Sustainability is a word you’re going to be hearing a lot more in watchmaking. At the highest end of the unnecessary luxury space, for years, compared to other industries, watches have largely existed with little need for a huge focus on renewables, recycled materials, or sustainable engineering practises. It’s not entirely missing; there are several watches and brands out there that take environmental impact seriously, but with industry leaders like Rolex recently introducing sustainability as a key factor in its Superlative Chronometer certification, it’s becoming much more commonplace rather than a niche end of the industry.
Using recycled steel is also nothing new in watch production; the likes of Chopard, Panerai, and Ulysse Nardin use steel with a high-recycled content in some of their lines, and why not? But one trick the marketing whizzes at these brands are missing, though, is integrating storytelling and emotion into the recycling process, and marking the significance of the material’s origin is key. That’s something Italian brand Liberum is aiming to change with its latest model, the RE-XHAUST, produced as a collaboration with legendary Termignoni, a historic Italian company responsible for manufacturing high-performance exhaust systems for some of the fastest, world championship-winning motorcycles in history.
Like most steel watches today, the RE-XHAUST’s case is made from 316L stainless steel, but this time it’s a little more specific. The steel used is the 1.4441 technical steel that Termignoni uses to make its racing exhaust systems, designed specifically to withstand high temperatures, pressure and extreme vibrations. And while these may not be the foremost priority when selecting a watch, it’s safe to say that as far as materials go, this steel is about as good as it gets. It’s also important to mention that if you’re a motorcycle racing fan, the name Termignoni should resonate more than most. The Italian manufacturer’s exhausts are usually to blame for the incredible rumble of a Ducati’s V-twin, or more recently, the screaming V4, on which a “Termi” exhaust has been bolted on to some of the most successful racing machines in history. So, it’s arguable that having a watch made from the very same materials is way cooler than having a watch with a motorcycle brand name on the dial.
Thankfully, the RE-XHAUST isn’t the size of an exhaust pipe, either. At 38mm in diameter, the watch is comfortably sized and typically Italian in its sophistication. Even better, it’s just 9.8mm thick, and has a lug-to-lug of just 46mm, so whether you’re wearing it under motorcycle leathers, or with a t-shirt and jeans, it’s going to be comfortable and wearable no matter the occasion. Up top, there’s a sapphire anti-reflective-coated crystal, and a screw-down crown that delivers 100 metres of water resistance, for peace of mind.
The motorsport inspiration continues onto the RE-XHAUST’s dial, with a racing minute track circulating its periphery in a striking white. Granted, you would usually find this on a chronograph, but seeing that nobody uses chronographs to time racing these days, I’ll let it off. The backdrop to the dial is interesting: a chequer-plate-style dial plate sits on top of the movement, with a smoked sapphire disc on top, on which the large, lume-filled hour markers and logo are printed, giving the impression they are hovering above the surface. There are two versions of this smoked sapphire disc, available in either Nero or yellow, both their own character and offering some variety.
On the back of the watch, there’s a solid stainless-steel caseback featuring a Termignoni logo and a technical breakdown of the watch, and beneath it sits an automatic movement. Specifically, it’s a Japanese Miyota 9015 self-winding calibre, delivering a 42-hour power reserve while beating at 28,800 Vph. It’s a solid, reliable movement with a Parashock shock protection system, and an accuracy of -10/+30 seconds per day, which, for a watch like this, is more than adequate. This calibre also carries a date function, which is displayed through a triple-date window on the dial, but in fact, the whole date wheel can just about be seen through the smoked sapphire dial, too.
Finally, the watch is supplied with a black hook-and-loop Delcro strap from Delugs, one of the best independent strap-makers in the industry. It’s an elasticised fabric strap that is truly one-size-fits-all and allows for much finer adjustment due to the specific hook-and-loop material that Delugs uses. The great thing about these straps is that they still utilise traditional quick-release spring bars, which not only allow for quick changes but also don’t take up loads of room underneath the watch, so they hug the wrist perfectly. The watch is also available on a three-link stainless steel bracelet as an option, which includes a micro-adjustment function.
Liberum RE-XHAUST pricing and availability
The Liberum RE-XHAUST launched via a successful Kickstarter campaign and is also available at Liberum’s online boutique, with delivery expected to begin in September 2026. Price: £487/€550/US$652 (Strap) £531/€600/US$711 (Bracelet)
Brand
Liberum
Model
RE-XHAUST
Case Dimensions
38mm (D) x 9.8mm (T) x 46mm (LTL)
Case Material
316L recycled stainless steel – grade 1.4441
Water Resistance
100 metres
Crystal(s)
Sapphire front
Dial
Smoked sapphire, Nero or yellow
Strap
Delugs black Delcro strap, optional stainless steel bracelet with micro-adjustment
Movement
Miyota 9015, automatic
Power Reserve
42 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Availability
Available now
Price
£487/€550/US$652 (Strap)
£531/€600/US$711 (Bracelet)
Made in partnership with Liberum. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy