The Gold Bug Hits Hard With The Armin Strom Tribute³ Au750
Our adoration of gold continues today with the lovely new Tribute³ from Armin Strom. However, as we’ll see, the brand has used this material more thoroughly than usual. For the first time at Armin Strom, 18K rose gold defines the watch from the outside in. The material is used for the structure, the cosmetics, and the mechanics.
A glance at any of our recent reviews will show that Armin Strom has built its name on open architecture and hand finishing. The Tribute³ continues in that vein. However, this limited edition leans even harder into classic métiers d’art. And while the watch carries off the small brand’s modern aesthetics, gray PVD-coated stainless steel Breguet-style hands also debut here. These are set against Roman numerals, which add traditional touches.
The Armin Strom Tribute³ Au750
The Tribute³ has an 18K rose gold case with wearable 38 × 44.35mm dimensions. The 9.38mm profile is also impressively thin. Naturally, the watch uses sapphire crystals with an antireflective treatment on the front and back. Surprisingly, though, for a watch with such fine details, it has a 50m water resistance rating. Still, the gray nubuck leather strap with its 18K rose gold pin buckle would likely keep anyone from testing that.
Three guilloché patterns throughout
While rose gold is an attractive case medium, the guilloché patterns give the Tribute³ its character. On the dial side, a radiating soleil pattern covers the off-center solid rose gold dial. Dressy Roman numerals mark the hours, and a grain d’orge pattern inhabits the rose gold backdrop.
Meanwhile, the three-quarter bridge, visible through the case back, carries a clous de Paris guilloché pattern. Hand-beveled anglage stands out against a gray PVD-coated mainplate. This lets the caliber’s fine guilloché pattern sit in sharper focus. Mirror polishing, frosted surfaces, circular graining, and black-polished screws add further layers. As with every Armin Strom timepiece, each Tribute³ is assembled twice. The double build ensures mechanical precision and finishing quality.
Caliber AMW21 has a 100-hour power reserve
Armin Strom designed and developed the 21-jewel, 25,200vph (3.5Hz) manual-winding caliber AMW21 entirely in-house and produces 97% of its 135 components. Moreover, the movement uses a highly efficient motor barrel. A reversed architecture lets the arbor wind the mainspring inside a fixed barrel drum. This space-saving construction helps deliver a 100-hour power reserve. Let’s return to 18K rose gold, though, because all three movement bridges are crafted from it. The barrel and balance take on the brand’s characteristic finger-style construction. We also see this echoed on the dial side, where a mirror-polished finger bridge holds the barrel.
Armin Strom Tribute³ Au750 availability and pricing
Armin Strom will make just eight examples of the Tribute³ Au750. The price stands at CHF 69,000. Sadly, the limited run means we won’t be seeing these everywhere. Still, the Tribute³ shows how Armin Strom can choose a material and use it for more than design. Gold runs through the case, dial, and caliber, and the three guilloché patterns bring detail to an entirely different level. Overall, this is a gorgeous watch with clear modern Armin Strom design traits, but it brings an impressive level of refinement similar to a traditional dress piece.
