Hands-On: Linde Werdelin Oktopus Titanium Red Review

Some time ago, Linde Werdelin sent us their Oktopus Titanium Red for a review here on Fratellowatches. During the last few years, Linde Werdelin’s collection has been sorted out and optimized by having two main pillars: the Spido and the Oktopus. Today, we review the Linde Werdelin Oktopus Titanium Red after having it on our wrists for a couple of weeks. After all, you can’t review something without having experienced it yourself.

Linde Werdelin Oktopus II Double Date Titanium Red

Since we’ve covered a lot of Linde Werdelin timepieces here during the last few years, we won’t go into the basics but focus on the review of this particular watch. Originally named Linde Werdelin Oktopus II Double Date Titanium Red, we’ve noticed that this watch is now being referred to simply as Oktopus Titanium Red, so we will do as well.

As always, despite the dimensions of the Linde Werdelin watches (44 mm x 46 mm x 15.25mm) they snuggle comfortably on an average wrist. The large lugs are a bit deceiving at first, but as you can see the rubber strap is nicely integrated and already starts ‘bending’ towards the wrist before upper side the titaium lug ends. Admitted, the guys at Fratello are not the light-weights and often have schnitzels for breakfast, but I’m pretty confident this watch will suit the average wrist. However, make sure to try before you buy.

The red Oktopus in titanium was a very fun watch to wear. Not only because people seem to start to recognize you are wearing something special (and in some cases people recognized it as a Linde Werdelin watch, when you didn’t expect that to happen) but also the red color seems to attract the attention of many. The red accents on the skeletonized (or layered) dial and the rubber strap match nicely and also maintain the watch to keep its value as a serious timepiece. The colors on the new Oktopus models (yellow, blue and red) made me question whether people would think of it as a gimmick or that it would still be considered to be an interesting or even desirable Linde Werdelin watch. However, the majority of people I’ve spoken to while wearing this piece did not mention it in a negative way.

I guess the Oktopus in red (or yellow or blue for that matter) or not for those who care to much about what other people think. But this has basically been the case with most of their timepieces till now.

The brushed titanium case and the ceramic bezel gives this Oktopus a very tough looking appearance. Inside, the LW customised Dubois Dépraz – known for their add-on modules for many ebauches – caliber 14580 automatic movement is fitted and shows the big (double) date at 12 o’clock. The caseback of the Oktopus is closed and has an engraving of an oktopus. In my opinion, only few movements need to be seen and a true sports watch needs a closed caseback instead of a transparent caseback. There are a few exceptions of course.

With the 5-piece case construction, the screw-in crown and screw-in caseback the Linde Werdelin Oktopus Titanium Red is water resistant up to 300 meters. With the standard rubber strap or the textile strap it should be no problem to enter the water but make sure not to use any of their beautiful alligator straps in the water (yes, we known an alligator can swim).

The Linde Werdelin Oktopus Titanium Red was a blast to wear and I was actually quite intrigued with the color. If I were in the race for one, I probably would have played it safe and go for the blue one.

If you look back at the very first Linde Werdelin models (One, 2-Timer, 3-Timer etc) and the current Oktopus and Spido line-up, there is a clear path of evolution to witness. On one hand, the watches improved with regards to constructions, finish, materials and movements on the other hand did the (new) watches lose some ‘rawness’. Is that a bad thing? Not at all as Linde Werdelin has grown from being a very small niche sports watch brand to a brand that focuses more on the luxury lifestyle side of wearing and using watches. Our use of cigars in the photos is just a small wink to that. Linde Werdelin’s focus on becoming a lifestyle related timepiece is a totally different approach then most of the classic manufacturers are using.

In my opinion the focus should always remain on being (and staying) a watch brand more than anything else. Sometimes there is only a thin line between being a dedicated watch brand or being part of the rich & famous lifestyle package but luckily Linde Werdelin’s real focus is on designing incredible (sports) watches. They proof that once more with this Oktopus Titanium Red timepiece.

List price of the Linde Werdelin Oktopus Titanium Red is CHF 10,200 Swiss Francs (ex VAT) and more information can be found here.