The Gentleman Magazine | August 21 | Page 15

ARMIN STROM INTRODUCES THE " TRIBUTE 1 " A MODERN REINTERPRETATION OF THE HAUTE HOROLOGY DRESS WATCH

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 .
“ 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 cofounder 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 .”
Armin Strom today announced the introduction of 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 ” said Claude Greisler , Master Watchmaker and co-founder of the revitalized Armin Strom .
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 . 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 .”
Technical Distinction
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 .
Pricing And Availability
The first edition of the “ Tribute 1 ” is available now and is limited to just 25 pieces . It is priced at an intentionallyaccessible 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 .
About The System 78 Collection
The “ System 78 ” collection offers fine watchmaking , impeccable hand-finishing and a number of innovative horological ‘ firsts ’ while maintaining an accessible price point . Recognizing the passion for haute-horology among many that have historically been excluded from access to fine watchmaking , Armin Strom has committed itself to the consistently dedicating of a portion of its limited production capacity to democratizing access to haute horology timepieces . The collection embodies the watchmaking sensibilities of Claude Greisler and Serge Michel , co-founders of the revitalized Manufacture Armin Strom , who were both born in 1978 .
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