It isn’t that some things are better left unsaid, it is rather that something cannot be said at all. Instead they need to be seen. This is the case with many a luxury watch. I can present you with a full dissertation on their feature set, beauty, and wearing enjoyment, that will do little to replicate the actual feel these timepiece have while on your wrist. So take my words for the significant value that they are worth, but if you are ever skeptical about a timepiece I endorse, then do yourself a favor and check it out for yourself. Having said that I want to share my experience with the Linde Werdelin 3-Timer watch with you. An interesting timepiece that has the makings of a true icon.
The 3-Timer comes in a dizzying array of several highly limited editions. Some with 222 pieces other with just 22 pieces. In 18k yellow gold or steel (or with both), a few dial colors, as well as strap options are available. I discussed at some length the watch and its various versions in these two previous articles on Linde Werdelin 3-Timer watch line (click for the first and second article on the watch). There you can also see more images of the various versions of the timepiece. This particular version is in steel with the brown dial and brown strap. The strap is an interesting element and I will discuss it right away. First of all, I love how Linde Werdelin does their straps. The tapering and style of how they are connected to the case are elegant but still manly. I also like the quality feel to the deployment and how easy they are to make comfortable. Linde Werdelin has many different strap styles and materials. This one is… leather I think. It has a segmented look to it, and because it is in brown I have given it the pet name of “worm hide.” Look at an image of an Earth Worm and you’ll know what I am referring to. So the strap is certainly something to look forward to on any Linde Werdelin timepiece. If you are interested, Linde Werdelin will even let you try them out for a few days to see how you like them. I give the watch a thumbs up for style and fucntion. If the price suits you, then you should certainly investigate the Linde Werdelin watch line.Going next to the case you have the now familiar Biformeter case style that retains its basic shape over the different Linde Werdelin watches for a very specific reason. If you aren’t familiar with the line, then let me tell you that Linde Werdelin offers several “instruments” that are small computer that attach on top of the watch. Currently they have the “Rock” and “Reef” instruments available. The shape of the case is specially made for the devices to attach right on to them. The case shape is also very attractive and represents what feels like a lot of thoughtful design work. It has a combination of functional and aesthetic elements to it, worthy of the finest classic sport watches out there. Linde Werdelin took a very hard segment to properly innovate it, and successfully did so with the case.
My personal favorite Linde Werdelin cases are the ones in steel or gold. The reason being that you can fully appreciate the contrasting polished and brushed finishes on the case surfaces. However, if you are going to be highly active with your watch, you might want to explore getting one of Linde Werdelin’s DLC (diamond like carbon) coatings that is very strong and scratch resistant. Of course the gold cased versions are going to be the most luxurious (and expensive) of the bunch.Linde Werdelin specifically wanted to tone down the dial of the watch line for the 3-Timer. It wanted to give it a more formal look that you could wear with a suit and tie, and not just your spy gear. Thus, you’ll see that the hour markers and hands are all a bit more subdued. Still, they are applied and covered with SuperLumiNova for night viewing. The result is not quite as bright as the Linde Werdelin 2- Timer watch that I previously reviewed here, but like I said, has a more elegant charm to it. You’ll also notice the fantastic looking dial pattern that the 3-Timer line has. Linde Werdelin replica takes a series of concentric circles and cuts them up like too many slices of pizza for a look that reminds me of how a large maps is divided for longitude and latitude. The pattern is cut deep into the dial and makes for a good texturing. The “global” look of the dial is also good as it is a GMT watch, so travelers are going to want one of these.Being a GMT watch, you can see the long thin GMT hand with an arrow at the end. The watch features a bi-directional 24 hour rotating bezel, which you use in combination with the GMT hand to tell the GMT time. The GMT hand can be synchronzied with the regular time (to see the standard time in GMT format), or can be independently set for a second timezone. You can rotating the bezel to offset the time that gives you the ability to track a third time zone. Thus, you have the “3-Timer” watch. Having an automatic ETA 2893-A2 movement inside, the GMT hand is adjusted in 1 hour increments only. Which is VERY nice to have. This makes it easy and quick to adjust the GMT hand accurately. The previous “2-Timer” watch has a diver’s bezel instead of the GMT bezel, but otherwise the functional operation of the watches are similar. Still, the design differences make the 3-Timer it’s own beast, and a step in the right direction for the energetic young brand.
The more I wear the watch, the more it impresses me. The best way to judge a watch design is by wearing it on and off in the midst of wearing other watches. That way you get a sense of comparison and you can appreciate that one watch makes you feel better than other. If only this technique was socially acceptable to do with women, but I digress. The 3-Timer watch isn’t for every occasion, but it satisfies in most of them. I return to the concept that it is good for both sport and a suit. A concept that many watches aspire to, but many fail to achieve. Price for the line is in the 4,000 – 4,800 euro range for the non-gold versions. Prices go up to about 18,000 euros for full 18k gold models.
Straight off the bat, I will be honest with you. I have a soft spot for Linde Werdelin. I have always loved Linde Werdelin’s concept of creating luxury sports watches for exploring the deep seas and the mountains. It’s not a revolutionary idea, but the execution makes it something very special. And after trying on a 3-Timer in late 2009 I was completely sold.
And that has never changed. The 3-Timer has always been “my watch”. But I still need to add a 3-Timer to my collection. Could it possibly be the new Linde Werdelin 3-Timer Nord?
It seems like a strange idea that a watch I have loved for over a decade, is still on my wishlist instead of on my wrist. The answer to that is simple; I just spent my money on other things when the first generation 3-Timer was around. But despite that, my love for the 3-Timer never faded. Neither did it for the initial brand concept of combining mechanical watches with digital instruments.
Straight off the bat, I will be honest with you. I have a soft spot for Linde Werdelin. I have always loved Linde Werdelin’s concept of creating luxury sports watches for exploring the deep seas and the mountains. It’s not a revolutionary idea, but the execution makes it something very special. And after trying on a 3-Timer in late 2009 I was completely sold.And that has never changed. The 3-Timer has always been “my watch”. But I still need to add a 3-Timer to my collection. Could it possibly be the new Linde Werdelin 3-Timer Nord?It seems like a strange idea that a watch I have loved for over a decade, is still on my wishlist instead of on my wrist. The answer to that is simple; I just spent my money on other things when the first generation 3-Timer was around. But despite that, my love for the 3-Timer never faded. Neither did it for the initial brand concept of combining mechanical watches with digital instruments.
Discovering Linde WerdelinIt’s an idea that was initiated by a functional desire Morten Linde and Jorn Werdelin had after Werdelin broke his back in a skiing accident in 1996. Ten years after the accident, the ideas became a reality with the first Linde Werdelin collection.The idea of clicking a digital instrument — The Rock in the mountains and The Reef in the sea — on your wristwatch to provide vital information, had James Bond-like allure. Something Robert-Jan already addressed in 2008 in this article. Obviously, the digital world was hard to keep up with so the instruments became outdated rather quickly. But the idea of developing watches for exploring in extreme conditions was still very relevant.
That’s why I was disappointed when Linde Werdelin lost its initial brand concept and wandered off into the land of bling for a while. It’s also when I lost interest a bit. I never lost my love for the brand’s approach to design or the initial idea though. Especially the 3-Timer and the Spidolite are still amongst my favorite modern sports watches.
I was incredibly happy to see the brand re-introduce the 3-Timer in 2017. And, with it, we also saw the return to the initial idea of Linde Werdelin developing instruments for explorers on land and in the water. It’s a return to form that has brought us some great timepieces.
The latest in the series is the Linde Werdelin 3-Timer Nord. It’s a special piece as it is the first 3-Timer after the re-introduction that comes on an integrated stainless steel bracelet. With modern luxury sports watches being as popular as ever, it was a good chance to find out if my love had changed for the 3-Timer. On top of that, I was able to check whether the 3-Timer is still a stand-out watch in a category overflowing with competitors.
Straight out of the box, the first thing that stands out is the 3-Timer Nord’s presence. It has always been a watch that stands out both in design and in size. With its characteristic 44mm by 46mm case, this is by no means a small watch. Add the 15mm thickness and, in theory, you have a rather substantial chunk of steel on your wrist. And if you add the visual impact of the stainless steel bracelet and the 3-Timer Nord looks like something from a sci-fi movie.
At the same time, there is also this feeling of familiarity. Upon first glance, I am immediately reminded of why I love the 3-Timer so much. That angular case design is still unique with its four characteristic bolts. The bezel looks humble with its 24-hour scale in that very recognizable modern font type. And the almost minimalist design approach creates space for the circular geometric pattern of the 3-Timer. With the small applied indices, small date indication, and sword style hands hovering above the dial, the pattern has plenty of room to shine.
The 3-Timer Nord is the first Linde Werdelin that features a fumé dial. In this case, it’s a blue fumé dial that starts out light in the middle and slowly changes into a very deep and dark blue color at the edges. The dial is inspired by the changing blue colors of the North Sea that is located in between England in the west and The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Norway in the east. With the owner Jorn Werdelin being Danish and living in London in the United Kingdom, the inspiration can be traced back to the brand’s roots.
I have to be honest, I had to smile when I read about the inspiration for the color of the dial. It’s because Grand Seiko always seems to come up with the most amazing explanations for its dial colors. For quite a few models we have seen references to the wide array of colors in Japanese nature. Since this was a similar story, I paused for a chuckle.
The gradation of the dial is a nice change from the regular dials. The dial really comes to life in natural sunlight where you can really see the effect of the fumé dial. And the association I had (and really like) is that the combination of the changing blue color and the nautical map pattern. With a bit of imagination, it looks like you are looking at the map of the North Sea.
Other firsts for the 3-Timer are the sandblasted steel case and bracelet. It gives the watch a matte look that tones down the overall presence of the watch. And, on top of that, I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort of the sandblasted steel. Especially when you have the watch on your wrist, it’s a combination of good looks and a pleasantly smooth touch.
The biggest cause for comfort is obviously the bracelet. The single-link design bracelet does give the watch its futuristic overall looks. But as we have come to expect from Linde Werdelin the bracelet is also cleverly designed. If you turn the bracelet around, you will find a flat center link connecting all the outside single links that almost serve as an outer shell.
But what this clever design allows for is the room to move so the bracelet really hugs your wrist. I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to wear the 3-Timer Nord. And another great feature is the butterfly clasp with a push-button release and the Linde Werdelin logo on top. When you close the clasp you feel how well designed and engineered all the elements are.
Adjusting the bracelet is easy with a total of seven short removable links making sure it fits different wrist sizes. And just like the rubber straps or textured calfskin straps we are used to seeing on a 3-Timer, the bracelet is connected to the case by the two big bolts recessed in the case. Overall I have to say — as with every Linde Werdelin watch — it all feels very well designed and engineered. Despite its futuristic machine-like looks, the bracelet is far from it.
The Linde Werdelin 3-Timer Nord is powered by the well-known ETA 2893-2 movement. The 21-jewel movement ticks at 28,800vph and has a 42-hour power reserve. It’s a genuine GMT-movement with a 24-hour hand that can be set independently. Pulling out the crown to the first position and turning the crown clockwise will let you adjust/set the GMT hand in one-hour increments. Turning the crown counter-clockwise will let you set the date. Pulling out the crown to the second position will let you adjust/set the time.
he movement of the 3-Timer has often been a point of much discussion in relation to the 3-Timer’s list price. The main reason for this is that the ETA 2893-2 is also used for watches with a less hefty price tag from Sinn, Hamilton, and Bell & Ross. And I must say that’s understandable.
I must admit, I simply love the looks of the 3-Timer. Sometimes watches have to grow on you. However, with the 3-Timer the attraction has been magnetic from the start. And wearing the 3-Timer Nord once again confirmed that the love has not died down one bit.
Next to its good looks, I find that its size is perfect for my wrist. And despite it sounding like a big chunk of steel, the 3-Timer Nord wears incredibly well. The way the watch hugs your wrist is a testament to the impressive level of detail that went into designing and engineering the 3-Timer.
The one thing I would not choose, however, is the bracelet. I prefer seeing the 3-Timer on the rubber or textured calfskin strap it usually comes on. Yes, the bracelet is a great piece of engineering, but I am not drawn to its chunky machine-like looks. With a case design that’s already an incredible eye-catcher, the bracelet feels a bit like overkill. It makes the 3-Timer a watch from the future — it looks a bit cold and distant. Luckily you can also opt for the watch on a blue rubber strap.
If anything the 3-Timer Nord proves that the watch has not lost any of its relevance and design power. Sure, you can debate its price and its movement. And if that’s the reason for you not to want one, I get that. But my attraction to the watch is rooted so deep, there is no turning back. It will result in me having to pull the trigger eventually. Whether it will be Linde Werdelin 3-Timer Nord or something else from the brand remains the only question mark.