Independent Swiss watchmaker Armin Strom has unveiled the Tribute³ Au750, a mechanical watch that carries eighteen-carat rose gold beyond the case and decorative dial into its visible movement architecture. Announced on 2 October 2026, the model uses gold on three bridges and combines them with different forms of guilloché, creating a closer link between the external design and the watchmaking visible through the case.
Gold reaches beyond the customary case and dial
Many precious-metal watches reserve the expensive material for the enclosure, leaving the movement bridges in more conventional alloys. Armin Strom takes a different approach in the Tribute³ Au750 by forming all three bridges from solid rose gold, making their construction a central part of how the owner experiences the watch.
This design decision changes the visual character of the movement, especially when observed through the exhibition caseback. It also puts additional emphasis on finishing quality: gold can show surface marks, so bridge detailing and maintenance need to be considered as carefully as the more visible face.
Three guilloché treatments show contrasting textures
The off-centre dial uses a radiating soleil pattern, while the subdial carries a grain d'orge design. Through the caseback, the three-quarter bridge introduces a clou de Paris texture, placing recognisably different types of decorative engraving across surfaces viewed from separate angles.
Those treatments are not interchangeable labels for one generic pattern. Their differing scales and geometry influence how the gold reflects light, creating interest without depending on large gemstones or a highly coloured dial. A collector examining the watch should take time to see these details under normal daylight rather than relying on studio photography.
Movement architecture remains the underlying subject
The design combines a finger-style construction associated with the barrel and balance with a three-quarter bridge, allowing the mechanism to remain recognisable beneath its decorative surfaces. Armin Strom has long used visible movement structures as part of its design language, rather than concealing mechanical work behind an uninterrupted dial.
The Tribute³ continues that approach but places greater emphasis on precious metal. Buyers should distinguish the stated presence of solid-gold bridges from assumptions about every other component in the calibre, and verify the full technical specification, winding and service intervals directly with the manufacturer.
A distinctive design seeks long-term collectors
Grey PVD-coated Breguet-style hands accompany Roman numerals, providing a quieter counterpoint to the textured gold surfaces. The combination of traditional references and open mechanical architecture may appeal to collectors who value a watch's construction as much as its ability to match formal dress.
The 2 October announcement introduces the design, but owners should seek written confirmation of the production allocation, regional availability, price and after-sales servicing arrangements before purchasing. For yacht owners who already move between several forms of luxury craftsmanship, the watch offers a compact example of metalworking and movement design brought together.
Official sources: arminstrom.com.
