2013/04/12
Linde Werdelin the New SpidoLite II Tech Series Gold & Green
THE IDEA
During the last two years LINDE WERDELIN has tested and developed new materials and composites that best suit the purpose of each LW timepiece. The new SpidoLite II Tech is a result of this experimental approach. Featuring Linde Werdelin's signature fully skeletonised case and dial construction inspired by F1 car's weight reduction technology, the SpidoLite II is crafted in ALW, Alloy Linde Werdelin, and forged in carbon to further reduce weight yet in a robust structure making it ideal for even the extreme altitude sports experience.
THE CASE
The inner case of the Spidolite II Tech, crafted in ALW, protects the movement and inner mechanisms. ALW, Alloy Linde Werdelin, is a metal alloy/composite almost 50% lighter than titanium, developed for the aerospace industry for the first time and exclusively used in watch case production by LW. The inner case, which originally retains the same strength of steel, receives 25 microns treatment to harden its surface, while achieving a radiant red colour visible through the angular hollows of the skeletonised outer case sides. 2/3 is applied inside the material, while 1/3 is on its surface, resulting stronger than steel. For the case of the SpidoLite II Tech, LINDE WERDELIN has developed a new technique to skeletonise the carbon outer case, appropriately to guarantee the challenging balance between its strength and weightlessness. Forged carbon is the result of chopped pieces of carbon fibres forced by pressure and mould into the skeletonised case. Since the fibres are not oriented in any particular direction, the finished part is strong all around, while remaining light. The 4 screws on the case are in titanium and secured with tension disks in Hytrel, a thermoplastic polyester elastomer to provide the flexibility and strength and protect the carbon. The SpidoLite II Tech Gold features 18 karat rose gold bezel and crown with a microbillé and satin finish with a new LW Spido signature on the crown. For the first time the serial number of each piece in engraved in the hollows of the skeletonised cases.
THE DIAL
The engraved Spido icon and the black satin hand finished rotor bearing a rose gold LINDE WERDELIN marque are visible through the sapphire crystal case-back. The date wheels are treated in rose gold. The SpidoLite II Tech is powered by the LW 04 custom-made mechanical automatic movement by Valérien Jaquet of Concepto; independent movement manufacture based in La Chaux de Fonds.
THE MOVEMENT
The movement is visible through the dial where the upper part bears a black treatment on a perlage surface with blue screws. The engraved Spido icon and the black satin hand finished rotor bearing a gold LINDE WERDELIN marque are visible through the sapphire crystal case-back. The date wheels are treated with ceramic coating on SpidoLite II Tech Green and in rose gold on the SpidoLite II Tech Gold. The SpidoLite II Tech is powered by the LW 04 custom-made mechanical automatic movement by Valérien Jaquet of Concepto; independent movement manufacture based in La Chaux de Fonds.
THE FAMILY
SpidoLite II Tech comes in a family of 2 series: SpidoLite II Tech Green and SpidoLite II Tech Gold.
The SpidoLite II Tech Gold is limited to 75 pieces worldwide in numbered-series A.
