the height need adjusting by a few hundredths of a millimeter? Once the gear-train is adjusted, the bridges and plates are screwed down, and the mainsprings are assembled in the going barrels, then the movement is ready to receive the escapement. With the installation of the escapement, consisting of the escape-wheel, the pallets and balance-wheel, the watch comes to life.
After the first assembly, the movement is completely disassembled and each individual part is then cleaned, dried, reassembled and lubricated. After the second assembly, the movement is meticulously regulated before the watchmaker sets the hands and re-inserts the movement back into the case. The back of the case is then fixed in place. The completed watch is subjected to a multi-day rate test on a watch winder. Water resistance is also tested. Once the watch has passed these quality tests, it is finally certified as complete.