Feb. 2, 2012

Between races: Marussia F1™ Team driver Timo Glock visits Armin Strom

Last week, Marussia F1 Team driver and Armin Strom Brand Ambassador, Timo Glock, visited the Armin Strom ‘Manufactory’ in Biel for an insight into the business of watch making, even taking a turn himself on the bench as a watchmaker.

Before the busy 2012 F1 season and intensive pre-season test programme gets underway, Timo took the time to make a personal visit to Armin Strom ‘Manufactory’ in Biel, to get a close-up view of the design and manufacturing process behind the high-quality timepieces. Armin Strom AG has been the official Timing Partner for the Marussia F1 Team since the beginning of 2011, and at last year’s Monaco Grand Prix, Armin Strom provided the Team’s drivers with brand new models from its ARMIN Racing Collection. This year will see Timo Glock partner rookie French driver, Charles Pic.

More accurate than time itself

Featuring the red and black colours of the Marussia F1 Team, the ARMIN Racing Collection is a range of four sporty wrist watches, taking inspiration and design influence directly attributed to the relationship between Armin Strom and the Marussia F1 Team. During his visit to Biel, Timo was fascinated by the timekeeper’s minutely detailed assembly processes, and he immediately saw the parallels with his profession as a Formula 1 driver, where the slightest detail, adjustment and extreme concentration are key to success. Timo experienced this first-hand during the watch assembly process where he demonstrated that he is also sufficiently talented and even inspired him to say he would like to assemble his own watch one day. Armin Strom was pleased to agree to this wish and Timo will return to Biel shortly to fulfil this ambition where he will build his own watch.

The ARMIN Racing Regulator / Special production for and by Timo Glock

Under the professional supervision of the company’s in-house watch specialists, Timo will learn the detailed steps of the manufacturing process starting with the preparation of the individual components - most of which are produced at the Armin Strom Manufactory; the engraving - which is done by hand, thus making each timepiece a truly unique object; the bevelling - during which all corners are shaped manually with great precision and then machine-turned to produce characteristically patterned finishes; and finally, the electroplating process, in which the engraved and decorated components receive a special ruthenium coating. Timo will then assemble his very own unique timepiece that he will wear throughout the whole of the 2012 F1 Season.

Claude Greisler, Head of Product Development zeigt Timo Glock den Hemmungsrad-Trieb, welcher soeben von der Verzahnungsmaschine produziert wurde.

Ein Vergleich: Massives „upright“ (Teil der Radaufhängung der F1-Boliden) und ein Aufzugsrad eines Uhrwerks

Die Uhrenboxen der Racing Collection – alle persönlich von Timo Glock signiert

Timo Glock übt sich in der Assemblage des Uhrwerks – und zeigt grosses Talent!