The watch case is black Ion plated stainless steel which is applied evenly throughout the entire case. The bezel area of the case finish is high polished while the remainder of the case is completed in a brushed finish. My past experiences with Ion plating haven’t been positive, as the plating tends to come off more easily than other plating alternatives. We shall see how the plating on this model holds up over time. The case measures a middle of the road 44mm and around 47mm including the crown. The case height of 13mm combined with the case diameter and the lug-to-lug measurement of 51mm will provide a substantial presence on the wrist.
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A 6mm push/pull crown is positioned between the chronograph function pushers. The button shaped crown is easy to grasp and engage with no play whatsoever. The Ion plating on the crown and pushers appears to be as even applied as on the case. The function pushers engage smoothly with the top activating and stopping the chronograph while the bottom pusher resets the chronograph. The non-crown side of the case in unremarkable but does allow for a good look at the Ion case finishing. I am pleased that REC did not brand the side of the case like so many others.
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The Mark I M3 is fitted with a mineral crystal providing a 37mm dial opening. Personally, I am a fan of AR coated sapphire crystals and generally expect sapphire on watches in this price range. However, I’d expect the mineral crystal to be a bit more durable and impact resistant over time. Below the crystal is aesthetically pleasing dial. The dial is extremely clean and uncluttered with a fantastic layout. Minimal branding is present on the dial with only the REC logo below the 12. The dial on this particular model is one of 680 produced from a Mini Cooper with VIN 1121346B. The dial has great texture and character and is truly unlike any other watch dial I have seen. Each dial on a REC Watches timepiece can be noticeably different and may not look like every other dial produced from the Mini Cooper utilized which adds to the overall uniqueness of each watch.
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