Independent Swiss watch manufacturer Armin Strom has created a unique, artistic model of the Mirrored Force Resonance, exclusively for the upcoming edition of the TimeForArt auction.
The Armin Strom x Franz Gertsch collaboration is a one-of-a-kind timepiece that features a real lapis lazuli stone dial, with an ultramarine pigment similar to what the late artist Franz Gertsch (1930-2022) used in some of his most celebrated works during his “Blue Phase.”
The Mirrored Force Resonance Lapislazuli (Ref. ST24-RF.GERTSCH) is powered by Armin Strom’s in-house manually wound caliber ARF21 patented resonance movement that beats at 3.5Hz, has a 48-hour maximum power reserve, and features central hours and minutes, and twin Resonance seconds discs. The movement uses the company’s advanced regulating system with two independent balance wheels connected by a resonance clutch spring, designed to achieve high levels of chronometric level precision across the entire power band, thanks to the phenomenon known as resonance.
The Resonance Lapislazuli is housed in a 43 mm x 11.55 mm stainless steel case with sapphire crystals protecting the front and back and is water-resistant to 30 meters. A vivid layer of ultramarine adorns the main dial and dial sectors of the Mirrored Force Resonance Lapislazuli, and to achieve consistent color and quality, Armin Strom collaborated with dial experts ArteCad, who worked with this rare pigment to achieve the spectacular brilliance of the hue seen in the watch. Hand-finished stainless steel skeletonized hour and minute hands tell the time, along with dual synchronized second discs, that oscillate to and fro in opposites directions.
Armin Strom says, “The distinctive feature that marks the Armin Strom x Franz Gertsch Mirrored Force Resonance as a unique creation, is the dial overlaid with pulverized and refined lapis lazuli. This decorative stone, often used in fine watchmaking, creates a symbolic link to Franz Gertsch’s artistic legacy in this unique timepiece. The final works of Franz Gertsch’s career were monumental paintings, characterized by the use of ultramarine, a rich blue pigment derived from lapis lazuli that has been favored by artists since antiquity. In recognition of the visual impact of Gertsch’s intensive Blue Phase, the ultramarine on the dial of this unique Mirrored Force Resonance comes from the same spot of lapis lazuli where Gertsch acquired the pigments for his paintings.”
Gertsch was closely associated with the family of Armin Strom founder Serge Michel. “This connection stems from a longtime appreciation of the Michel family for Gertsch’s artistic oeuvre, culminating in the family’s dedication of the Museum Franz Gertsch in Burgdorf, Switzerland. The Michel family’s deep appreciation of fine craftsmanship is also reflected in their long-standing relationship with Mr Armin Strom, the master skeletonizer. Burgdorf – the small town where the Franz Gertsch Museum is located – is also the birthplace of Mr Armin Strom. This connection has deepened since Serge Michel and Claude Greisler, who also grew up in Burgdorf, took over the brand from Armin 15 years ago and transformed it from a one-man workshop into a fully integrated manufacture with 42 employees. Their shared commitment to precision and craftsmanship, similar to the work of Franz Gertsch, emphasizes the deep connection between the Michel family, the museum, and the world of craftsmanship,” according to Armin Strom.
With real ultramarine lapis lazuli blue pigment originally used by Franz Gertsch, and only one being made, the watch is like the artwork that Gertsch created.
The Armin Strom x Franz Gertsch Mirrored Force Resonance Lapislazuli comes on a nubuck leather strap with white stitching and a double folding clasp in stainless steel.
Armin Strom is participating for the first time in TimeForArt, a biennial charity auction benefiting contemporary art. The second edition will take place in December 2024 at Phillips in New York, in Association with Bacs & Russo.
Learn more at TimeForArt or Armin Strom.
Photos by Armin Strom.