Armin Strom marches on with their Tribute collection by adding a new model with a grattage textured copper dial plate which they call the Tribute2.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
New: Armin Strom Tribute2 Copper Edition
The Armin Strom Tribute2 – Copper Edition will retail at CHF 27,000. Limited edition of just 10 pieces – exclusively from Armin Strom on their website arminstrom.com or the brand’s Instagram channel.
Commentary
The Tribute 1 collection has grown since the introduction in 2021. The collection is Armin Strom’s entry level, and we have covered the following:
- Tribute 1 First Edition in 2021
- Tribute 1 Rose Gold in 2021 and Comprehensive Review of the Tribute 1 Rose Gold
- Tribute 1 with Fumé and Guilloché Plates in 2023
And now the Tribute 2, which is the next iteration. What is new on this novelty is the grattage copper main plate. The technique used, known as grattage, which literally “scratching” or “scraping”, and is a technique in surrealist painting which consists of “scratching” fresh paint with a sharp blade.
Classical watchmaking methods to achieved a sculptured look is by hammering, hand engraving or tremblage. In grattage, the strokes are made with a knife or a flat chisel like device, and look like brush strokes. Less material is taken out than in the typical engraving and the strokes are broader than tremblage which is typically made with needle like devices. The amount of material removed is perhaps similar to that of Geneva Stripes, but instead of lines which form slopes, this is done in a rather free hand technique.
As with the Tribute design language, the HMS remain as a sub-dial at 10 o’clock and is in a fumé grey.
The movement remains the AW21 used in the Tribute 1.
Interestingly, there is a tribute to George Chen, known as @Horomariobro in Instagram. Engraved to the case back, an indication of perhaps great respect to the Instagramer known for his macro photographs. We are not sure if this is a commercial collaboration between Armin Strom and Horomariobro, but this is not the first collaboration with George. In 2023, Armin Strom released a Pure Resonance Ultimate Sapphire in collaboration. That was also a 10 piece limited edition..
Release details
Independent Swiss watch manufacture Armin Strom is expanding its Tribute collection with the new Tribute2, featuring a distinctive open worked design and remarkable three-dimensionality. The visible mechanical elements of the innovative movement and the elaborate hand decorations impart an intriguing visual depth to the watch. The Tribute2 – Copper Edition features a mainplate with a distinctive grattage design in an elegant copper hue. Limited to just 10 pieces, this edition underscores Armin Strom’s commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and exclusivity.
“The Tribute2 builds on the success of the Tribute 1 launched in 2021. It merges traditional watchmaking with contemporary design, highlighting the core values of the brand: transparent mechanics that artfully display the inner mechanisms, three-dimensional design that provides visual depth through various levels and the intricate details of the movement and meticulous hand decoration, which features prominently in this timepiece.”
Claude Greisler, Co-Founder and Master Watchmaker at Armin Strom.
Unique craftsmanship: the artistic grattage mainplate in the Copper Edition
The eye-catching copper-coloured mainplate in the Tribute2 – Copper Edition showcases a distinctive processing technique known as grattage. The process was originally developed by mechanical engineers to create perfectly flat surfaces. Instead of being engraved, hammered or polished, the material is meticulously scraped by hand. This results in a distinctive, stunning pattern – and it is an art form that only a handful of craftsmen still master today. For the mainplate of the Tribute2 – Copper Edition, this technique is used decoratively and gives each piece a look reminiscent of delicate brushstrokes. The mainplate and its unique finish are further accentuated by a copper-coloured PVD coating.
Depth and elegance in the dial
The off-centre fumé grey dial lends the watch additional depth with its subtle colour gradient, which sees the vibrant highlights in the centre gradually transition into a darker tone at the edges. The dial is encircled by a hand-polished steel ring, which is hand-bevelled and further emphasizes the refined character of the design. The hands and indexes, coated in 18K 5N rose gold, add warm accents and impart a sophisticated touch to the watch.
Meticulous hand finishing: each component refined down to the finest detail
The motor barrel, a key visual element of the Tribute models and a prominent feature on the front of the watch, is skeletonized in this edition. Each opening is hand-bevelled to accentuate the elegant spokes of the motor barrel. The bridge that holds the motor barrel is made of steel and black-polished by hand for the first time. The click bridge, which features polished bevels, and the click are also visible, along with the winding wheels, which have been finished with circular graining.
The back of the movement is distinguished by a three-quarter bridge visible through the case back, featuring a 30° hand-polished bevel, adorned with Geneva stripes and finished with circular graining. The small, three-dimensional escapement wheel bridge with hand-polished oil sink is another standout element of the movement.
The other parts of the movement are also exquisitely finished by hand, whether they can be seen on the dial side of the watch or through the sapphire crystal case back.
United by passion: Armin Strom and Horomariobro
The logo on the back, “Horomariobro x Armin Strom”, pays tribute to the inspiring contribution this close friend of the brand has made to the new edition. Fuelled by his enthusiasm for hand-decorated movements, which he captures in macro photography on his popular Instagram channel, Horomariobro inspired Armin Strom’s Claude Greisler to experiment with new decoration techniques and emphasize various visible highlights of the finishing.
100-hour power reserve: the Tribute2’s innovative movement
The AMW21 hand-wound movement, developed and manufactured in-house by Armin Strom, boasts an impressive 100-hour power reserve. Its exceptional performance is down to the innovative motor barrel design, where the arbor rotates around the mainspring, enhancing efficiency and conserving space. The movement operates at a frequency of 25,200 vibrations per hour and contains 21 jewels. It also features a balance wheel with variable inertia and a flat overcoil spring supported by a bridge that almost mirrors the motor barrel. These technical features ensure exceptional precision and reliability.
Modern design with timeless elegance
The 38 mm stainless steel case, measuring 9 mm in height, is an expression of timeless elegance. The crown positioned at 2 o’clock enhances wearing comfort and adds an avant-garde flair to the watch. A grey Alcantara calfskin strap rounds out the design of the watch, providing a soft yet secure fit on the wrist.
Technical specification: Tribute2 – Copper Edition
ST24-TRI.HM.AC.M.A4.FC
Indications: Hours, minutes, seconds
Movement: Armin Strom manufacture Calibre AMW21 Hand-wound movement
Regulating system: Flat hairspring with a variable inertia balance wheel
Power reserve: 100 hours
Dimensions: 33.5 mm × 4.2 mm
Frequency: 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph)
Finishing: Hand-finished to the highest level of quality
Jewels: 21
Number of components: 137
Case: Stainless steel * Sapphire crystal and case back with anti-reflective treatment
Diameter: 38 mm
Height: 9 mm
Between lugs (lug to lug): 18 mm
Water resistance: 5 ATM
Dial: Offset, fumé grey
Hands: 18K 5N rose-gold coating
Strap: Delivered with a grey Alcantara calf leather strap and double folding clasp in stainless steel
