Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance User manual

OWNERS
MIRRORED FORCE
RESONANCE
CALIBRE ARF21 GUIDE

RESONANCE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
Resonance is a well-documented phenomenon in physics. Two oscillators in close pro-
ximity tend to influence each other and eventually synchronize. Back to the 17th century,
Huygens was the first to observe the synchronization of pendulum clocks hanging from
a common wood beam. Since then, the phenomenon has fascinated many watchma-
kers. But resonance has rarely been attempted, let alone mastered. Most research
has generally focused on uniting two movements and adjusting the distance between
their balance wheels. But with its Resonance concept, Armin Strom proposes one of
the most spectacular and innovative applications of the resonance phenomenon in
watchmaking. The radical innovation lies in its coupling mechanism. The twin balances
are joined together by a steel coupling spring. The tiny vibrations in the spring cause
them to resonate and synchronize. Oscillating at opposing rhythms, they mutually
correct their rate differences to achieve enhanced marine chronometer precision and
stability of rate!
Thank you for buying an Armin Strom watch. To guarantee perfect working of your
watch for many years to come, please pay careful attention to the advice on use set
out in these instruction.

WINDING
Your manual mechanical watch must be wound regularly for it to work properly. To do
so, turn the crown clockwise in the normal crown position.
When fully wound, the watch has a 48h power-reserve. The two barrels of the Mirrored
Force Resonance model are fitted with a slip-spring, which is not locked when the move-
ment is fully wound. Some thirty turns are needed to wind the watch fully. You may
also check the state of winding by looking on the back of your watch at the two barrel
springs compressed around their arbor once the movement has been fully wound.

SETTING THE TIME Pull the crown out one click.
To ensure correct setting of the time,
first rotate the minute hand 5 minutes
ahead of the desired time, then go back
(by rotating counterclockwise) to the de-
sired time.

SETTING THE TIME IMPORTANT: do not operate the crown
or press a button underwater or when
the watch is wet. Always push the crown
back to the normal position once the
settings have been made.

Rapid pressure on the pushpiece at two
o’clock enables the seconds to be reini-
tialised and synchronized with a time
signal. Do not press the pushpiece for
too long. Avoid pressing repeatedly the
pushpiece.

SUSTAINING A
CONSISTENT
RESONANCE STATE:
A SOLUTION TO
THE 200-YEAR OLD
PROBLEM

Resonance watches are so rare precisely
because they are so extraordinarily diffi-
cult to design and produce, as they es-
sentially require two watch movements
to be combined into one unit that utilizes
two independent mainsprings, gear
trains, escapements, and balances. A re-
sonance watch requires its two balance
wheels find a concurrent rhythm so as
to continuously regulate one another.
The follow-on challenge is to consistent-
ly maintain oscillation-rate stability; in or-
der to enlist the resonance phenomenon
to the cause of chronometric precision.
This challenge has historically eluded
even the greatest of watchmakers, as
the fragility of the phenomenon makes
it extraordinarily difficult to consistent-
ly maintain with resiliency to disruption;
particularly in the context of a human
wrist that is both con-tinously engaged
in unpredictable motion and which often
‚bumps into things‘.
The twin balance wheels of the Armin Strom Mirrored Force
Resonance oscillate in opposite direction. If you have not worn
your watch for some time and restart it by manually winding it, the
oscillators will synchronize in less than ten minutes. In case of a
disturbance such as a shock, it takes only a few minutes for the two
balances to find their resonant rhythm once again.

The pursuit of a consistent state of reso-
nance is what ultimately led Claude
Greisler to conclude that Abraham-Lou-
is Breguet’s approach, which achieves
resonance via precise balance-wheel
proximity, was of little actual utility in the
context of his precision-oriented horo-
logical ambitions. Greisler’s goal was to
harness the resonance phenomenon in
a wristwatch with sufficient consistency
to enable his wristwatch to operate with
marine-chronometer precision, despite
the ever-changing positions of the hu-
man wrist. Marine Chronometer accu-
racy targets consistency as its sole goal;
meaning that it must gain or lose preci-
sely the same number of seconds every
single day without variation. Contrast this
with the variable plus/minus approach for
a standard wristwatch and the difference
becomes exceedingly clear. It would re-
quire two balance wheels to dynamically
regulate each other on a consistent ba-
sis in order for Greisler’s ambition to be
achieved. In the end, Greisler’s solution
would require a return to first principles
and a deep exploration of the resonance
theories of Christiaan Huygens (the fat-
her of mathematical physics and the in-
ventor of the pendulum clock; who had
died over 50 years before Breguet was
even born). In keeping with his desire to
restrict his solution to the same materials
that his watchmaker-grandfather could
have used, Greisler’s developed his
„Huygens Resonance Clutch Spring“ in
steel. He spent three years perfecting its
shape and characteristics: recalculating,
optimizing, simulating, testing, retesting
and achieving incremental improve-
ments until the ‚Huygens Clutch Spring‘
had developed into its current form. This
patented clutch spring design main-
tains an optimal a state of resonance by

synchronizing two sets of oscillators
(comprising twin balance wheels and
balance springs) in what Huygens descri-
bed as a state of ‚odd sympathy‘ (oscilla-
ting in perfect consonance but in opposi-
te directions, while synchronized in anti-
phase).
WATER RESISTANCE
Your Armin Strom watch is water resis-
tant to 50m. The water resistance of a
watch can be compromised by external
factors (such as shocks, perspiration,
cosmetics or salt water) or by the natural
aging process of the gaskets. That is why
water resistance cannot be permanently
guaranteed, and the gaskets must be
periodically replaced. We recommend
having a water-resistance check con-
ducted every two years. Always make
sure that the crown is pressed back in
the normal position.

Claude Greisler
Co-Founder
Dear Collector, You are the proud owner
of an ARMIN STROM timepiece. Our sin-
cere congratulations on your purchase!
We hope you derive great pleasure from
your watch and thank you for your con-
fidence in us.
Serge Michel
Founder

WARRANTY
Your Armin Strom watch is warranted
against manufacturing defects for a pe-
riod of five years from the original pur-
chase date. Within the framework of
this warranty, any servicing or repair work
on your Armin Strom watch must be car-
ried out by an authorized Armin Strom
service center.
In order to benefit from your Armin
Strom warranty, you will be required to
present to Armin Strom or any Armin
Strom authorized Retailer, your warranty
Certificate duly completed, dated, stam-
ped and signed by Armin Strom or an
Armin Strom Authorized Retailer.
NOTE The international warranty does
not in any way affect the consumers’
rights legally recognized by the applica-
ble national legislation.
The warranty does not cover: •defects
or damages after the warranty expires
•damages resulting from the misuse,
negligence or accident •defects or da-
mages resulting from unauthorized mo-
difications or repairs •theft, loss, acts of
God, accidents and natural disasters •
wear and tear from normal ageing and
use of the watch •damages resulting
from the contact with water if water re-
sistance tests have not been performed
every two years and each time the case
was opened, or, if your watch is not water
resistant

MAINTENANCE AND CARE
Like any sophisticated instrument that
can be subjected to a wide variety of
stresses and strains, your Armin Strom
requires proper care and regular main-
tenance. We generally recommend that
a maintenance service should be carried
out every 3 to 5 years. To ensure that the
service is carried out professionally, take
your watch to Armin Strom or an authori-
zed Armin Strom retailer.
We recommend the following considera-
tions, so that your watch is preserved as
long as possible: •keep your watch away
from exposure to magnetic fields like
electric devices, speakers or other elec-
tromagnetic appliances •avoid wearing
your watch during activities involving
strong vibrations or impacts •avoid ex-
posing your watch to extreme climatic
changes, in particular changes in tem-
perature or humidity such as saunas •
take your watch off before you swim in
seawater. Rinse your watch with fresh
water after exposure to salt water •Avo-
id contact with cosmetics or corrosive
products as these may damage seals,
straps or case •to clean your watch, sim-
ply wipe it with a little soapy water and
dry it with a soft cloth •When not being
worn, keep your watch in a cool dry place

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