REC Watches 901 GW Chelsea Grey Chronograph

Danish watchmaking model REC Watches has regularly been featured on MONOCHROME, as there’s usually simply one thing totally different and funky about its watches. Whether or not it’s a pilot’s watch impressed by the Spitfire, a tool-like watch taking cues from a Land Rover and even watches devoted to the Ford Mustang, there’s a pink line working by means of all collections. REC Watches makes use of precise parts of automobiles that encourage every assortment, fulfilling its ambition of RECycle, RECover, REClaim within the course of. The newest creation, impressed by a pair of restomod Porsche 993s by Gunther Werks, is a sturdy and race-ready chronograph. We’ve gone hands-on with a late-stage prototype of the REC Watches 901 GW Chelsea Gray.

In automotive-related watches, manufacturers are inclined to take inspiration from iconic automobiles, race tracks, and even events like the Mille Miglia. As a substitute, REC Watches makes use of precise parts to be included into each watch made, one thing we’ve defined when first covering the new 901 GW collection. So in each single watch constructed, there’s materials sourced from the precise factor that led to the creation of stated watch. This may be a component of a Spitfire, a Land Rover Defender or perhaps a Porsche 911 for example. And on this 901 GW Chelsea Gray, it’s a quite particular Porsche 911!

The automotive in query is a restomod (restored-modified) 993-generation Porsche 911 constructed by Gunther Werks, a California-based auto store. What Gunther Werks does, in an identical vein to Singer and Emory, is take a base automotive and switch it right into a highly-refined precision instrument. Every automotive constructed is taken aside utterly and fitted with new and improved parts, and wearing a finely lower carbon fibre go well with. The result’s a really fascinating and really succesful sports activities automotive, to say the least!

REC Watches teamed up with Gunther Werks and has turned extra materials from a pair of Porsche 993’s into elements of the case of this 901 GW assortment. Two fashions can be found, one with a black and blue color mixture, the 901 GW Exoskeleton, and the 901 GW Chelsea Gray we had for the evaluation. Each characteristic the identical case, with the variations being restricted to color and ending solely. The design and ending of the pair of 901 GW’s use quite a lot of components from the precise automobiles just like the headlight casing carried over to the bezel or components of the dial and chronograph subdials.

The trendy case is made out of 6 elements and makes use of a mixture of brushed, polished and blasted ending. The center a part of the case is manufactured from solid carbon fibre, coming from the Gunther Werks automobiles. The sloped bezel has a definite, industrial profile and holds a flat sapphire crystal. At 44mm broad and 14.35mm tall, it’s a quite giant watch however the brief, partly hooded lugs hold it fairly wearable. The massive chronograph pushers, flanking the rubber-clad crown, really feel sturdy when used. The strong caseback, extending down from the center case a little bit, is adorned with an engraving mimicking the engine cowl of the Gunther Werks Porsche 993’s.

The dial of the 901 GW is partially open-worked and divulges quite a lot of depth. You may see small elements of the motion, including to the commercial look of the watch typically. The X-like “bridges” spanning the dial are paying homage to strut braces to stiffen a automotive’s chassis. The outer tachymeter scale is a must have in any automotive-inspired chronograph watch. The central hour and minute fingers are executed in black, with white luminous inserts. The central chronograph seconds hand is white with a pink tip. The working seconds is displayed on the left, with the 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph counters at 3 and 6 o’clock finishing the dial. There’s no date, which contemplating the very fact there’s already quite a bit to see, is a smart selection by REC Watches.

The REC Watches 901 GW watches use a Sellita SW 510 B calibre. This automated chronograph motion relies on the structure of the Valjoux 7750. The cam-operated motion runs at a frequency of 4Hz and packs 62 hours of energy reserve when totally wound. Sellita has just lately upgraded this calibre when it comes to energy reserve, which may be very welcome certainly! Within the 901 GW’s it’s hidden from view by the engraved, strong caseback.

Observe: As talked about within the intro, the watch we had was a late-stage prototype which shall be barely up to date for remaining manufacturing. The watch usually comes on a padded black leather-based strap with Alcantara insert and pink stitching, however as a substitute, you possibly can see right here the rubber strap with carbon fibre insert REC sells instead. One other factor to vary barely is the caseback, which shall be improved when it comes to ending. It additionally mentions “Restricted to 188”, which fits for the 901 GW Exoskeleton, and never the 901 GW Chelsea Gray you see right here.

The REC Watches 901 GW Chelsea Gray is restricted to 232 items and is now out there for pre-order at a worth of EUR 1,836, which can bump to EUR 2,141 on November 1st. Supply is predicted to begin in November 2021.

The REC Watches 901 GW Chelsea Gray appears quite technical and sturdy, which it’s. All feels very strong and there’s simply one thing very interesting to correct car-related watches. And actually, you can’t get any extra car-related than utilizing precise parts of a automotive. My solely grievance with this watch is the dimensions, and due to this fact the legibility, of the subdials. I really feel they’re a tad too small in opposition to the quite busy dial. Aside from that, it appears and feels spectacular and cozy and won’t disappoint when it comes to wrist presence.

For extra info, please go to RECwatches.com.