There was a time I wasn’t so big on cars.
That went out the window after looking at the recent REC Watches RWB Rotana.
Have you ever found yourself online shopping for exotic cars for two hours straight, even though you have no intention of buying one?
Maybe you’ve done a lot of that, but the concept is new to me. Yet, I do it more than ever.
And the problem just got worse.
Why?
Because I got a sneak-peek at the upcoming Landrover release from REC Watches.
Ready to offroad? REC's new RNR Land Rover series is a must for any lovers of the classic Land Rover. The Swiss automatic movement makes it a good bet for watch-fanatics, too. Get FREE worldwide shipping on any order.
What am I talking about? Keep reading and learn all about it.
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What is REC Watches?
REC Watches is a Copenhagen based brand that crafts timepieces from the remnants of classic vehicles.
Some of their mainstays are cut from Mini-Coopers, Ford Mustangs, Spitfire fighter planes, and Porsche 911’s.
We had a chance earlier in the year to take an up-close look at their limited release RWB Rotana.
Inspired by, and cut from, the famous Porsche tuner Akira Nakai-San’s own RWB designs, the RWB Rotana is a one-of-a-kind timepiece.
Decked out with an automatic Japanese Miyota 9100 movement and a Viton Fluorocarbon strap, this watch is impressive.
REC stands for recover, recycle, reclaim. Their watches bridge the divide between watch lovers and motor-heads.
You can just imagine how stoked a Ford Mustang lover would be if he woke up on his birthday and had this waiting for him:
But they’re not just novelty timepieces. REC is exacting in their specifications, and these watches are excellent horological specimens in their own right.
REC Landrover Release
On October 1st, REC launched their Land Rover collaboration.
Ready to offroad? REC's new RNR Land Rover series is a must for any lovers of the classic Land Rover. The Swiss automatic movement makes it a good bet for watch-fanatics, too. Get FREE worldwide shipping on any order.
There are two models available; the RNR Rockfighter, and the RNR Beachrunner.
And for the record, RNR stands for road not required, so you can expect a hefty dose of off-road, 4-wheeling, back-country energy packed into these watches.
RNR Rockfighter
The REC RNR Rockfighter is cut from a 2003 Land Rover Defender. The owner of the Defender runs an off-roading tour company in Italy, and the footage of the guy at work makes you wonder why you’re doing anything besides tackling blown-out hills in a beefy pickup.
Decked out with a Swiss automatic Sellita SW200-1 movement, this timepiece marks REC’s first venture into Swiss movements.
With a 40mm diameter, 12mm height, and 22mm lug-width, it’s a decent sized watch without verging on oversized territory.
The case is built with 316L stainless steel and features a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating.
With a modest 5atm of water-resistance, this isn’t a watch you want to get caught in the rain. But of course, it’s built from a Land Rover, not a Sea Rover.
And the crown jewel of the piece is the enamel coated aluminum dial, punched straight from the adventure-classic, drool-worthy 2003 Defender.
REC could only squeeze 463 watches out of the material they salvaged from the Land Rover, so supply is limited.
RNR Beachrunner
If you’re more relaxed and that rough and tumble off-road thing isn’t your bag, check out the RNR Beachrunner.
Made from the roof of a 1981 Land Rover Series III that belongs to the Portuguese filmmaker, Daniel Espirito Santo, this timepiece is a little more laid back.
The RNR Beachrunner departs in design from the RNR Rockfighter in that there’s an additional seconds subdial on the face. The added complication comes from the Swiss Automatic Sellita SW290-1 movement.
Otherwise, the RNR Beachrunner has the same specs as the Rockfighter, with a 40mm diameter, 12mm height, 22mm lug-width, sapphire crystal, 316L stainless steel case, and 5atm water resistance.
To match the beach vibes, this watch comes with a desert canvas and black leather strap for that perfect old-school NatGeo look.
There’s a slightly larger run of the RNR Beachrunner, with REC cutting out enough material from the 1981 Land Rover Series III to release 552 watches.
REC Watches Is Switching to Swiss Movements
For their first six watches, REC has gone with Japanese Miyota automatic movements. But with the release of the RNR series, they’re switching over to Swiss made automatics.
And it doesn’t look like they’re going back.
Yes, all REC watches will be Swiss-made from here on out.
When I asked their co-founder why they were making the switch, he mentioned it wasn’t because of a shortcoming in Miyota movements.
But it’s been a goal of the company to move into the Swiss automatic realm, and they’re finally able to make that dream a reality.
We’re not looking too far ahead—we’re excited enough to see the RNR Rockfighter and RNR Beachrunner take off—but we’ve got a close eye on what REC will come up with in the upcoming year.
Ready to Off-Road?
If you’re ready for the backroads, join the REC team for their RNR Land Rover series and use the code THE-ADULT-MAN for 15% off. That’s a significant chunk of change when you’re up in this luxury level.
Ready to offroad? REC's new RNR Land Rover series is a must for any lovers of the classic Land Rover. The Swiss automatic movement makes it a good bet for watch-fanatics, too. Get FREE worldwide shipping on any order.
And if you’re just in it for the crispy watch photos, head over to our Instagram page @theadultman.
