Armin Strom Tribute³ Au750: Gold From Case to Caliber

Limited to just eight pieces worldwide, the Armin Strom Tribute³ Au750 is an exercise in material unity. Its reference, RG26-TRI.AU, uses 18k rose gold not just for the case, but for the off-center dial, the subdial, and deep within the movement itself. The price is set at CHF 69,000. This model evolves Armin Strom’s Tribute concept, shifting the focus toward traditional *métiers d’art* and the full integration of gold into the caliber. It’s a design where the lines between case, dial, and movement architecture intentionally blur. The result is a watch defined by its substance from the outside in.

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The Armin Strom Tribute³ Au750

The core idea of the Tribute³ Au750 is not simply making a gold watch. It’s about building a watch *out of* gold. Armin Strom extends the 18k rose gold from the 38mm case directly into the visible components of the timepiece. This material-first approach defines the watch’s character. It creates a visual and structural continuity that is rare, even in high-end independent watchmaking.

A Study in Gold and Guilloché

On the dial side, the off-center time display and small seconds subdial are both crafted from solid 18k rose gold. To give these surfaces depth and texture, Armin Strom applies two distinct, hand-operated guilloché patterns. The main time-telling dial features a radiating *soleil* pattern. The small seconds subdial at 9 o'clock is decorated with a fine *grain d’orge*, or barleycorn, pattern. This use of traditional engine-turning connects the watch to centuries of horological craft. Turn the watch over, and the theme continues. The large three-quarter bridge of the movement is also solid 18k rose gold. Here, a third guilloché pattern appears: a geometric *clou de Paris*, or hobnail, finish.

The In-House Calibre AMW21

At the heart of the Tribute³ is the Armin Strom Manufacture Calibre AMW21. This is a manually wound movement designed, developed, and produced almost entirely in-house. The brand states that 97% of its components are made at its own facility. The architecture is built around a highly efficient motor barrel. In this reversed construction, the arbor winds the mainspring within a fixed barrel drum. This design saves space, allowing the compact caliber to deliver an impressive 100-hour power reserve. A 100-hour reserve means the watch will run for over four days on a single full wind. For a manual watch, this is a practical feature, reducing the need for daily winding while ensuring stable timekeeping. Fellow dialheads will appreciate the visible barrel on the dial side, held in place by a mirror-polished rose gold finger bridge. The movement operates at a frequency of 3.5 Hz (25,200 vibrations per hour) and contains 21 jewels. Its finishing is a showcase of traditional techniques. Hand-polished bevels, frosted surfaces, circular graining, and black-polished screws stand in contrast to the gray PVD-coated mainplate, which makes the gold bridges pop. Like other high-end independent makers we've covered, such as Jacob & Co.'s Palatial Flying Tourbillon Minute Repeater, Armin Strom uses traditional craft to elevate its pieces. But where some focus on gem-setting or grand complications, Armin Strom's approach in the Tribute³ is about integrating material and finishing directly into the mechanical architecture.

Case, Dimensions, and Details

The Tribute³ Au750 comes in a 38mm 18k rose gold case with a thickness of 9.38mm. These are classic dress watch proportions that should offer a comfortable presence for a variety of wrist sizes. The sapphire crystal has an anti-reflective treatment on both sides for clarity. The official specification lists a "Lug-to-Lug" of 18mm. This is almost certainly the lug *width*, the distance between the lugs where the strap attaches, rather than the tip-to-tip case measurement. An 18mm width is a standard, versatile size for a 38mm case. To provide contrast against the warm rose gold dials, the Breguet-style hands are made from stainless steel and coated with a gray PVD finish. This gray accent is picked up by the supplied nubuck leather strap, which features gray stitching and an 18k rose gold pin buckle. Water resistance is rated at 5 ATM, or 50 meters.

Case	38mm × 9.38mm, 18K rose gold
Movement	Armin Strom Manufacture Calibre AMW21, manual-winding
Power Reserve	100 hours
Frequency	25,200 vph (3.5 Hz)
Dial	18K rose gold off-center dial with soleil guilloché; 18K rose gold subdial with grain d’orge guilloché
Crystal	Sapphire with anti-reflective treatment
Water Resistance	5 ATM (50 meters)
Strap	Grey nubuck leather with 18K rose gold pin buckle
Lug Width	18mm
Price	About $77,000 (CHF 69,000)

With only eight examples being made, the Tribute³ Au750 is a rare expression of Armin Strom's philosophy. It combines the brand's signature architectural transparency with a deep commitment to classical materials and finishing, creating a watch that is both modern in layout and timeless in craft.

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