Introducing Armin Strom’s Tribute 1

Press release

June 2021

A modern reinterpretation of the haute horology dress watch, the Swiss independent manufacture’s new Tribute 1 is limited to just 25 pieces with a barrel bridge in white gold. Its hand-wound movement was designed and developed in-house and features a power reserve of 100 hours. It is priced at an intentionally-accessible price point of CHF 13,900.

Introducing Armin Strom’s Tribute 1

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Press release

June 2021

rmin Strom unveils an entirely new timepiece; one that reinterprets the classic dress watch in a contemporary context. “We believe that exceptional hand-finishing, presented in the context of a modern aesthetic design sensibility, is the key to a modern dress watch revival,” explains Claude Greisler, Master Watchmaker and co-founder of the revitalized Armin Strom.

“We’re the heirs to a long tradition of manually-wound dress watch design at Armin Strom; but like much of the rest of the market, we had moved away from that” said Greisler. “Over time, this became a source of deep regret for me - and I was ultimately inspired to do something about it.”

“I’ve been obsessed with every detail of this timepiece, particularly when it comes to finishing. Hand polishing the dial-side of each barrel bridge takes over 12 hours to complete. To make the inaugural iteration even more special, we chose to produce that bridge in solid white gold. The gear train bridge on the backside is beveled and polished in 60° - a process that’s far more complex to execute and as a result takes twice as long.”

“The polishing of the hands that I designed for this watch was also extremely time-consuming. The barrel is hand polished and provides 100 hours of autonomous operation. The Caliber AMW21 is adorned with Côtes de Genève, the jewel sinks are polished to a gleaming conclusion and the mainplate is circular grained. The balance cock and the stepped escape wheel cock deliver a three-dimensional allure, while their edges are hand beveled to convey an overall sense of luxury.”

“The Tribute 1 is also more classic in its dimensions than any of my more recent designs,” said Greisler, “with a diameter of 38mm and a height of just 9mm. The crown is located at 2 o’clock; a nod to modern design that also enhances wearer comfort.”

“The Tribute 1 is contemporary, technically-innovative and beautifully finished. I love it - and I believe that our collectors will too,” said Serge Michel, co-founder. “At a time when so many of us have spent so much time without any formal social interaction, the looming end of the global pandemic represents a symbolic return to normality - and hopefully a return to the luxury of social gatherings that we may have previously taken for granted. In that context, the acquisition of a dress watch can be seen as an expression of hope - and a meaningful connection to both the past and the future,” said Michel.

“Years ago, we were told by almost everyone that there was no economic model that could possibly justify a low-volume independent bringing all of its fabrication in-house,” said co-founder Serge Michel. “The equipment is expensive and it requires a lot of physical space. We followed our passion and did it anyway. And that decision paid off. We’ve since come to the conclusion that following our horological passions will probably eventually make financial sense, even when we can’t articulate exactly how that will play out. Fortunately, we have the luxury of taking risks and following our passion. The Tribute 1 isn’t just a manifestation of that passion, it’s a ‘tribute’ to it. It’s simultaneously our tribute to the classic haute horology dress watch, adapted with a modern aesthetic sensibility.”

The highly efficient motor barrel in the Tribute 1 is unusual in that the arbor turns around the mainspring within the barrel itself, which makes it more efficient while conserving space.

The first edition of the Tribute 1 is available now and is limited to just 25 pieces. It is priced at an intentionally-accessible price point of CHF 13,900. This first iteration is further distinguished by its white gold barrel bridge and a 10-year warranty, exactly double the standard warranty typically offered by Armin Strom. Subsequent versions of the Tribute 1 will feature a steel barrel bridge.