LW is a small company, that was making 400-450 watches a year; and I'm not aware of the current output. I would suggest just a basic google search, and to check youtube content for reviews; LW has a channel on YT as well.

Aftersales is a sad story: they wouldn't sell you parts, and the company's policy is to always take a timepiece in for a service. It means you'd need to post it to their London HQ. I just received a response from them on the matter.
THe watches you're interested in are ETA2892-2 based, therefore you'd have no problem servicing the movement by a local watchmaker with good reputation. That is a great movement, accurate and robust. There is nothing gimmicky about it - very straight forward.
The overall quality of the watches is great; their cases are an absolute touch of a genius... everything is top-notch. The composition of the shape and form, the construction and the finish; hard DLC, and perfect finishing of bare-metal cases.... I mean everthing. Spido cases are even more impressive than conventional LW pieces. The crown is a bit small, but passable.

now, here is why I sent an e-mail to LW, and draw your own conclusions. The bezel on my HB III Big Date is a bit iffy and loose in operation - I use it quite a lot to time things. So I removed it, and to my dismay the click spring and tooth insert are made of plastic... now I'm wondering if the movement holder/base are plastic as well.? This is really stingy.
To add an insult to the injury - these are not exactly generic items. Very easy to replace, cheap, but good luck finding these parts.
I don't know if the bezel on The One and Bifometer is a better quality, with metal inner-works?
LW's bezel game is weak, and unless you absolutely have to have a rotating bezel, you might want to consider a different model that doesn't utilize a bezel.

My wrist size is the same as yours, and LW wears comfortably. I bet a titanium Spido model would be even more comfortable on a wrist. The case size between lug extremities is around 50mm, and the strap has that nice curvature downward. The watch has a low profile, relatively light, and is a joy to wear. Surprisingly compact and slim for the 46/50mm case size.
The original straps are expensive though, and there is only one AM option. I don't have an experience with LW bracelet, but I only heard praises to the quality and wear comfort.

As for the Rock and the Reef, there is not much to talk about. These are pretty much defunct, phased out and obsolete. Interesting concept, that never really took off. The thing of the past.
To me that is more like a nostalgic throw-back to the time of LW novelties.
The battery cell would need to be replaced by now, and that requires soldering. The original gasket and O-ring are most likely won't be available from LW, Everything inside of the Rock is sooo 1990s.
I have recently reconditioned The Rock, and it works like new.
Functionality wise: if you PM your e-addy I will send you pdf for the Rock. But frankly you'd be better off with a GShock.

I personally think a Spidolite, especially a SA, or an Octopus Moonphase are better value in the world of LW. I too am pondering picking one up.

 

The bezel on my HB III Big Date is a bit iffy and loose in operation - I use it quite a lot to time things. So I removed it, and to my dismay the click spring and tooth insert are made of plastic... now I'm wondering if the movement holder/base are plastic as well.? This is really stingy.

Sorry for reviving an old thread. I'm looking to purchase a 3 timer model and I came across your post. I reached out to LW since I wanted to know if they upgraded the bezel system from the Biformeter models, here is their response.

"Thank you for getting back to us and our apologies for the confusion. With regards to your query, the bezel mechanism in the original Biformeter was plastic. Though in the 3 Timer it is made in steel.

Please let us know if you have any additional questions. Wishing you a nice day!

Warm regards,

Info | LINDE WERDELIN"

It seems like they upped their bezel game!

 

I owned a Linde for a little while but moved it on as it was not really my style. I didn’t have any problems with the build quality or performance. I bought used and the quality seemed to be commensurate with the price I paid. I have 6.5cm wrists and didn’t have a problem with fitment on their leather strap.

Brand history information can be found online. There were a lot of articles written when the company first started producing watches, and then more recently with their latest introduction.

Agreed with the above sentiment about the add-on electronic modules. They are antiquated at this point and not worth the money unless you just want it for the novelty factor. I’m pretty sure Linde doesn’t sell them anymore as well.

 

Hi mate,

I am not sure about the models you are interested into, but I have an Oktopus Carbon Green and I am super happy with it. Possibly my most comfortable watch and definitely a faithful adventure companion.
I had one issue with the screws that attach the strap and they sent me a set from the UK, I received them in a couple of days. Then I asked them about changing the hands and they answered the next day, they seemed very responsive, and offered to install a different set (at a relatively high price I have to say). Eloise McLaren is the main contact for the customers I believe, and I think they removed all of their distributors to avoid huge depreciation and keep their margins for themselves.

In terms of products, I think the Oktopus carbon is really well executed, and the precision and sharpness of the elements of the watch are apparent. I have a gripe with the springbar of the deployant clasp which has failed me once during a waterskiing session, but outside of that I have only positive things to say.

Regarding the Rock and the Reef, as said before, they are clearly obsolete and I wouldn't try to get one to actually use it in real life conditions, as it would be sub-par compared to what you can get today. But the design of the case is very cool for me.

The rubber straps are super comfortable, but a little stiff, so they do work on my wrists but I can't tell what it will be like for you. My wrists are average. I did get a custom velcro textile strap which is also super comfortable and half the price of the official rubber straps.

I hope this helps!

All the best,
A.

 

Thanks for these posts, super curious about these and especially with the fine case execution there could one of these in my future

 

Seeing this thread pop back up in my alerts made me think I should as an addendum to my earlier post.

I don't understand why the brand seems to be committed on keeping the same basic case dimensions of the originals, which was a consequence of attempting to conform to their electronics modules.

I would seriously consider buying a new Linde if they refined the case a bit, to reduce the size and thickness.

 

Just bought my first one and super excited to see it in the metal. Frankly the watches seem to be a bargain. You can spend $5000-10,000 on a lot of nothingburgers nowadays. This comparatively seems unique and interesting. They’ve been around for 20 years too, so not exactly a flash in the pan.

 

Overpriced and kind of ugly too.

 

Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

 

@Swizzlestick
Thanks for sharing your rather bad experience with LW's after sale service. The fact that the watches have to be sent to England in case of damage is a real disadvantage, especially after the Brexit, which I have to and will include in my purchase decision. But I don't know yet if this will turn out to be a dealbreaker in the end, especially because the manufacturer of number 2 on my list (Clerc Hydroscaph H-1 Chronometer, in case anyone is interested) no longer exists since October 2020.

@Stchambe
Thanks for the tips

@ar7iste
I have in mind the biformeter "The One". Preferably the simple and plain version without GMT function. Three hands and date, that's enough.
Eventually I would add the instrument "The Reef" and/or "The Rock" to the watch later, even if I don't need or will ever use the additional functions at all.

@dputydwg
If I ultimately decide to go with the LW - it's supposed to be a birthday present from me to myself, and there will be a few months to go before then - I'll keep you posted here and possibly write a detailed review.

@viknijjar
I would also like to thank you for your comment.

@Xaltotun
Luxury items are generally overpriced and I like the design of the Linde Werdelin watches, so I guess there will be no problems.
On the positive side, I have screwed up tastes anyway, cause I like my Kölsch with Coke, I like the taste of Coole Swan, I like my '65 Ford and I also like my Eterna KonTiki Diver 1000M, my Vulcain Cricket Aviator Diver Xtreme and my Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Concept 2000...


Up to here your comment was very good and then came this....

Some guys like fat girls and some might be attracted to that green monstrosity up in post #4. It could certainly double as the theme watch of the Green Goblin.

... which then raises the question why it is not enough to simply say "I don't like that" and instead you try to provoke the one who does like the design by aggressive comparisons.

 

I apologize Moonshine. I amended my post.

 

I’m actually wearing my Spidolite today. Lovely watch really. Disregard the nonsense that uninformed loudmouths spew on this and every forum. It’s a really nice watch and for me it’s a keeper.

 

In the largest German-language watch forum, the presentation of a Linde Werdelin watch - I think it was an Octopus - was mocked for the brand name on the one hand, turning it into "Wum and Wendelin" (Wum and Wendelin are two comic characters invented by the German humorist Loriot, who died in 2011), and the side openings for attaching the optional instruments were degraded to dirt traps for dust and DNA - none of whom knew about the function of these openings.
Since the watch hype is also artificially driven by every puny influencer on Youtube, Instagram and Facebook, there are just too many prepubescent id¡ots floating around in the watch scene...

 

Im loving the LW brand, it’s a truely a unique watch on the wrist, and way more comfortable than an AP or Hublot. In a world where watch flippers and artificial scarcity of supply have sucked any cool factor out of Rolex, AP and Patek, the world needs a Linde Werdelin, the interesting and unique will always prevail over the dull and generic that is more about marketing than passion for timepieces.

 

I've been doing this with my planned watch purchases for a few years now, so that I completely forgo impulse buys and let the watches that seriously interest me circle in a holding pattern for at least three months. Only if I still want the watch then, then it is also bought. This way, I can avoid spending money on something that, on closer inspection, I don't actually want to have - at least that's what I imagine.
This is not how I bought the ZRC Grands Fonds MN, and I don't regret the abandonment. The Linde Werdelin, on the other hand, still has a strong appeal for me - but so also does the Clerc...

 

I will say that even though I'm currently staring at my Spido Chrono that is missing a pusher AND since I'm in the US I have to send it to London for repair, it is a beautiful watch and extremely comfortable. SO much so that I purchased another LW earlier this year, The One Biformeter w/ a Red Dial. Some people hate it, but I love it and again, on the rubber strap it is SO comfortable! I say take the plunge. It's a lot of watch for the $$$ based on prices in the second-hand market.

Full disclosure that their recommended delivery method for my Spido Chrono is over $400 USD due to import/courier usage, so I think I'm just going to send to a friend of mine who lives in London and have him take it into service for me...

 

@bk9
Thank you for your assessment. The shipping to London in case of repair would probably be cheaper from Germany than from the U.S., but due to the stupid Brexit but still associated with customs effort.
By the way, I'm still wavering between the LW and the Clerc and I'm afraid that in the end it will be one for my birthday and the other for Christmas...

Good luck for the repair of your Spido.

 

I think they are talking about the internals of the bezel not the bezel itself but I had no clue it was plastic inside?
Hopefully someone knows more

 

See my quote from Linde Werdelin above your comment

 

Hi everyone, I'm thinking about jumping back into a LW watch after many years. But I just read the Morten Linde isn't with the company anymore. Does anyone know why Morten left? Without him, are they still coming out with new designs each year?

 

From what I’ve read it came down to Jørn Werdelin moving to Portugal. There is a good article from August 2023 on the website stating how the “ brand still bears a touch of Morten’s designs but pulses with Jørn’s vision“ . It doesn't exactly say he is no longer involved with the brand but that they decided to embark on different paths so it sounds like Jørn is going to be the one pushing the brand forward.