Style -- 2 hours ago
Words: Charlie Thomas
Linde Werdelin aren’t shy of creating head-turning timepieces. Their signature lines; the Spido and Oktopus, respectively, are bold, eccentric and technically impressive to say the least. Whilst we’re fans of the latter, it’s the former collection that really captures our imagination and this, the Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Carbon Green is one of our favourites yet.
Skeletonisation is a major trend in the watch world at the minute. Linde Werdelin were a fairly early adopter, having used it in a number of their watches to date. If you’re unfamiliar with the process of skeletonisation, it’s essentially when all excessive material is removed, leaving only the minimum of what is required, usually in the movement. This often results in the inner workings of a movement being clearly visible and, in some extreme cases, you can even see straight through the dial.
This is a difficult technique, and one that requires a master craftsman’s skilled hand. Linde Werdelin must have employed the very best at their Swiss factory, as not only is the dial stripped back to within an inch of its life, but the case has also received the innovative treatment. This is made more noteworthy by the fact it’s constructed from forged carbon, a notoriously tough yet brittle material.
Whilst the case is a thing of beauty, the dial is where the magic is at. A multi-layered masterpiece, it features rose gold bridges spliced with a tri-dial layout for the chronograph. The green accenting in the hour markers and number give it a dash of eccentricity, which is entirely befitting of such an arresting design.
Whilst all of this technical prowess is fairly staggering, the most impressive thing about Linde Werdelin is that their products remain tool watches first and foremost. The SpidoSpeed Carbon Green can dive down to 100m below the ocean and it’s of course compatible with the brand’s The Reef diving tool and The Rock skiing instrument.
ON THE WRIST
The first time you pick up the SpidoSpeed, it’s size becomes immediately apparent. This isn’t because it’s overbearingly big however. Although it has a 44mm case size, the Carbon Green fits much smaller than you might imagine – this might be in part because of the integrated strap, which meets flush with the forged carbon case. Of course, it’s no dress watch and, because of its 15mm height the piece won’t be fitting under your shirt cuff any time soon.
With the Carbon Green, Linde Werdelin opted for a fairly muted colour palette. The dark grey of the case complements the black of the textured calfskin strap, allowing it to be worn easily with casual weekend attire. It provides the perfect accent for an all-black outfit thanks to its subtle pop of colour in the dial, also.
Elsewhere, detailing in and around the watch really elevates it. The twin chronograph pushers click satisfyingly, and the screw-down crown gives you the confidence that the watch can plunge deep into the ocean. The exposed screw heads on the case are a particular highlight too, giving the timepiece an industrial aesthetic. Whilst the Carbon Green is an absolute pleasure to look at – we could watch its gizzards whirring away all day – it remains every bit the sports watch, which is admirable in an industry where form too often follows function.
The Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Carbon Green costs 21,000 CHF. For more information, click here.
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