Hands-On With The Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green

September 01, 2014

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Linde Werdelin is a friend of the show for some years now. We did quite a bit of coverage on this Danish design brand founded by Morten Linde and Jorn Werdelin. So let’s cut straight through the chase and talk about their Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green.

Just before our Summer holiday started, we received – for reviewing purposes – the SpidoSpeed Green chronograph, as introduced to us during the BaselWorld 2014 exhibition. We’ve had a SpidoSpeed chronograph in the past for review purposes as well, but this time it was a bit different. Why? Well, the SpidoSpeed chronograph as evolved a bit over the years. Although it did not lose its unique shape and powerful appearance, Linde Werdelin started to use different types of materials for their watches as well as giving the 3D experience of their sports watches a bit more depth.

Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green

Somehow I love the use of a green color in watches. If it is done a chic way. The Rolex Submariner LV would be perhaps a bit too much of a green overkill for me, but I believe that the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore “Monte Napoleone” limited edition and one of the Hublot Big Bang with some green accents got it right.

This new Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green is a bit more subtle with the green, as it only has been used on the minute track and sub dials. Looking at the sub dials, you probably already noticed the ‘charged’ writing at 4 o’clock of the chronograph hour recorder. Morten Linde explained here what it means, but we’ll do it in short as well: the add-on instruments that you can use with the Linde Werdelin timepieces need a 4 hour charge to be fully powered-up. So, if you want to use these instruments you just plug them onto the charger and click the start/stop pusher of your SpidoSpeed Green chronograph. If the hour recorder shows 4 o’clock you’ll know the add-on instrument is ready for use. Simple. Anyway, the green accents are also noticeable on the crown and on the right side of the case band.

Back to our Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green timepiece. After removing it from its nice black box (including a USB manual for the watch), I took a minute to look at the watch. Not only to check if everything was fully functioning but also to have a look at the beautiful 3D dial and feel the structure of the forged carbon. Besides all the esthetics, one thing you will immediately notice is the light-weight of this watch. This is not only due to the use of forged carbon, it is also because the case has gone through a complex process of drilling and cutting to remove almost everything that is obsolete.

Despite the dimensions of the watch (yes, still the same 44mm (w) by 46mm (l) by 15mm (h)) this watch is just remarkable comfortable. I say remarkable, because it was the first thing that came to mind when I strapped the Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green to my wrist. I’ve tried and worn a few more Linde Werdelin watches, but this one just kills it when it comes to comfort. I guess that again – this is a combination of the drilled case as well as the use of forged carbon.

The strap of the Linde Werdelin is integrated into the case with 2 bolts (per side). I haven’t unscrewed the strap, but since I had a 3-Timer myself I assume it still works the same. After unscrewing the bolts, the strap looks a bit like something you can ‘plug-in’ to the case. The bolts/screws need a special tool that Linde Werdelin can supply if necessary. The integrated strap is one that is very comfortable, at least I found it to be very comfortable as it was a perfect fit to my wrist. On the Linde Werdelin website you can order a new or spare strap for your timepiece. This Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green was delivered to us on a textured calf skin strap that reminded me of the soft strap that came on IWC’s Ingenieur AMG at some point. A sporty and ‘engineered’ appearance. You can also order a beautiful alligator skin strap with matching green stitching for this SpidoSpeed Green.

Wearing the Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green is not something that will get you bore anytime soon. The 3D effect of the dial, especially with the high-contrast of the gold and green color on black, will make you discover new interesting angles all the time. Especially when you are playing with this watch in the light. As mentioned, the size is perfect and the weight makes you some time wonder if the watch is still there. Rest assured, the the DLC coated titanium buckle will make sure it is.

In the past, I wrote that the pushers and especially the crown guards are sharp. Very sharp. It would almost hurt your fingers when unscrewing the crown. This Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green model has still some sharp edges as you can see on the photos below, but somehow it has become less of a burden to unscrew the crown or use the pushers. The pushers have been subject to change over the last few years and I think these are the best ones I’ve used so far.

Although Linde Werdelin is not a movement maker nor claims it to be, the movement inside this SpidoSpeed Green is a joy to look at through the sapphire case back. Linde Werdelin uses a Concepto movement as their ‘LW06’ caliber, which has been made to fit the Spido case. This chronograph movement ticks at 28,800 beats per hour and has a very nice optical finish. The skeletonized rotor winds in one direction (like the ETA 7750) and is therefor noticeable on the wrist due to the little ‘wobble’ when the rotor turns into the other (free) direction. The rotor has been applied with a nice green touch of ‘Linde Werdelin’, some of the other parts received a nice brushed treatment and others a polished treatment. There is a lot of contrast due to this so it is very enjoyable to look at all the different movement parts.

The price of the Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green chronograph is steep at CHF21.000 Swiss Francs (excluding VAT) but you can be very sure to be one of the lucky few with a SpidoSpeed Green (only 99 pieces). The use of forged carbon and the complex process of Linde Werdelin’s case and dial making are probably debet to the list price of the watch to a great extent. For CHF21K Swiss Francs, you will own a timepiece of a small and independent watch company with a unique design and with the opportunity to use a very cool add-on instrument for your rock climbing or diving activities.