The Armin Strom x Revolution Dual Time GMT Resonance “Tremblage” stands as a quietly dazzling achievement within contemporary haute horlogerie, embodying both intellectual depth and artisanal bravura. Conceived as a micro-edition of five unique watches in collaboration with Revolution’s twentieth anniversary, this piece is a lucid demonstration of what occurs when rigorous watchmaking meets the free spirit of artistry. With a price just over the marque’s own Manufacture Edition Black, its CHF 100,000 entry point belies rare qualities and touches that will be recognised by those who seek horological distinction beneath the surface.
Resonance and Artistry Unveiled
The dial is an arena of contrasts and harmonies, a theatre where technical ingenuity intersects with visual opulence. Twin solid yellow gold dials are deployed, each one hand engraved in the “Tremblage” style by master Juliane Gfeller. This technique, more akin to micro-etching than to traditional hand engraving, sets each dial trembling with a unique optical effect, as if the surface itself were alive with motion, a feat that transcends mechanical repetition. The placement of the two balance wheels side by side at the top evokes both symmetrical order and kinetic drama, letting the eye wander from Gfeller’s tremblage to the almost hypnotic oscillation above. Each dial houses separate hour and minute subsidiary dials, enabling dual time functionality. This does not disrupt the unity of the presentation, but rather gives the whole a purposeful dynamism, accentuated by a blackened steel day/night indicator subtly tucked within the layout.
Innovation in Resonance
The technical heart of the “Tremblage” is the ARF22 calibre, a mechanism that does not merely replicate the resonance phenomenon, but enables and empirically proves it in a modern wristwatch context. Claude Greisler’s patented clutch, connecting the studs of opposing hairsprings, compels the two balances to move in perfect synchrony. Any shock to one balance wheel is immediately counteracted by the other, restoring order in a way unattainable by independently running balances. This is not just academic: it’s been tested by Switzerland’s CSEM, not just theorised but demonstrated. The calibre vibrates at 25,200 vph, offering an assured 42-hour power reserve. Movement finishing is deeply expressive: black-polished steel bridges with anglage, a gold-frosted baseplate echoing the warmth of the dial, and pronounced circular graining adorning the ratchet wheel, which is dial-side, a deliberate act to balance both form and mechanical intrigue. The back reveals marine chronometer-style bridges framing the third wheels, accentuating the architecture and inviting contemplation rather than mere admiration.
Proportions and Texture
Where its predecessor, the Mirrored Force Resonance, stretched to 43mm, the Dual Time GMT Resonance “Tremblage” is contained within a classically proportioned 39mm stainless steel case, just 9.05mm thick. This controlled restraint enables both comfort and coherence, inviting wear and close study rather than showy prominence. The steel contrasts with the golden warmth of the baseplate and dials, while the winding and time-setting crown is precisely judged in tactile feel and acoustic feedback, as fine-tuned by Greisler himself. The overall aesthetic is decidedly reminiscent of 18th century chronometry, but it never lapses into pastiche. Running deeper, every specification is laser-engraved, from water resistance (5ATM) to model hallmarks, and the watch is paired with textured calf leather, a choice that feels both period-appropriate and visually contemporary.
Resonance as Living Art
What emerges in the Dual Time GMT Resonance “Tremblage” (CHF 100’000) is the encounter between scientific rigour and human expression. Far from being content with traditional notions of resonance or finishing for its own sake, Armin Strom and Revolution have conjured something that breathes, pulses, and trembles, both literally and figuratively. It is a timepiece that rewards thoughtful engagement, whether in decoding its technical innovations or contemplating the uniqueness of each dial’s tremblage. Limited to five, and available exclusively at RevolutionWatch.com, its rarity is undoubted. But its cultural and technical significance lies in having demonstrated that contemporary watchmaking can be both distinctive and deeply poetic, a true artefact for the future collector and connoisseur alike.
