Tribute 1 California Blue

The California dial: reviving a design icon

This interpretation of the Armin Strom Tribute 1, the brand’s popular modern dress watch, takes its name from the so-called California dial, which is distinguished by its alternating Roman and Arabic numerals. The dial, which is offered in five different colours, also features bar markers and a traditional railway track minute ring. The visibility of the barrel on the dial makes the Tribute 1 California resolutely modern while the California dial gives it a pleasing vintage flair.

The dials shine in five different colours – blue, light blue, green, burgundy and black – it is available in editions limited to five per colour, meaning that the total edition size for the Tribute 1 California is 25.

The “fumé” dials in each of the colours incorporate a sunburst pattern with a gradient effect: towards the centre of the dial, the colour is quite light and becomes deeper and darker towards the outer edge. The effect in all five colours is at once understated and dramatic and is complemented by the dial’s contrast to the black guilloché plate.

Exceptional hand finishing

The black guilloché plate was created by hand by Finnish watchmaker and close friend of the brand, Kari Voutilainen. The movement and hands, designed and manufactured in-house at Armin Strom, feature exceptional hand finishing.

The barrel, which is prominently displayed on the dial side of the watch, is clearly the star of the movement. It has been meticulously hand-decorated, an extremely time-consuming process, and is engraved with the words “100 HOURS OF POWER RESERVE”, a testimony to that impressive part of its performance.