REC are known for a unique form of sustainability, recycling motor vehicle parts into components for their watches. More recently, they’ve taken this concept a step further by incorporating material taken from culturally important vehicles to add an extra level of style and class to their timepieces. The TTT collection in particular uses material from famous motorcycles like the 1962 Triumph TR6 Trophy 650cc that Steve McQueen rode in The Great Escape. The latest addition to this range is the new REC TTT Knievel.
As the name suggests, this watch features parts taken from legendary stuntman Evel Knievel’s signature Harley-Davidson XR750 “Shark Jump”. In particular, the star shaped hour marker at 12 o’clock is made from the bike’s handle bar levers. The star is a reference to his iconic stars and stripes outfit that helped make him one of the foremost American icons of the late 60s and early 70s. He epitomised the American spirit. Further referenced through the overt use of red, white and blue across the piece and Knievel’s No. One logo at 6 o’clock.
Structurally, the watch has the same construction as the TTT Great Escape with a 43mm diameter steel case and a rotatable display. The 30 degree rotation allows it to move between two positions, the normal dress position and the ride mode, where the dial is positioned to be readable while on your wrist as you hold the steering wheel or handle bars.
Visible through the open portions of the dial is the Sellita calibre SW200-1 Sb, an automatic piece with a power reserve of 41-hours and an accuracy of +/- 6 seconds per day. It also features a custom rotor denoting its limited edition number out of the 736 pieces that are being produced. The exhibition caseback also bears Knievel’s signature.
The REC TTT Knievel is available for a pre-order price of £1,610 ahead of delivery in December, when the retail price will be £1,895. Personally I find the design of the piece a touch too brash but really, being brash, bold and bombastic is what this watch is all about. It’s about jumping more than 60ft on a goddamn Harley-Davidson over a tank of sharks, crashing through a barrier, breaking your arm and being an all-round badass. It’s about being the King of the Daredevils. And this watch lives up to that.
Price and Specs:
REC TTT Knievel
43mm diameter x 12.3mm thickness, stainless steel, exhibition caseback
Skeletonised
50m (5 bar)
Sellita calibre SW200-1 Sb, automatic, 26 jewels
28,800 vph (4 Hz)
41h
Hours, minutes, seconds
Leather
£1,610 (pre-order price) or £1,895, limited to 736 pieces
More details at REC.
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