Linde Werdelin continues the journey of evolution by announcing the launch of the SpidoLite II model. With a strong reference to its predecessors, the SpidoLite and SpidoSpeed, the SpidoLite II is a living testament of true evolution in complex watch case design and craftsmanship. Featuring the three – part case construction, the SpidoLite II is crafted in titanium to further reduce the weight of the watch while ensuring the integrity of strength. The dial has also been skeletonised to reveal parts of the movement while a seconds sub-dial has been added at 9 o’clock and a date function has made its appearance for the first time in a SpidoLite model.
The Evolution Continues
From the year of its conception, Linde Werdelin has been committed in crafting high quality, mechanically excellent and architecturally and design advanced timepieces and instruments. A commitment that has been kept true through evolution of craftsmanship and by every time surpassing the limits of its founders Morten Linde and Jorn Werdelin.
Linde Werdelin watches and instruments have made a mark in the watch industry when the first skeletonised watch case was launched four years ago. Throughout those years the conviction, determination and a strong will to create and dare the ‘impossible’ saw the Trigon take shape and form and evolve into the SpidoLite and then the SpidoSpeed models. From Trigon to SpidoSpeed, it has been a journey of discovery, experimentation and evolution which does not stop here but continues taking new shape and life. The dial has also been skeletonised to reveal parts of the movement while a seconds sub-dial has been added at 9 o’clock and a date function has made its appearance for the first time in a SpidoLite model.
“The SpidoLite II for me is the complete skeletonised experience. Four years in technology terms is a lot of time and the SpidoLite II is a great example of technological advancement” says Jorn Werdelin.
Linde Werdelin now carries on the journey of evolution by announcing the launch of the SpidoLite II model. With a strong reference to its predecessors and even more so to the SpidoSpeed, the SpidoLite II is a living testament of true evolution in complex watch case design and craftsmanship. Featuring the three – part case construction the SpidoLite II is crafted in titanium to further reduce the weight of the watch while ensuring the integrity of strength. The dial has also been skeletonised to reveal parts of the movement while a seconds sub-dial has been added at 9 o’clock and a date function has made its appearance for the first time in a SpidoLite model.
The SpidoLite II is staying true to Linde Werdelin’s principles of edgy and innovative design, craftsmanship and technologically advanced case construction. Each of the 32 case components was thought up separately and put together to create a sturdy, industrial feel, three part case construction. As with the SpidoSpeed, the main case parts consist of a cylindrical chamber which safely carries the movement and locks on the sapphire crystal case-back while the skeletonised case part securely surrounds the chamber.
On crafting the Linde Werdelin watch cases Morten describes “precision is key. There is no room for error when producing the watch case and even more so true for the SpidoLite case. Each facet, each angle, and each edge of a facet must be 100% where it should be. If a facet is 0.02mm too wide, an angle is deviated in the slightest, or an edge is not dead straight, The Reef or The Rock won’t hold on.”
Crafting the case of the SpidoLite II is a lengthy procedure which starts by using two different sophisticated 5-axis machines the setting-up of which takes a full working day alone. Then each case separately goes through the 5-axis CNC machines before it is meticulously hand finished to perfection. It takes approximately six hours before a SpidoLite II case is finished and ready to move to the next step of the assembling.
SpidoLite II Dial
The SpidoLite II dial is an ode to the original SpidoLite yet reflecting the evolution of the whole watch design. It consists of two skeletonised layers, seamlessly following the design philosophy of the case and adding depth to the watch when reading time. The Geneva cut 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 of the seconds subdial. From the opened up dial of the SpidoLite II through to the sapphire crystal case back the new movement visible from both sides. For the first time a date function has been added on the SpidoLite range and its design and concept could not but follow the rest of the skeletonised dial. The whole date wheel placed under the base dial has been laser cut with precision allowing another ‘window’ onto the movement. Placed at 3 o’clock, the date window has been opened up enough to be in harmony with the seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock.
The blued steel hands create a vibrant contrast between the case, dial and strap. “Both versions of the SpidoLite II are monochromatic. Looking at the titanium version the case, dial and movement have the same colour tones giving emphasis to the industrial feel and look of the watch as an experience. The blued steel hands ‘soften’ the look of the watch,” says Morten Linde. The dial pattern has also been matched with the textured line pattern on the strap to reinforce the seamless continuity that exists between the case and the strap on the Linde Werdelin watches.
SpidoLite II is powered by an LW custom made automatic movement conceived by Valérien Jaquet himself of the Concepto manufacture (calibre 2251), visible through the skeletonised dial and the sapphire crystal case-back. The movement bridges have been modified to further reveal the movement and finished with a ‘black gold’ treatment to match the rotor and colour of case while the rest of the movement bears a satin microbillé finishing. The skeletonised designed rotor is aligned with the case construction and runs on ceramic bearings. From the top part of the SpidoLite II through the skeletonised dial, parts of the rhodium platine and the wheels of the movement are revealed intensifying the concept of a 3-dimentional skeletonised experience.
After the SpidoSpeed, this is the second time Linde Werdelin is working with independent manufacture Concepto owned by the Jaquet watchmakers family, to create a powerful movement fit for a sports watch which will beat strong in between the sapphire crystals and will equally be beautifully decorated and finished.
SpidoLite II will be available in two versions of Titanium and Titanium Anthracite DLC and will be a numbered series starting with series A of a 100 pieces each. SpidoLite II Titanium and Titanium Anthracite DLC will retail €9,360 and €9,960 inclusive of VAT
Linde Werdelin SpidoLite II Technical Specifications
SpidoLite II Titanium
Numbered Series 100A
Movement:
Valérien Jaquet Concepto Mechanical Automatic (calibre 2251) / Power reserve: 42 hours / Balance frequency: 28,800 Alt/H / LW designed oscillator
Case:
Three part construction titanium / Number of parts: 32 / anti-reflective sapphire crystal / Back case: see-through sapphire crystal, spider web and subdial engravings / Screw in crown with LW logo
Dimensions:
44mm (w) by 46mm (l) by 15mm (h)
Dial:
Two-part skeletonised black dial / sub-dial for seconds / Hands: three diamond cut blued steel hands Water Resistance: 100m
Strap:
SpidoLite II textured calfskin strap with ardillon buckle