Key Highlights
- Aventurine dial evoking a star-filled night sky, produced through a centuries-old glassmaking process
- Manual-winding manufacture calibre ARF22 with patented resonance clutch synchronising two independent regulating systems
- Dual time zone display with independent hours, minutes and day/night indicator per zone
- 39 mm stainless steel case; movement visible through sapphire crystals on both sides
- Rose gold-coloured mainplate, mirror-polished balance bridge with hand-bevelled edges
- Limited edition of 15 pieces; reference ST26-DT.CT; CHF 105,000
A Dial That Reads as Astronomy
Aventurine occupies a singular position among dial materials. Produced through a controlled fusion of glass and metallic oxides — a process with roots in Venetian glassmaking — it generates an internal scattering of light that no photograph fully resolves. On this Dual Time GMT Resonance, Armin Strom uses aventurine to transpose the depth of a night sky onto a 39 mm canvas, framed by black azurage chapter rings that sharpen the celestial impression.
Against this cool luminosity, the rose gold-coloured mainplate visible beneath the dial side introduces warmth and structural presence. Rose gold-coloured applied indexes and facetted hands complete the chromatic dialogue, while rhodium-coated and steel components add a refined metallic grey that holds the composition in balance. The result reads not as decoration but as considered contrast.
The ARF22 Calibre and Its Resonance Principle
Armin Strom has built its identity around resonance — the physical phenomenon in which two oscillators in proximity begin to share energy and synchronise. The manufacture calibre ARF22, entirely designed and produced in Biel/Bienne, applies this through a patented resonance clutch that links two independent regulating systems. Both balance wheels oscillate in harmony, and that constant interaction elevates chronometric stability beyond what a single oscillator achieves alone.
The practical application here is a GMT complication of real utility: each time zone carries its own hours, minutes and day/night indicator, independently set. The movement operates at 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph) with a 42-hour power reserve. Its 231 components are mounted in a movement measuring 34.15 × 4.92 mm, bearing 40 jewels. For collectors following Armin Strom’s resonance progression, the Mirrored Force Resonance Ruby offers an instructive companion reference.
Finishing as Architecture
Dial Side
The mirror-polished balance bridge, finished with hand-bevelled edges, stands as the focal point on the dial side — its steel surface catching the light in direct counterpoint to the warm mainplate beneath. Circular graining, perlage and black-polished elements layer across the movement’s open-worked architecture, each technique applied by hand. Armin Strom assembles every watch twice: first for mechanical calibration, then disassembled and rebuilt to verify finishing integrity across every component.
Caseback
Through the sapphire caseback, the rose gold-coloured gear-train bridges mirror the dial-side chromatic language, and Côtes de Genève decoration runs across the plates. The coherence between front and reverse is intentional — Armin Strom describes this as the Science of Movement, a commitment to making mechanics as readable as a dial. The Tribute² Aurum demonstrates how the brand applies this same ethos across different material registers.
Case, Strap and Edition Details
The 39 mm stainless steel case measures 9.05 mm in height, with a 44.50 mm lug-to-lug span — proportions that wear with restraint on the wrist. Anti-reflective sapphire crystal and caseback keep the movement legible from all angles. Water resistance is rated at 5 ATM. The matte grey alligator strap with grey stitching and stainless steel pin buckle holds the aesthetic register: no colour competes with the dial.
Fifteen pieces will be made. At CHF 105,000, the Dual Time GMT Resonance Aventurine sits at the confluence of material poetry and proprietary mechanical science — a combination that defines Armin Strom’s low-volume approach to independent Swiss watchmaking.
For more on horology that matters in the Gulf, sign up for our weekly editorial briefing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the aventurine dial on the Armin Strom Dual Time GMT Resonance special?
The aventurine dial is produced through a centuries-old Venetian glassmaking process that fuses glass with metallic oxides, creating internal light scattering that evokes a star-filled night sky. This unique material generates shifting light effects that cannot be fully captured in photographs, giving the 39 mm dial exceptional depth and luminosity.
How does the ARF22 calibre’s resonance clutch improve timekeeping?
The patented resonance clutch links two independent regulating systems whose balance wheels oscillate in harmony and share energy, elevating chronometric stability beyond what a single oscillator can achieve. This resonance principle is central to Armin Strom’s identity and ensures constant synchronisation between the two regulating systems.
What are the independent functions for each time zone on this watch?
Each time zone has its own hours, minutes and day/night indicator that can be independently set, making the GMT complication genuinely practical for dual time zone tracking. The watch operates at 3.5 Hz with a 42-hour power reserve and contains 231 components, including 40 jewels.
