Unveiling the New Armin Strom Tribute² Aurum

In this limited edition, Armin Strom converts handmade texture, openworked design, and proprietary mechanics into a subtle yet assertive representation of contemporary independent Swiss horology.

Armin Strom

Renowned for its intricately adorned, openworked in-house movements crafted to exceptional standards, Armin Strom ventured into the dress watch segment in 2021 with the unexpectedly understated Tribute 1 model. The Tribute collection retained most trademark qualities, both in design and technology, although was characterised by a simpler, more understated aesthetic, predominantly featuring closed dials. In 2024, in collaboration with Horomariobro, Armin Strom chose to reveal the concealed elements behind the dial and enhance the ornamentation by introducing the Tribute² Copper Edition. The model is currently reintroduced in the brand's line as the new Armin Strom Tribute² Aurum Edition.

The technical specifications and overall design of the new Tribute² Aurum Edition closely resemble those of prior Tribute 1 models, beginning with the case form and size. The Armin Strom Tribute² is a sophisticated and streamlined representation of the brand's essence, including a subtle "lip" at 6 o'clock. This watch has a tiny 38mm diameter and a slender profile under 10mm. The lugs are short and angular, while the case features a polished top and brushed sides, exuding elegance and precision. It is equipped with sapphire crystals on both sides and is water-resistant up to 50 meters. The crown positioned at 2 o’clock enhances originality while providing comfort.

Aligned with the 2024 creations of Horomariobro and Armin Strom, the Tribute² Aurum Edition enhances the collection's modern look, revealing the majority of its technical components and refining their embellishment to the esteemed standards characteristic of Armin. This model is more openworked and skeletonised than its predecessors, enhancing the architectural impact of the movement while showcasing more hand-finished features. The dial's base, serving as the primary plate of the movement, is constructed from brass and gold-plated, justifying the Aurum designation, and is meticulously hand-finished using the uncommon tremblage process, yielding a luxurious texture. It is accompanied by a smokey grey sub-dial featuring gold-toned hands and markers.

Armin Strom

The motor barrel, a crucial technological component of the watch, is often enclosed in the Tribute 1; nevertheless, it is totally exposed here, with hand-polished bevelled spokes and a black-polished, bevelled steel finger bridge. Additional components of the kinetic chain (the click, its bridge, and the winding wheels), often concealed beneath the dial, have been revealed for a subtle technical examination. The openworked design alters the watch, despite the overall layout being recognisable.

Concealed beneath the sapphire caseback is the hand-wound Calibre AMW21, totally created and produced in-house, offering an outstanding 100-hour power reserve despite its diminutive size. This performance is facilitated by the movement's revolutionary motor barrel design, wherein the arbour transmits energy to the gear train—an arrangement that enhances efficiency while maximising spatial utilisation within the movement. The movement operates at a frequency of 25,200 vibrations per hour (3.5 Hz) and incorporates a variable inertia balance wheel and a flat overcoil spring, upheld by the system 78 characteristic finger bridge. The reverse is meticulously adorned with Geneva stripes on the three-quarter bridge, a broad 60° hand-polished bevel and a three-dimensional escapement wheel bridge featuring a polished recess. The movement is constructed twice, a signature of the brand.

The Armin Strom Tribute² Aurum Edition, a limited edition of 10 pieces, is affixed on a taupe Epsom strap featuring taupe stitching. The price is CHF 27,000. Explore more at arminstrom.com.