The team at REC Watches describe themselves as a group of watch geeks, petrol heads and history buffs who combine their passions into every watch they produce.
The concept is to recover material from iconic vehicles — over the years they have used a Spitfire, Land Rovers, Porsches, Ford Mustangs, Triumph motorbikes and even a DeLorean — to make watches that pay homage to their donors.
Each piece is made in low volumes designed to connect with watch lovers and enthusiasts for the vehicle that has given up a little part of its soul to the timepiece.
REC Watches latest venture is the creation of a watch collection using material from a Mk1a Spitfire aircraft X4009 flown by Australian fighter-ace Pat Hughes during the Battle of Britain.
Pilot ace Mr Hughes is credited with as many as 17 aerial victories during the campaign of summer 1940, ranking him sixth in the “Ace of Aces”, as well as making him the highest-scoring Australian of the battle.
The X4009 aircraft wreckage was discovered in 2020, and is currently undergoing a complete restoration overseen by the Hunter Fighter Collection charity organisation.
Original and authentic aluminium from the fuselage, deemed unfit for the on-going restoration, has been donated and incorporated into the small-seconds subdial at 6 o’clock of three X4009 watches with grey, blue and black dials.
They come in 41mm steel cases with exhibition case backs presenting Sellita SW461-1 movements with customised rotors shaped to look like an oncoming Spitfire.
Delivery is expected in August of this year.
