Armin STrom Tribute 2 Aurum
Swiss independent brand Armin Strom—a manufacture long respected for its mastery of skeletonization, constant-force mechanisms, decorative dials and quietly radical engineering—recently released the Armin Strom Tribute 2 Aurum. While the watch debuted a few weeks ago, we’ve taken some time to study it closely and assess what it brings to the evolving Tribute collection. What emerges is a watch defined by restraint, texture, and a more deliberate presentation of the movement itself.
Building on the design language introduced last year with the Tribute 1, the Tribute 2 Aurum refines the concept rather than reinventing it. The architecture is more open-worked and more skeletal, allowing the movement to play an even greater visual role. The defining aesthetic element is the gold-coated mainplate, crafted from brass and finished entirely by hand using the tremblage technique—a rare engraving process that produces an irregular, granular surface. The result is a warm, tactile backdrop that reacts dynamically to light without overwhelming the mechanical display.
Armin STrom Tribute 2 Aurum boasts an absolutely meticulously finished back plate.
Set against this textured base is an off-center grey fumé dial, subtly graduated and partially transparent. Its layered construction adds depth and contrast while maintaining legibility, reinforcing the watch’s three-dimensional character. Rather than serving as a traditional dial, it acts as a framing device—guiding the eye toward the mechanics beneath.
Powering the Tribute 2 Aurum is Armin Strom’s in-house, hand-wound AMW21 caliber. Developed and manufactured entirely by the brand, the movement delivers a substantial 100-hour power reserve. This is achieved through an innovative motor barrel construction in which the arbor transfers energy directly to the gear train, improving efficiency and optimizing space. The movement operates at 25,200 vibrations per hour (3.5 Hz) and features a flat hairspring with a variable inertia balance wheel, all supported beneath Armin Strom’s signature finger bridge.
The Armin Strom Tribute 2 Aurum is powered by teh AMW21 hand-wound caliber developed entirely in house.
On the dial side, the skeletonized motor barrel reveals hand-polished, beveled spokes, offering a clear view of the watch’s energy source. A black-polished steel finger bridge with hand-finished bevels anchors the composition, underscoring the brand’s emphasis on structural clarity and finishing discipline.
The reverse side of the movement continues the theme of traditional decoration executed to a high standard. A three-quarter bridge is finished with Geneva stripes and circular graining, while broad, hand-polished bevels frame the edges. A sculptural escapement wheel bridge adds dimensionality, reinforcing the architectural nature of the caliber. As with all Armin Strom manufacture movements, each Tribute 2 Aurum is assembled twice to ensure mechanical precision and aesthetic consistency.
The stainless steel case measures 38mm in diameter, a size that complements the open-worked design while keeping the watch versatile and wearable. Sapphire crystals on both sides, treated with anti-reflective coating, allow unobstructed views of the movement and its finishing. Limited to just 10 pieces, the Tribute 2 Aurum is priced at CHF 27,000.
Armin Strom Tribute 2 Aurum
My Impressions of the Armin Strom Tribute 2 Aurum
The Tribute 2 Aurum reinforces what Armin Strom continues to do particularly well: presenting complex mechanics with clarity and purpose. The proportions are well judged, making the watch comfortable on a wide range of wrists, while the increased openness of the design allows the movement to take center stage. Skeletonization remains a defining strength of the brand, executed here with a focus on structure rather than spectacle. But spectacle it is, like it or not.
