Full, block-colour dials have long held their place in watch collecting, but a textured dial adds depth and nuance, elevating the entire timekeeping experience for a connoisseur. It engages the light and rewards closer inspection, lending a subtle level of complexity to a timepiece that collectors deeply appreciate. Consider the cherry-blossom tones of the Grand Seiko Shunbun, for example, or observe the restrained wave motif rippling across the Tissot Seastar 2000. Regardless of their respective price points, both invite the same lingering questions: how was such refined light play achieved? And why does this watch suddenly feel far more expensive than it is?

Dial texture is one of the most understated yet expressive tools in watch design. From crisp sunburst finishes that radiate light with every flick of the wrist, to deep guilloché patterns cut with near-microscopic precision, texture transforms a dial from flat to something completely fascinating. Natural inspirations play an increasing role, too. Linen, sand, waves, and freshly settled snow – they all lend warmth and character to a wristwatch. Matte graining offers restraint and legibility, while high-relief stamping creates drama and depth. In any case, texture shapes how light moves and how time is read. Ultimately, it impacts how a watch feels on the wrist regardless of the mechanics at play. But when texture and mechanics are woven together within a single, cohesive expression? Now that’s where the magic truly reveals itself. Case in point, the new Armin Strom Tribute 2 Aurum. 

When a watch dares to reveal its mainplate on the dial side, depth automatically becomes architectural rather than decorative. The bridges, graining, and negative space within that movement create a constantly shifting landscape of light and shadow. It’s this three-dimensional honesty that sets the stage for many a creation by Armin Strom – a watchmaker that has long been known for its beautifully decorated in-house movements. The new Armin Strom Tribute 2 Aurum caught my attention immediately with its striking gold-coated mainplate hand-finished with the rare tremblage engraving technique, giving the dial-side an exceptional textured surface that plays with light and depth. It’s a watch that puts the mechanical structure front and centre without taking anything away from the fundamentals of pure, easy timekeeping.

Exposing Elegance: Armin Strom’s Tribute Evolution

Watches from the Tribute family by Armin Strom have not always looked like this. The first generation, the Tribute 1, was unveiled itself in 2021 with a dial that was almost entirely closed. It wasn’t until 2024 that the brand decided to uncloak what lay beneath the dial with the Tribute 2 Copper Edition – an instrument that exposed its fine mechanics front and back. Armin Strom’s Tribute collection has always been about distillation and paring watchmaking back to its most expressive essentials. From the disciplined, time-only purity of the Tribute 1 to the architectural confidence of the Tribute 2, the new Tribute 2 Aurum Edition could represent the line’s most tactile and emotionally charged expression yet. 

The Tribute 2 Aurum Edition owes much of its design DNA to the original Tribute 1, thoughtfully evolving the language rather than departing from it. Both watches share the same 38mm case proportions, offset crown at 2 o’clock, and compact profile that ensures comfort and presence on the wrist. The fundamental architecture, with the motor barrel and its innovative arbor-driven power delivery, remains central to both models, as we’ll explore now. 

The Case

The new Armin Strom Tribute 2 Aurum Edition shares many of its distinctive features with the Tribute 1. The case is compact, measuring 38mm, and bears a discreet lip at 6 o’clock, with a pleasant 9.38mm thickness. Designed to keep the watch snugly against the wrist, Armin Strom has kept the lugs short and angular, with polished and brushed finishes that unfold across the case, attracting light to bounce off or skim across the surface, respectively. A crown at 2 o’clock lends this watch an air of originality and an ergonomic ease, avoiding the usual symmetry for something that feels more considered on the wrist. Sapphire crystals front and back, each treated with anti-reflective coating, provide clarity and invite inspection from every angle, while ensuring 50 meters of water resistance for daily wear. 

The Dial

Where many watches reveal little more than hands and markers, the Tribute 2 Aurum plays a different game. The dial-side is literally the movement, and it begins with a gold-plated brass mainplate finished by hand with the rare and demanding tremblage technique. This engraved, finely textured surface refracts light unpredictably, providing a warm, living backdrop that seems to breathe with each shift of the wrist. It is achieved using a tiny, sharp burin, producing a dense, granular texture across the surface. Unlike machine guilloché or stamped patterns, no two tremblage finishes are ever identical, giving each dial a one-of-a-kind character. The fine-grain effect created using this time-honoured technique softens the effect of incident light, lending a remarkable matte appearance to the tremblage surface, whilst polished raised surfaces are lustrous in contrast. 

Set against this radiant plane is a smoked grey off-centre sub-dial, offering a focused and refined stage for the hours, minutes, and seconds. Gold-coloured hands and applied indices crown the display, while the surrounding skeletonised components, most notably the exposed motor barrel with hand-polished bevelled spokes and black-polished finger bridge, introduce mechanical poetry into the visual narrative. 

The Movement 

Flip the Tribute 2 Aurum over, and the story deepens. Powered by the in-house, hand-wound Calibre AMW21, the movement is a testament to architectural finishing and thoughtful mechanical engineering. With 137 components and a 100-hour power reserve delivered through an innovative motor barrel configuration, the calibre is both robust and elegant. Operating at 25,200 vph (3.5 Hz), it balances performance with contemplative rhythm. Throughout, artisanal touches abound: from Geneva stripes and circular graining on the three-quarter bridge, to 60° polished bevels that catch light like fine jewellery. A three-dimensional escapement wheel bridge with a polished sink also adds sculptural depth visible through the display back. The movement is even assembled twice as a mark of Armin Strom’s commitment to precision and integrity.

The Strap

Complementing the refined mechanics and luminous dialscape is a taupe Epsom leather strap, stitched to match and set off with a classic stainless steel buckle. Its muted tone sits beautifully against both the gold and grey elements of the watch, lending versatility from smart casual to tailored occasions. Quick-release spring bars make style shifts effortless, while the slim profile and balanced case make this a watch you can enjoy daily without ever getting bored.

The Armin Strom Tribute 2 Aurum Edition is a celebration of all things mechanical and artistic in a traditional watch. Though the dial flexes a level of balance, every component feels thoroughly and carefully considered. Hand‑finished tremblage, skeletonised architecture, and an exposed mainplate transform the dial into a living landscape of light and depth. Its 38mm ergonomic case, offset crown, and supple taupe leather strap make it surprisingly wearable, despite its technical bravura. With an in‑house AMW21 calibre boasting 100 hours of power reserve and a sculptural escapement, it’s as much a joy to observe as it is to wear.

Limited to just 10 pieces worldwide, this watch is ideal for collectors who cherish artisanal finishing, architectural mechanics, and a timepiece that rewards prolonged inspection and admiration. 

Quick facts — Armin Strom Tribute² Aurum Edition

• Brand: Armin Strom (Swiss independent watchmaker)

• Model: Tribute² Aurum Edition

• Production: Limited to 10 pieces worldwide

• Movement: In-house manual-winding calibre AMW21

• Power reserve: Around 100 hours

• Frequency: 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph)

• Case: Stainless steel (mixed brushed/polished finishing)

• Size: 38mm diameter, approx. 9.4mm thick

• Water resistance: 50m (5 ATM)

• Dial style: Off-centre time display with a grey fumé look

• Signature feature: Gold-coated tremblage finishing on the movement plate (hand-textured)

• Crystal: Sapphire front + sapphire caseback

• Strap: Leather strap with pin buckle

• Vibe: Dressy, compact, and very craft-focused — built around finishing and movement architecture

• Price range: Roughly CHF 27,000 (varies by market)

You might also enjoy:

Inflection: Atelier Wen’s Groundbreaking Full-Tantalum Flagship

A Skyline Worth Waiting For – the Laurent Ferrier Classic Auto Horizon

A Collector’s View: Blancpain Introduces the Grande Double Sonnerie

Laurent Ferrier’s Auto Sport 79 in Rose Gold