Strom Agonium Collection In Memoriam HR Giger

Bienne, October 19th 2017. Swiss watch brand Strom today presents the “In Memorian HR Giger” watch, one of the final projects on which the artist worked before his death in 2014. A veritable “wrist sculpture”, the timepiece features HR Giger’s legendary biomechanoid creature. Acclaimed for his “fantastic-realism” works, HR Giger shot to fame with his creation of the monster in Ridley Scott’s 1979 film, Alien, for which he received an Oscar in the “Best Visual Effects” category the following year.

Deeply saddened by the death of this man, who had also become his friend, Daniel Strom waited three years before presenting the watch that they had created together, named “In Memoriam HR Giger” in tribute to him. For the official launch, he has chosen the HR Giger Museum in Gruyères, which features a sculpture of the biomechanoid creature emblematic of HR Giger’s work proudly displayed at the entrance.

Alongside the artist’s widow, Carmen Giger, the Bienne-based watchmaker unveiled this exceptional watch, of which just 99 pieces have been produced. Sculpted in the silver case, the elongated skulls of the Cyborg creature extend from the lugs, while its body parts are etched into the case middle.

The entirely hand-worked, in silver casted dial was inspired by another of HR Giger’s works, and one of his best-known: the “ELP II” canvas (work no. 217) painted with an airbrush in a single night. A work that was stolen in 2005 and never returned to its rightful owner, despite the presence of tangible clues. For Daniel Strom, with its lively, sensual mouth, the skull in the painting symbolises the ephemeral nature of existence – a subject already explored in one of the preceding creations in his Agonium collection, of which the “In Memoriam HR Giger” is the sixth opus.

From one legendary work to another

The idea was initially to produce a dial inspired by one of HR Giger’s best-known works: his 1973 “ELP II” canvas (work no.217), painted with
an airbrush in a single night. “For me, this highly sensual feminine mouth on a skull is the perfect embodiment of transience, the ephemeral nature of existence” explains Daniel. “Unfortunately, I never had a chance to admire the original work that was stolen in 2005 and never returned to its rightful owner despite the presence of tangible clues. But that didn’t prevent us from reproducing the work on the dial, and above all, from recreating its fascinating 3D relief, thanks to a cunning blend of 3D technology and craftsmanship.”

Once the dial was made in molten silver, blackened and hand-polished, the artist and watchmaker decided to take things to the next level and also create an Agonium case embodying Giger’s incredible universe.

It is here, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, that we find the famous elongated skulls of the biomechanoid sculpture displayed at the entrance to the HR Giger Museum in Gruyères, Switzerland. Emerging from the material, four gleaming heads of this Cyborg creature extend from the lugs, while its body parts are etched into the case middle in a set of perfectly executed structures. All, of course, produced by hand, as is the strap buckle also inspired by the emblematic biomechanical world of the works of HR Giger. 

This truly one-of-a-kind timepiece was the last project on which he collaborated with Daniel Strom. Its case features heads and skull parts taken from Giger’s human/machine figure Biomechanoid, while the dial forms a spectacular relief in silver that is modelled after one of the artist’s most famous works. This wristwatch wields a primeval, hypnotic power that is fully unleashed when viewed up close and has a unique feel that makes you want to grasp it and touch it again and again in new and exciting ways. Handmade. Silver version available in a limited edition of 99 watches. Made in Switzerland.

Technical Description:

• Case: Handmade in silver 925, double curved sapphire crystal, antireflective coating, waterresistant to 50 m
• Movement: Automatic winding Swiss movement. 
• Dial: 3 dimensional dial in silver 925 inspired of one of HR Gigers most important works or 1973
• Hands: Steel rhodium plated with luminous treatment
• Strap: Alligator Hornback black
• Buckle: Handmade in silver 925
• Public Price: CHF 16’999.00 

For more information please visit stromwatch.ch