Earlier this month, independent Biel/Bienne-based watchmaker Armin Strom debuted four new fumé dial timepieces with guilloché dial plates made by Kari Voutilainen.

The Tribute 1 Fumé x Kari Voutilainen Guilloché — which is Armin Strom’s take on a dress watch — is presented in a sleek stainless steel case that measures 38 mm x 9.38 mm, and is paired with a thick gray Alcantara calfskin leather strap with white stitching that measures 18 mm at the case and tapers to 16 mm at the buckle.

With the Tribute 1 — not only is the dial located off-center — but the crown is also located in an atypical position of 2 o’clock on the caseband, as opposed to the standard 3 o’clock position seen on most timepieces. The latter design element results in next to no crown dig and allows the watch to feel more comfortable on the wrist without actually being visibly smaller.

Each Tribute 1 Fumé piece features an in-house 3.5 Hz manual winding movement with 21 jewels, 135 components, and a motor barrel good for 100 hours when fully wound. The finishing is top-notch and consists of many handmade processes including beveled and polished edges. Armin Strom’s caliber AMW21 measures 33.5 mm x 4.2 mm, uses a flat balance spring with a variable inertia balance wheel, and drives hours, minutes, and seconds displays.

In total Armin Strom commissioned the Voutilainen atelier to produce 40 dark gray manually engraved guilloché dial plates, and then created four different fumé dials: sky, ocean, burgundy, and slate. The outer edge of each sunburst brushed fumé dial is dark and then fades to a lighter hue towards the center. Rhodium-plated hands and a finely beveled brass motor-barrel bridge complete the look.

All versions of the Tribute 1 Fumé x Kari Voutilainen Guilloché retail for $20,900.

 

Photos by Armin Strom.