Watchmaker Linde Werdelin has released its most prestigious timepiece to date: the Oktopus Moon Tattoo.
Limited to 59 pieces worldwide, Oktopus Moon Tattoo is a unique state-of-the-art timepiece. An 18K solid rose gold case, intricately engraved with a hand drawn octopus, this masterpiece reflects the mystery and intrigue surrounding this powerful creature.
“Testifying to Linde Werdelin’s commitment and skill, the latest addition to our dive series represents the most prestigious and lavish piece of our collection yet,” said visionary co-founder Jorn Werdelin.
Featuring Linde Werdelin’s in-house moon-phase complication, elements of the first generation Oktopus have been enriched, proving that LW is a company alert to the most contemporary creative offerings; continually looking to progress in terms of materials, movements and design.
The inspiration
At present Linde Werdelin is the sole Swiss watchmaking company retaining a true understanding of the sea and diving universes, having invented the Reef, the first functional and modern diving accessory for the way we dive today.
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Linde Werdelin’s creative mind, Morten Linde, said: “A marriage between modern thinking and traditional craftsmanship resonates throughout an LW timepiece.
“The Oktopus Moon Tattoo is the perfect balance of contemporary art, technology and innovation; transporting poetry and imagination into the world of time keeping.”
Due to the complexity of building the case, movement and dial, Linde Werdelin has challenged the ability of some of Switzerland’s finest craftsmen and succeeded in pushing the limit of what is possible, achieving such ornamental and revolutionary masterwork.
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The limited number of the Oktopus Moon Tattoo signifies two moon cycles of 29.5 days each, before the moon returns to the same point on the celestial sphere. Moon phase complication is an ideal function to plan your night dives.
Case
The engraving on the solid 18K rose gold case has been executed at different depths to create a three-dimensional effect; an extremely challenging job resulting in a unique masterpiece. Linde Werdelin introduced the Oktopus series at Basel 2012 with a five-part case construction, which seals the titanium inner cylinder protecting the movement and the dial from water.
Selective materials such as rose gold, ceramic and titanium have been implemented to guarantee superb anti-corrosiveness. The entire surface is subsequently sand blasted resulting in microbillé, followed by a gentle hand satin finish.
A firm black ceramic bezel seals protects the entire case. The movement is sealed in the chamber by a titanium DLC screw in back-case featuring the iconic hand-drawn octopus. “This is the most substantial LW product launch to date,” says Morten Linde.
Complication and dial
Oktopus Moon Tattoo takes Linde Werdelin on a further challenge since the launch of Oktopus Moon in January 2013, uniting both the in-house complication and a newly designed dial.
Oktopus Moon Tattoo complication displays luminous, imaginary and hand-drawn moons-phases on its dial. Each moon is drawn and printed several times and delicately inlayed inside the pierced disk one by one. As the moon moves clockwise through its monthly cycle, more of its surface is illumined.
The dial consists of multiple skeletonised layers, conveying an immediate depth to the watch. On the lower part lays the moon disk; a metallic cut out surface carrying each luminous moon. The upper dial is skeletonised. Featuring three diamond-cut hands, it bears a beautifully engraved hand-drawn octopus in the centre. All indices are deliberately luminous to enhance readability.
The full moon is always indicated with a red mark visible through the lower dial. Numerals 11, 10, 9, displayed between 1 and 2 o’clock allow a more precise track of the lunar cycle.
Oktopus Moon Tattoo is available in a limited series of 59 pieces, retailing at CHF 42,500 ex VAT from November 2013 from any LW authorised retailer in local currency.
