The mildly refreshed Oktopus II Titanium Double Date collection now comes in a flashy new color of lipstick red. The color is not limited to just the dial and the thick rubber strap but also decorates the gaskets between eight steel screws and the black ceramic bezel. And if you get tired of so much red on your wrist, the rubber band can be easily swapped for a more discrete black textile strap that comes free of charge.
Like it was the case with the original Double Date, the big date indicator on the Oktopus II Titanium Double Date Red, which is still located at its usual position at 12 o’clock, is almost absolutely unreadable.
The reason for this is that both heavily skeletonized calendar wheels are painted as a whole and it gets extremely difficult to get the indicator’s reading at a single glance.
Of course, if you are ready to take your time and spend a couple of seconds trying to discern one numeral from another, that’s absolutely okay, but if you are filling in the blanks in a hurry and just want to remember what date is today, this could become annoying.
Still, if you ignore the messed-up big date display, the dial looks almost perfect. The hour markers are painted in white lume, which is in contrast to the red background of the chapter ring, and the wide, thick hour and minute hands are, too, generously covered with white Superluminova that makes reading time a super-easy task whether deep underwater or in some dark place on the surface.
Like the original, the new limited edition model is powered by the same self-winding Dubois Depraz caliber 14580. Based on the ETA 2842-2 work-horse that now sports a DD add-on module, it was further modified by Linde Werdelin for that “skeletonized” feel that, to my taste, doesn’t fit a diving tool, which is supposed to be an example of readability in all sorts of ways.
According to the brand’s official press release, LW limits this new Linde Werdelin Oktopus II Titanium Double Date Red to just 88 pieces that are already available at their partners’ numerous stores, so there is a chance that they will be sold out fairly soon.
As usual, the watch can be easily partnered with their proprietary electronic diving computers.
As for pricing, at this time you can order one of these beauties at $11,500, which is fairly reasonable for a watch with such an unusual design.
See also: Citizen Promaster Sea Eco-Drive BN0100-51E
Photos: Linde Werdelin
Linde Werdelin Oktopus II Titanium Double Date Red specification
Price: $11,500 (Retail)
Movement: Automatic, Dubois Depraz caliber 14580, base ETA 2824-2, modified by Linde Werdelin, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 26
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, big date
Case: Titanium
Bezel: Black ceramic
Crown: Steel
Shape: Tonneau
Bezel shape: Round
Dimensions: 44.00 mm x 46.00 mm
Case height: 15.25 mm
Dial: Skeletonized
Numerals: Arabic, red, luminous
Hour markers: White, luminous
Hands: Luminous, polished steel
Water resistance: 300 meters
Strap: Black textile strap or red rubber band
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Solid, engraved