The Blackbird on your wrist

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REC Habu Pilot's Watch

Starting from 2.095 €

The REC Watches Habu Limited Edition is a pilot's watch paying tribute to the SR-71 Blackbird, Lockheed's Mach 3 spy plane nicknamed the “Habu”. Part of the Danish brand's DNA Edition range, it incorporates into its dial titanium recovered from SR-71B serial number 61-7956, the aircraft's only two-seat trainer variant. Limited to 1,372 pieces and certified Swiss Made, this series pairs a titanium barrel-shaped case with a hand-wound mechanical movement featuring a power reserve indicator. Its dark aesthetic, lifted by red accents, channels the world of Cold War strategic reconnaissance. It is aimed at military aviation enthusiasts and collectors drawn to watches with genuine historical weight.

REC Watches Habu Limited Edition pilot's watch

REC Watches is an independent Danish brand that has made mechanical memory its signature. Its DNA watches incorporate materials recovered from legendary machines: Ayrton Senna's Lotus 98T, the Porsche 956, the Ford GT40 P/1001, the Spitfire Mk1a X4009, and even Evel Knievel's XR750 motorcycle. With the Habu, the brand takes on one of the absolute icons of military aviation. Designed by Kelly Johnson within Lockheed's Skunk Works, the SR-71 Blackbird flew beyond Mach 3 and above 85,000 feet. Nicknamed the Habu, it was retired from service in 1999 and remains a symbol of Cold War strategic reconnaissance.

The titanium in this watch comes from a very specific aircraft: SR-71B serial number 61-7956, the unique two-seat trainer variant on which pilots learned to master the aircraft. After the programme ended, it continued its career at NASA under serial number 831, until its final flight on 19 October 1997. The material, taken from the exhaust ejectors of the engine nacelles nicknamed “turkey feathers”, was supplied by Daniel Freeman, Chief of Metals Technology at the 9th Reconnaissance Wing.

Beyond the material, the Habu is full of nods to the aircraft. The power reserve indicator placed at 6 o'clock evokes the TEB ignition system used for afterburners, the red stripes on the strap recall the “no step” markings, and the stepped dial draws on both the engine nozzles and the cockpit instruments. REC is careful to note it is not affiliated with Lockheed Martin. The result is a collector's pilot's watch, conceived as a fragment of history to be worn on the wrist.

Technical specifications REC Watches Habu Limited Edition

Brand: REC Watches
Model: Habu Limited Edition
Reference: 20020
Indicative price: 2.095€
Movement: Hand-wound
Calibre: Sellita SW270-1 M
Diameter: 40 mm
Thickness: 12.3 mm
Water resistance: 50 m / 5 ATM
Materials: Sandblasted grade 2 titanium, grey PVD
Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective treatment
Dial: Stepped dial
Strap: Black and red rubber
Warranty: 3 years

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The REC Watches Habu Limited Edition pilot's watch

The Habu translates the world of the SR-71 Blackbird into a thoroughly contemporary format. Its barrel-shaped case, chosen over the classic round shape, gives it a distinctive silhouette among pilot's watches from the outset. It is made from sandblasted grade 2 titanium, then coated with a grey PVD finish that gives it a matte, understated tone, in keeping with the stealthy mission of the spy plane that inspired it. The heart of the design lies on the dial. Its stepped construction stacks several levels, and its lower section is cut from grade 6 titanium from SR-71B serial number 61-7956. This metal comes from the exhaust ejectors of the engine nacelles, the famous “turkey feathers”.

Montre REC Habu 8

It is this fragment of history that makes the Habu a collector's piece rather than a simple graphic tribute. Legibility is not sacrificed to the story. The hands and hour markers receive Super-LumiNova BGW9, while a seconds hand gradating from red to black adds a touch of colour, echoing the red stripes on the strap. The whole is protected by a sapphire crystal with triple anti-reflective treatment, which limits glare when reading the time. Produced in a series limited to 1,372 pieces and certified Swiss Made, the Habu belongs to REC Watches’ DNA Edition range, reserved for watches that carry a piece of legendary machinery. It is as much suited to the wrist as to the collector's display case.

A hand-wound calibre serving a collector's piece

In terms of proportions, the Habu measures 40 mm in diameter for 12.3 mm thick and a 47 mm lug-to-lug. The dial opening measures 31 mm from 3 to 9 o'clock and 34.5 mm from 6 to 12 o'clock, which accentuates the elongated geometry of the barrel-shaped case. The titanium case is paired with 316L steel used for the caseback, crown and buckle. Inside beats the Sellita SW270-1 M calibre, a hand-wound mechanical movement with black PVD treatment, whose train bridge is skeletonised. It drives three hands, the date, and a power reserve indicator placed at 6 o'clock.

Montre REC Habu 37

Beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour across 18 jewels, it offers a 45-hour power reserve and a stated accuracy of ±7 seconds per day. Winding via the crown becomes a small ritual, one the indicator ensures you never forget. With a water resistance of 50 metres, the Habu is intended as a pilot's watch for everyday wear, with no pretension to diving. The FKM rubber strap in black and red, double-injected with a woven Kevlar insert, tapers from 26 mm at the case to 18 mm at the buckle. It provides a secure fit on the wrist while extending the technical aesthetic of the dial. Together, these elements form a coherent piece, where every detail refers back to the world of the Blackbird.

REC Watches Habu Limited Edition pilot's watch: the Blackbird's titanium

The REC Watches Habu Limited Edition combines a 40 mm barrel-shaped case in sandblasted grade 2 titanium with grey PVD treatment, a thickness of 12.3 mm and a 47 mm lug-to-lug. Its stepped dial incorporates, in its lower section, grade 6 titanium taken from SR-71B serial number 61-7956. It is powered by the hand-wound Sellita SW270-1 M calibre, which offers 45 hours of power reserve with a dedicated indicator at 6 o'clock. Water resistant to 50 metres and protected by a sapphire crystal, it is fitted on an FKM rubber strap with a Kevlar insert. Limited series of 1,372 pieces, 3-year warranty.

Movement

The Habu runs on the Sellita SW270-1 M calibre, a Swiss Made mechanical movement with hand winding. Treated with black PVD, it stands out for its skeletonised train bridge and counts 18 jewels. It beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, or 4 Hz, and delivers a 45-hour power reserve, visible thanks to the indicator placed at 6 o'clock. The brand states an accuracy of ±7 seconds per day. Besides hours, minutes and seconds, it displays the date, making it a proven and functional base calibre.

Diameter and materials

The Habu's barrel-shaped case measures 40 mm in diameter with a thickness of 12.3 mm and a 47 mm lug-to-lug. It is cut from sandblasted grade 2 titanium, coated with grey PVD, while the caseback, crown and buckle are made from 316L steel. The stepped dial incorporates, in its lower section, grade 6 titanium from the SR-71B serial number 61-7956, taken from the exhaust ejectors of the engine nacelles. A sapphire crystal with triple anti-reflective treatment protects the whole.

Water resistance

The Habu offers a water resistance of 50 m / 5 ATM, a level consistent with its role as an everyday pilot's watch. It does not, however, claim diver's watch status and should not be regarded as an underwater instrument. The dial is protected by a sapphire crystal with triple anti-reflective treatment. For reading in the dark, the hands and hour markers receive Super-LumiNova BGW9, while the seconds hand features a gradient from red to black.

Accessories

The Habu comes on a black and red FKM rubber strap, made by double injection and fitted with a woven Kevlar insert. Its red stripes recall the Blackbird's “no step” markings. It measures 26 mm at the case and tapers to 18 mm at the buckle, for a length of 125/75 mm. The buckle is made from 316L steel. This strap underlines the watch's technical character and complements the grey tone of the titanium case.

Warranty

The Habu comes with a 3-year international warranty. It runs from delivery rather than the purchase date, an important point for a model currently available for pre-order, with delivery expected from February 2027. Customers who reserve their piece in advance therefore lose nothing in terms of actual coverage duration. This warranty accompanies a series limited to 1,372 pieces, produced in successive batches by the Danish brand REC Watches.