Hot Take: Linde Werdelin SpidoLite Titanium Limited Edition

Origins matter. If a company or collection is built on solid foundations, it may be able to reach untold heights. The Linde Werdelin Spido series was inspired by an expedition to Mount Everest. Since then, new models are tested in extreme environments where only the brave dare tread.

As you may have noticed (especially if you favor the annual calendar complication) it is now 2020. Most people agree this is the first year of a new decade. As such, brands are taking stock. They are paying particular attention to the messages communicated by their first releases of this new era. It is fitting that directors must possess 20:20 foresight to accurately predict what the future holds, but one safe(ish) bet is to fall back on a brand’s core DNA to re-establish clarity.

We put the release of the Linde Werdelin SpidoLite to two of our team to find out their immediate reactions to the novelty. Why not join in with your own Hot Takes in the comments section below.

Rob Nudds

Linde Werdelin has always had an instantly identifiable look. That’s a good thing. In fact, it is about as good a thing as a brand can hope for. I remember seeing a Linde Werdelin watch (I think it was an Oktopus) while I was still at the bench and falling very quickly in love. It was around the time I was similarly obsessed with Stepan Sarpeneva, Urwerk, and the Omega Ploprof. To put it mildly, I was somewhat excited by unusual case shapes. What I enjoyed about the Linde Werdelin models was how their easily digestible silhouettes were teamed so expertly with the shallow excavations designed for weight reduction.

These new Spidolite models are striking a chord…

I’ve moved away from hunting down the wildest and weirdest cases I can find. Nowadays, I prefer much more “standard” designs that place emphasis on quality and almost imperceptible details, rather than novelty. But these new SpidoLite models are striking a chord. Largely because of their more muted (and mature) dial colors.

I barely own any blue dials, while I own several greens (a weird quirk of my collection that only became obvious to me when I decided I preferred the Arktis blue model). What I’m particularly fond of on the blue model is how the strap integrates so well with the colorway. The “Summit green” color is an on-trend olive hue that doesn’t really speak to me.  Give me neon, give me kelly, give me emerald, but olive? It’s okay, I already ate…

But that Arktis Blue is awesome. It works with formal and casual attire. It has the kind of low-key cool it’s difficult for such a bombastic case to carry off. But carry it off it does. There won’t be many of these (regrettably), but I’d love to get one on the wrist and see how those titanium bad-boys wear.

Ben Hodges

In the early millennium, Morten Linde and Jorn Werdelin designed the Biformeter watch. It was a mechanical watch that could “piggyback” one of two detachable computers. These digital instruments were packed with features. One was designed for the sea, the other for the land. The computers, which were nicknamed the Rock and the Reef, clipped onto the case using several recesses and hollows machined into the housing’s surface.

The technology world moved on very quickly. A small brand like LW had little chance to keep pace. Additionally, the increasing miniaturization and sophistication of wearable technology very quickly made these bulky attachments obsolete. Did that spell the end for Linde Werdelin? Absolutely not. Collectors weren’t bothered by the absence of the high-tech attachments as it turned out the stylish and characterful “old-tech” was the real star of the show. I for one, couldn’t agree more and am glad to see this new update that holds true to the brand’s dual interests in the land and the sea.

Linde Werdelin now has a fleshed-out collection with the Oktopus for diving and Spido collection for all above sea-level excursions. Within the Spido range, there is the SpidoSpeed chronograph and SpidoLite time-only model. The latter is the topic of this Hot Take.

The ‘Trigon’ technique skeletonizes the case and dial yet maintains structural rigidity.

I like how the SpidoLite Titanium still maintains the hollowed facets of the case and skeletonization of the dial while keeping structural rigidity. Referred to as the ‘Trigon’ technique, it requires an acute knowledge of architecture that Morten Linde fully grasps. The advantage is a fantastic wrist presence coupled with extreme lightness.

Coming in with new dial colors for the SpidoLite is Summit Green and Arktis Blue. Unlike my fellow Fratello, I am a big fan of earthy, olive tones. The olive green dial mixed with the matte grey titanium case suits the mountaineering lifestyle.

Conclusion

This edition of the SpidoLite, which will only be made 75 times in each color, continues the tradition of being tested to extremes. Last month, friend of the brand and explorer Leo Houlding wore the Linde Werdelin Spidolite while summiting Mount Roraima. Houlding was the man who took the Biformeter Elemental to Mount Everest in 2007, using his experience of performance necessities in harsh conditions to put the piece through its paces.

These special, scalloped cases retain the strength of a solid case, while massively reducing their overall weight. This makes them ideal for strenuous activities in challenging environments. To achieve this, each piece is produced individually. They measure 44mm wide, 15mm thick, and boast a 100-meter water-resistance.

An avant-garde exterior demands the same level of refinement from its beating heart. Inside the Linde Werdelin is the LW04 self-winding movement with a 42-hour power reserve. The LW04 was developed and modified by Concepto for the brand. Ceramic bearings improve shock resistance and are able to continue functioning optimally in less than optimal conditions. Structurally, it is similar to the “SpidoSpeed” movement but without the chronograph movement.

Both watches are supplied on rubber straps (blue for the blue dial, black for the green), with a textile option available also. These new straps are compatible with Linde Werdelin’s previous models and easy to change. The price is £7,000 excluding VAT. To learn more about the brand and its history, head over to its official website here.