LINDE WERDELIN SpidoSpeed Chronograph Skeleton Limited Edition
Linde Werdelin, the leading watch brand specialized in precision watches and diving instruments made waves in the watch making industry when they created a fully skeletonised watch, the SpidoLite in 2009.Two years later, Linde Werdelin is pushing the boundaries of design and construction even further and is announcing the launch of a 3-Dimensional skeletonised experience called, SpidoSpeed.
With a strong reference to the SpidoLite range and inspired by the racing car industry, the SpidoSpeed is Linde Werdelin’s first chronograph model. It features a new and more complex skeletonised steel case construction with weight reduction technology while always maintaining integrity of strength. That and a multiple layered dial construction add to creating an all round 3-Dimensional experience.
The reference to the racing car industry is evident from the detail of the material used on the dial (previously used as dashboards in racing cars from the ‘40s), to the small holes visible on the sub-dials resembling the brake discs and the round cut-out details on the strap as a reference to the driving gloves.
Although of a similar design philosophy as the SpidoLite model, the SpidoSpeed is a fine example of pure craftsmanship. A total of 32 components have been artfully and meticulously put together in a three part construction. The first part consists of a cylindrical chamber, which sits inside the third part and locks on the caseback. Perfecting the construction of the case has been a two-year long procedure. The skeletonised part of the case has been the most complicated and time consuming part to produce due to its shape complexity.
The height of the case has been raised to 3mm more than the SpidoLite one, allowing space for the chronograph pushers to be incorporated. This more open case construction boasts reduced use of material while not compromising on the sturdy and water resistant construction. The chronograph pushers are cleverly hidden at 2 and 4 o’clock on the side of the case and well protected from sports activities while also allowing the attachment of both The Rock (ski instrument) and The Reef (dive instrument).
The dial has been constructed into two parts, following the same design philosophyas the case and adding depth to the watch when reading time. This depth is also very much achieved with the use of different colour and surface combinations, also a strong reference to the racing car industry.
The perlage base dial part (lower part) carries the Linde Werdelin logo while atop of it sits the top dial part (upper part) with the printing of indexes and numerals as well as the chronograph dials of hours, minutes and seconds. The base dial has been drilled where the sub-dials sit, a reference to the break discs of a racing car.
The sub-dials are designed and placed at the bottom part of the dial to maximise dial legibility. The hours sub-dial located at 6 o’clock has been given most emphasis, being the main sub-dial while the minutes are at 3 and the seconds at 9o’clock. The letter “R” at 4o’clock on the hours sub-dial, stands for “The Rock” or “The Reef” and indicates how long it takes to fully charge the instrument.
Powered by a Concepto movement (2251 calibre) partially visible through the sapphire crystal case-back, the SpidoSpeed has a specially designed rotor also graphically aligned with the SpidoSpeed case. With the launch of the SpidoSpeed, Linde Werdelin inaugurates a way of presenting and numbering its watch ranges.All three versions of the SpidoSpeed will be a numbered series starting with series A of a 100 pieces.
Technical details
Movement
– Chronograph
– Power reserve: 48hours
– Number of components: 237
– Balance frequency: 28800 Alt/H
– LW designed oscillator
Case
Three part construction steel microbille
Number of parts:32
Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Back case: seethrough sapphire crystal, spider web & chronograph subdial engravings
Screw in crown with LW logo
Chronograph pushers at 2 & 4 o’clock
Dimensions: 44mm (w) by 46mm (l) by 15mm (h)
Water Resistance: 100m
Dial
Two- part black galvanic dial: perlage surface base part,opalin top dial part
Chronograph sub-dials for hours,minutes & seconds
Hands: Six diamond cut hands
Grey SLN on main dial and sub-dial indexes
Strap
SpidoSpeed textured calfskin strap with steel ardillon buckle
Retail price
SpidoSpeed steel: €11 760
SpidoSpeed Steel Black DLC: €12 360
SpidoSpeed Titanium DLC with rose gold:€16 560
