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Limited Edition of 100 Pieces in Series A - Linde Werdelin will unveil at Baselworld 2011 their 3-Dimensional skeletonised watch, the 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, but maintaining integrity of strength.
Case Construction - 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 (second part).
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. This meant the drilling of the case had to be done using two different sophisticated 5-axis machines. Setting up the 5-axis machine alone, is almost a day's work!
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).
"Conceiving and developing a completely new case construction, pushers and dial for the SpidoSpeed justifies the two year long procedure. Creating an architecturally beautiful and interesting watch is difficult to achieve," comments Morten Linde.
Dial - The dial has been constructed into two parts, following the same design philosophy as 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.
"Adding as many as ten layers on the dial alone accentuates the 3-Dimentional experience. The ability of the eye to focus on millimetres makes the SpidoSpeed experience most interesting," says Morten Linde.
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.
Function & Movement - Racing cars and chronographs have always been interlinked. With the inspiration stemming from the racing car industry producing a chronograph is a natural evolution and a complement to the existing Linde Werdelin collection. So the choice of the model name was not made at random. The name bears two words best characterising the watch.
"Designing a chronograph," says Morten Linde, "is a pleasantly challenging exercise. A chronograph to me is an iconic timepiece. There is so much information that needs to be incorporated in such a little space that maintaining legibility and functionality while still looking interesting sums up, for me, the challenge in hand."
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. On choosing a Concepto movement for the new model, Jorn Werdelin said "Concepto movements have attracted a lot of interest in the world of watch making in the last years for their quality, durability, reliability and versatility in terms of finishing and complications. It was very important for us to have an integrated chronograph for the SpidoSpeed so the pushers and the crown would be at the same level."
Specifications -The case measures 44mm x 46mm x 15mm. It has a sapphire crystal and is water resistant to 100 meters. The strap is a SpidoSpeed textile strap with steel ardillon buckle. MSRP is 11,670 Euros.
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