Nearly a year ago, I introduced you to Christian Mygh and Jonathan Kamstrup the founders of REC watches, a company that takes components from old wrecks with a cool story and uses them to create high-end watches.
In December, the company found a rare 1966 Raven Black Mustang that they sourced for a limited run of 250 watches which sold for about $1,500.
At the time, they asked customers and watch enthusiasts to decide what junker would lead the next collection. Personally, I voted for the Willys Jeep, but so goes the disappointment of a truly democratic system.
The people chose the PT879 MK IX Spitfire aircraft and it not only has an incredible story, but it led to some incredible pieces of ticking art.
Built in the summer of 1944, the aircraft was shipped to a Russian squadron during World War II. The aircraft crashed in the Spring of 1945 during a dog fight. According to some historians, it may have even gone down as a result of friendly fire, as British aircrafts resembled German Bf 109s.
The wreck was recovered by a Russian farmer and is now being restored by an ambitious team that hopes to makes it fly once again.
The makers call the PT879 "the organ donor behind our latest timepiece." What is interesting about the new REC watches, the RJM Collection, is that they are not only designed with salvaged pieces of the Spitfire aircraft, but the design is inspired by the watches worn by Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots of the era.
The collection gets its name from Reginald Joseph Mitchell, who developed the aircraft in the early 1930s.
Kamstrup says, "It has, without question, been our most ambitious project to date." This collection will be slightly more affordable with a $1,295 price tag.
Each aluminum dial is cut from the PT879's wings, which makes every watch truly unique as each has a different set of marks and dents from the aircraft.
More than 20,000 Spitfire aircrafts were manufactured from 1938-1948. Today, less than 100 are still airworthy.