ARMIN STROM – Dual Time GMT Resonance Aventurine

Quick Take

• Aventurine dial crafted through a centuries-old glassmaking process, evoking a star-filled night sky
• In-house manual-winding calibre ARF22 with patented resonance clutch synchronising two independent regulating systems
• Dual time zone display: independent hours, minutes, and day/night indicator for each zone
• 39 mm stainless steel case; sapphire crystals front and back with anti-reflective treatment
• Rose gold-coloured mainplate, mirror-polished balance bridge with hand-bevelled edges, Côtes de Genève on the reverse
• Limited edition of 15 pieces; reference ST26-DT.CT; CHF 105,000

A Dial Cut from the Night Sky

Armin Strom has long explored the tension between architectural legibility and material poetry. With the Dual Time GMT Resonance Aventurine, that tension resolves into one of the brand’s most visually arresting releases. The aventurine dial — formed through a glassmaking tradition predating the industrial era — contains suspended copper-oxide crystals that scatter light unpredictably across the surface. No two viewing angles produce the same effect.

Black azurage chapter rings frame each time zone display, sharpening the contrast against the aventurine ground. Applied rose gold-coloured polished indexes provide orientation without crowding the dial. Rose gold-coloured, facetted, and polished hands complete the palette, while polished and blackened steel day/night discs introduce a further tonal layer. The result is a dial that reads with clarity but rewards sustained attention.

The Resonance Principle in Practice

Calibre ARF22 and the Patented Resonance Clutch

Powering the watch is the manufacture calibre ARF22, entirely designed, developed, and produced in Biel/Bienne. Its defining characteristic is a patented resonance clutch that links two independent regulating systems, causing both balance wheels to oscillate in mutual harmony. Resonance as a horological concept has been theorised for centuries; Armin Strom’s clutch mechanism transforms it into a reliable, repeatable engineering advantage — chronometric stability achieved through physical law rather than additional complexity.

The calibre operates at 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph) with a 42-hour power reserve and comprises 231 components across 40 jewels. Each time zone carries its own hours, minutes, and day/night indicator, making the watch genuinely functional for frequent travellers moving between, say, Geneva and Dubai. Manual winding reinforces the deliberate, engaged ownership experience that defines Armin Strom’s collector proposition.

Finishing as a Form of Argument

Visible through sapphire crystals on both dial and case-back sides, the ARF22 presents Armin Strom’s open-worked architecture in full. The rose gold-coloured mainplate anchors the dial side with warmth; on the reverse, matching gear-train bridges echo that tone across the movement’s rear elevation. The visual language is consistent rather than decorative — colour and structure working in correspondence.

The mirror-polished balance bridge, finished with hand-bevelled edges, functions as the movement’s focal counterpoint: its steel surface catches light in deliberate opposition to the warm mainplate beneath. Rhodium-coated components introduce a refined metallic grey, while hand-polished bevels, black-polished elements, circular graining, and perlage diversify the surface across registers. Côtes de Genève on the reverse side signal the depth of commitment. Every Armin Strom timepiece is assembled twice — first to verify mechanical performance, then disassembled and reassembled to the finishing standard the brand considers final.

Case, Strap, and Edition Parameters

At 39 mm in diameter and 9.05 mm in height — with a lug-to-lug of 44.50 mm — the stainless steel case sits within a contemporary scale that suits both suited and casual wear. A matte grey alligator strap with grey stitching and a stainless steel pin buckle keeps the presentation cooled and understated, resisting the pull toward ostentation. Water resistance is rated at 5 ATM.

The Aventurine edition is limited to 15 pieces at CHF 105,000, reference ST26-DT.CT. For context within the brand’s recent output, the Mirrored Force Resonance Ruby and the Tribute² Aurum reflect a consistent strategy: small runs, high finishing intensity, and materials that carry conceptual weight.

For more on Armin Strom’s manufacture and collection, visit arminstrom.com.

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