ARMIN STROM – TRIBUTE 1 Stainless Steel 38 Edition 2021
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Introducing the Tribute 1: a modern reinterpretation of the haute horology dress watch that’s both technically-innovative and beautifully hand-finished.
A Modern Classic
Today’s Armin Strom is heir to a long tradition of manually-wound dress watch production. The Tribute 1 revisits that history with a watch characterized by its modern aesthetics, classic proportions, technical distinction and exceptional hand-finishing.
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The Tribute 1 is offered in a classically-proportioned case measuring 38mm in diameter, with a height of just 9mm. The crown of the manual wound calibre is located at 2 o’clock, enhancing comfort while conveying an avant-garde sensibility. The lugs are intentionally slender, enhancing the elegant appearance of the timepiece.
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The distinctive dial of the Tribute 1 seems to magically transition between shades of grey in variable lighting conditions, with a particular affinity for natural light. The plate positioned adjacent to the off-center dial, is embellished with a spectacular grenage finish that adds texture to the dial. The hand polishing of the solid white gold barrel bridge, positioned to the front of the watch, requires an average of 12 hours to complete. The barrel, visible on the dial-side of the timepiece, is similarly meticulously hand-polished.
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The meticulous polishing of the hands, which were designed specifically for the Tribute 1, are also extremely time-consuming to produce. The gear train bridge on the backside is beveled and polished in 60° – a process that’s far more complex to execute than the standard approach; requiring twice as long to complete.
HOROLOGICAL DISTINCTION
In keeping with the System 78 commitment to horological distinction, the innovative motor barrel developed for the ‘Tribute 1’ is distinguished by an arbor that turns around the mainspring within the barrel itself, making it far more efficient while also conserving space.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The inaugural release of the “Tribute 1” is priced at an intentionally-accessible CHF 13,900 and is limited to just 25 pieces. The Tribute 1 is further distinguished its white gold barrel bridge and a 10-year warranty, exactly double the standard warranty offered by Armin Strom.
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The barrel bridge is executed in solid white gold, a detail that is specific to this inaugural version of the Tribute 1. The ‘Tribute 1’ is contemporary, technically-innovative and beautifully finished Exceptional Haute Horology Finishing. "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" said Claude Greisler, Master Watchmaker and co-founder of the revitalized Armin Strom.
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“We are the heirs to a long tradition of manually-wound dress watch design at Armin Strom. The Tribute 1 revisits that history with a watch of classical proportions that is technically-innovative and beautifully hand-finished. The ‘Tribute 1’ is my reinterpretation of the classic haute horology dress watch, adapted with a modern aesthetic sensibility.”
Claude Greisler, Co-Founder and Master Watchmaker
Exceptional Haute Horology Finishing
"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.
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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."
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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."
A Contrarian Bet On A Modern Dress Watch Revival
"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.
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"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."
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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.
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TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Collection: TRIBUTE 1
Model: Lady Beat Ref. ST20 - LAB
Calibre AMW21
ARMIN STROM calibre AMW21
Hand-wound movement, 100-hours power reserve, off-centre time indications
Frequency: 25’200 A/h
Jewels: 21
Number of components: 135
Technical Specifications
Distinctions
Motor-barrel
Solid white gold bridge on the dial side
10 years warranty
Case
Stainless steel
Sapphire crystal and case back with anti-reflective treatment
Diameter: 38.00 mm
Height: 9.38 mm
Water-resistance: 50 m
Dial
Offset black or
Hands: Stainless steel with hand finishing
Strap
Delivered with a grey Alcantara calf leather strap
Buckle: Double-fold clasp in stainless steel
Limited Edition 25 pieces
Price from 13’900 CHF
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Armin Strom: A fully integrated manufacture
While
Armin Strom is a vertically integrated, complete horological
manufacture, no new watch movement would ever have seen the light of day
were it not for Claude Greisler, who puts ideas such as the one
for the revolutionary Mirrored Force Resonance movement down on paper
before they are transferred to computer-aided design programs to start
modelling the movement. Like so many things at Armin Strom all of this
is done in-house, with the dimensions calculated down to a precision of
one micron to provide the inputs for the machines that will eventually
produce the smallest of components.
At Armin Strom, the
majority of components in the movement, with the exception of the
escapement and balance spring, are produced in-house. Small round
components like screws, pinions and gear wheels are produced by
profile-turning machines, which gradually whittle away long steel or
brass rods from the side to cut teeth or axles. Larger components such
as base plates and bridges are produced from brass on CNC machines,
which are capable of machining along multiple axes consecutively using
different tools for different operations, moving the component using
robotic arms.
Tiny and delicate components, such as smaller
bridges, levers and springs, are produced using wire erosion. This
involves threading a wire that is not much smaller than a human hair
through a tiny hole in the metal. An electrical current running through
the wire reacts with a solution in which the entire working plate is
dipped, thus “eroding” minuscule amounts of the metal. This allows
particularly delicate operations to be carried out while maintaining the
structural integrity of the metal. Armin Strom does not produce any of
its components by stamping because of the stresses that this places on
the metal.
Once the raw components are manufactured, they are
engraved, beveled, polished and decorated with circular graining or
Geneva stripes by hand before moving to the in-house electroplating
department. Here, all steel and brass components are first given a gold
plating before a layer of nickel is added to prevent corrosion and
harden the surface. After cleaning, the parts are then dipped in other
electroplating baths to give them their final color such as rhodium,
ruthenium, or rose gold. It is only thanks to its mastery of
electroplating techniques inside its own workshops that Armin Strom can
allow customers to choose preferred colors for the coating on different
components.
Only then can the individual components of the
movement be passed on to the watchmaker for assembly. After setting the
jewels into the base plate and bridges, the watchmaker adds the gear
train and mainspring. After the escapement and balance wheel are
positioned, the movement finally comes to life…only to be completely
disassembled, cleaned, and dried before being re-assembled and
lubricated. After several days of testing the precision, the watch is
finally ready.
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Press releases - 2021
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ARMIN STROM AG |
Bözingenstrasse 46
CH-2502 Biel-Bienne | Switzerland
Tel. +41 (0)32 343 33 44
Fax +41 (0) 32 343 33 40
info@arminstrom.com
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For more information relating to this press release or to Armin Strom:
Bettina Fleury, Armin Strom AG,
Tel. +41 32 343 33 44, b.fleury@arminstrom.com
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