Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The REC Watches 901 GW Exoskeleton & Chelsea, Inspired by 993s Remastered by Gunther Werks
Two new bold chronographs with motorsport in mind
There’s something very consistent when it comes to REC Watches’ creations, and that is the car/motorsport inspiration, as well as the use of actual materials from the cars that inspired the watches into their production process. REC Watches was founded in 2014 by Jonathan Kamstrup & Christian Mygh and what they do is pretty cool… They salvage excess material from iconic vehicles around the world and use it to create unique timepieces as a tribute to the donor vehicle. And when it comes to the brand’s latest model, it makes no exception to the rule, as it uses carbon fibre from the two Porsche 993s Remastered by Gunther Werks. Meet the new REC Watches 901 GW Exoskeleton & Chelsea.
As always with REC Watches, everything starts with an actual vehicle, which is used for inspiration and as the base for designing new watches. Pretty classic, you might say. Except that for REC’s founders, the idea is pushed a little further. REC actually stands for “RECover, RECycle, REClaim” and not only do the watches feature design elements of the cars (or planes) they’re linked to, but they also integrated actual material from these donor vehicles in their cases or dials. The excess material is usually donated to REC Watches during a restoration process on a specific vehicle, and the parts from the salvaged vehicles in question are recycled into the components of a brand new watch. And due to the limited nature of the excess material, production is of course a bit confidential too.
For these new REC Watches 901 GW Exoskeleton & Chelsea watches, the brand has teamed up with Gunther Werks, a California-based company that puts a modern twist on the last air-cooled Porsche 911, the 993. Alongside modifications of the style and technical elements, the main task of Gunther Werks is to strip each vehicle back to its frame before dressing it in its own carbon fibre bodywork. And for these new watches, Gunther Werks provided REC Watches with carbon fibre from the “Carbon Exoskeleton” and the “Chelsea Grey” build process.
These new models are based on a new automatic chronograph architecture, part of the 901 collection – which we’ve already seen with the RWB models. But here, not only the design has been updated with new elements, but the mechanics are also more complex. The case is sharp and contemporary, and measures 44mm diameter, even though the 46mm lug-to-lug is fairly compact. The base is stainless steel with multiple finishings and it comes with highly original pushers and multiple recesses and textures. The bezel is inspired by the car’s casings for headlights.
More importantly, Gunther Werks provided REC Watches with carbon fibre from the “Carbon Exoskeleton” and the “Chelsea Grey” build process. REC then granulated and reforged this material with new carbon fibre to create the visible middle section of the 901 GW case, marking a departure from the brand’s more usual way of working, in which the recycled parts are incorporated in the dial. In line with the two cars that inspired the design, there are multiple coloured accents on the dial, strap and crown.
Following the two cars from Gunther Werks, there are two editions of the REC Watches 901 GW available. The Exoskeleton has a darker overall theme, with blue accents, a dark grey openworked dial and an orange seconds hand. The Chelsea model is slightly more classic, with a lighter, more metallic feel, following the paintjob of the car designed by GW. It features multiple red accents all around, as well as a combination of grey and white elements.
Inside the case of these REC Watches 901 GW is the well-known Sellita SW 510 B, a cam-operated automatic chronograph movement with 4Hz frequency and 62 hours of power reserve (indeed Sellita has recently increased the power reserve of most of its movements). The display provided on the openworked dial is pleasant – 3-6-9 layout – and there’s no date window. Finally, in classic motorsport inspiration, the watch features a tachymeter scale on the inner flange.
Both editions are worn on wide, racing-inspired leather strap with padded Alcantara inlays and contrasting stitching. Closed by a steel pin buckle, they feature a quick-release system.
The REC Watches 901 GW Exoskeleton is a limited edition of 188 pieces, while the Chelsea version will be produced in 232 pieces. The price of each edition is, for the time being, EUR 1,836 (pre-order price valid until November 1st). Deliveries are expected in November 2021, and the watches can be ordered now at www.recwatches.com.
Sponsored Post: This article is sponsored by REC Watches. However, it reflects the writer’s opinion and has been written according to MONOCHROME’s editorial policy.
