Linde Werdelin Comes To Australia + We Profile The SpidoSpeed Gold!
In yet another exciting development for the Australian watch market, sources tell me that the high quality timepieces – and associated instruments – from specialist watchmaker Linde Werdelin will soon be available in-store Down Under! To celebrate we’re taking a closer look at the brand’s latest release, the SpidoSpeed Gold Chronograph.
The Brand
For those not already familiar with the brand it is probably worthwhile dedicating a few lines to talking about their founding principles as I believe this really provides an excellent basis for understanding why they do what they do. Their raison d’être, if you will.
A relative newcomer in the centuries-old Swiss watchmaking industry, Linde Werdelin was founded in 2002 by friends Morten Linde and Jorn Werdelin. Avid outdoorsmen who shared a common passion for design, function, craftsmanship and quality, the two were motivated to create robust timepieces that would complement and enhance their active lifestyles, in particular their love for diving and skiing.
Recognizing the limitations of traditional watchmaking, however, the pair pioneered a unique new concept; highly crafted mechanical timepiece designed to carry a digital sports instrument to provide the right level of information at the right time for diving and skiing respectively.
The rest, as they say, is history. In the intervening years the small company has continued to refine their concept, combining Swiss craftsmanship and Danish design ingenuity together with avant-garde instrument technology to create truly exceptional timepieces that are both extremely practical and at the same time aesthetically distinct.
More recently the brand has been able to successfully reposition itself in the market as a result of significant on-going investment into product development and refinement, reflecting the founder’s commitment to continual improvement and uncompromising quality. Nowhere is that more obvious than with the new SpidoSpeed Gold Chronograph.
The Midas Touch
The first thing to note about the new gold version of the SpidoSpeed is that it is exactly that, gold. Unlike many other sports watches on the market the surface of the SpidoSpeed’s multi-layered 3-dimensional case – meticulously constructed from 32 individual parts – has not just simply received a gold-coating. Rather the entire case has been crafted completely out of 18 karat rose gold, 126 grams of it to be exact.
Finished by hand with satin and microbillé treatment the distinctive SpidoSpeed case – like all others in the range – has been fully skeletonized, ensuring a light yet robust structure that stays true to the brand’s weight reduction concept. The dial has been constructed in two parts comprised of as many as ten layers to accentuate the 3-dimensional experience, following the same design philosophy as the case and adding depth to the watch when reading time.
A small “R” at 4 o’clock on the hours sub-dial, stands for “The Rock” or “The Reef” and indicates how long it takes to fully charge the instrument.
Energy Source
Powering the SpidoSpeed is the custom-made LW 03 Concepto calibre 2251 featuring integrated chronograph functionality. The bespoke design of the movement allows the crown and pushers to be completely aligned, making it possible to seamlessly attach either one of the Linde Werdelin instruments.
SpidoSpeed Gold is available worldwide in a numbered series starting with series A of 100 pieces and will retail for approximately US$44,000.
The Final Word
It is really fantastic to see yet another high-end, niche brand entering the Australian playing field and is indicative of the growing sophistication and appetite of this largely overlooked market. Of course with an annual production of just 500 pieces across the entire range world-wide, don’t expect to see too many around. Translation: if you want one, you better act fast!
For more information about Linde Werdelin please check out their brand new website: www.lindewerdelin.com
Category: Watch News
About the Author (Author Profile)
Tom is the founder and editor of The Watch Lounge. Together with his team he is dedicated to bringing you the best, original content you won't find anywhere else on the net.Subscribe
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