The new Armin Strom Tribute 1 Sandstein

Known for its complex watches with in-house movements using highly innovative solutions to improve accuracy, such as the spectacular resonance concept and the Gravity Equal Force, indie watchmaking brand Armin Strom decided in 2021 that it was time to offer something more focused, simpler, more elegant and yet distinctively its own. The result was the Armin Strom Tribute 1, an original and characterful vision of a dress watch, still highly focused on mechanical precision. Today, the watch comes back in a highly appealing edition combining monochromatism and warmth, the Tribute 1 Sandstein. 

The Tribute 1 Sandstein honours Armin Strom’s hometown of Burgdorf in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. The native Burgdorf sandstone – long a symbol of strength, timelessness and a defining element of the region’s architecture – now inspires this refined interpretation of the Tribute 1. For that, Armin Strom brings a nice combination of monochromatic, warm tones to the watch and a subtle interplay of textures. The off-centred sand-toned dial is thus adorned with a grain d’orge guilloché pattern and Roman numerals, where time is read thanks to polished, rhodium-plated hands. This module takes place on a frosted background using the same warm, discreet sand colour, which is complemented by a sand-toned alcantara strap with white stitching.

But don’t believe that the Tribute 1 Sandstein, like all watches from this collection, is that simple. As you can see, even if focused on the essential (time-only displays), the Tribute 1 retains a classic element of the brand; bringing technical features to the dial. And here, that’s the motor barrel held under a hand-finished finiger bridge that takes centre stage on the dial. The latter delivers an impressive 100 hours of power reserve, and ensures reliability and consistency in daily wear. It is part of an in-house developed and built movement, the Calibre AMW21 with 3.5Hz frequency, flat hairspring with variable inertia balance wheel. The movement is nicely decorated with hand-bevelled bridges with polished and matte surfaces, black-polished screws, Geneva stripes and circular graining. Each Tribute 1 Sandstein is assembled twice, a hallmark of the brand’s commitment to mechanical precision.

This movement and elegant sand-coloured dial are housed in a nicely-proportioned case in stainless steel measuring 38mm in diameter with a pleasant thinness of 9.38mm. The case is modern in its shape, with sharply designed lugs, and yet offers great distinction. A steel folding clasp secures the watch to the wrist.

A limited edition of 50 pieces, the Armin Strom Tribute 1 Sandstein is priced at CHF 22,000. For more details, please visit arminstrom.com.