The horology industry is steeped in tradition, but that doesn’t always mean those traditions are kind to the planet. Back in 2023, the LIBERUM Watches team made some serious waves with their debut modular watch, securing a highly coveted “Project We Love” badge on Kickstarter and shipping their customisable timepieces to collectors across 18 countries. However, during that intense production phase, the team had a serious wake-up call regarding the environmental toll of traditional watchmaking.
Producing a standard stainless steel case is an incredibly energy-hungry process. Metals are melted at blistering temperatures above 1500°C, emitting roughly 6 to 7 kg of CO₂ for every single kilogram of steel produced.
Add in the heavy landscape alteration and habitat loss caused by mining for raw iron, chromium, and nickel, and the team was left with one massive question: is it possible to craft a high-performance timepiece more sustainably?
The answer is a resounding yes, and it arrives in the form of the brand-new LIBERUM® RE-XHAUST Watch. Launching on Kickstarter with early bird prices starting around €550 (approx £470), this release is an absolute masterclass in eco-conscious engineering.
Reimagining the Raw Materials
To tackle the carbon footprint of their manufacturing, LIBERUM entirely flipped their creative process. Rather than starting with a flashy design and sourcing the metal later, the development of the RE-XHAUST began directly with the material itself. The core concept relies on a strict circular design philosophy aimed at drastically reducing the need for virgin raw materials.
Instead of relying on environmentally destructive mining, the team chose to focus on the creative upcycling of existing, high-grade industrial steels.
They also made a deliberate point to partner exclusively with suppliers who utilize renewable energy for their most demanding manufacturing steps, specifically focusing on advanced foundries that use solar power to melt down the salvaged metal.
Forged from Italian Motorsport Heritage
Where exactly do you find rugged, high-performance steel worthy of a luxury timepiece? You look to the racetrack. In a brilliant move, LIBERUM collaborated with Termignoni, the historic Italian brand renowned since 1969 for engineering elite exhaust systems for MotoGP and Superbike (SBK) racing machines.
The RE-XHAUST transforms technical steel pulled directly from these high-octane exhaust systems—metal expressly designed to withstand extreme temperatures, crushing pressure, and relentless vibrations—into the ultimate watch case.
The salvaged racing steel is remelted in a cutting-edge, solar-powered furnace, radically slashing the energy footprint. This isn’t just basic recycling; it is true upcycling, giving an already legendary material a new, precise lease on life right on your wrist.
Driven by Precision and Design
Of course, a compelling backstory only matters if the watch itself performs under pressure. Proudly Made in Italy, the case is CNC-machined from solid blocks of this recycled grade 1.4441 solar steel.
Measuring a universally wearable 38mm in diameter and incredibly slim at just 9.5mm thick (including the anti-reflective sapphire crystal), it boasts a compact 46mm lug-to-lug profile that sits perfectly on almost any wrist size.
Under the hood beats a highly reliable Miyota 9015 Automatic movement, featuring intricate laser processing. The aesthetic is anchored by a striking smoked painted sapphire dial, brilliantly illuminated by Superluminova BGW9 for low-light legibility.
A sturdy 316L screw-down crown and case back ensure the entire package boasts a highly capable 100M water resistance rating.
The RE-XHAUST collection is a powerful declaration of intent from LIBERUM. It proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that you do not have to compromise on elite technical performance or aesthetic quality to achieve responsible, sustainable production.
It is a robust everyday tool watch with a real, high-octane history, built to outlast the trends and accompany you on every adventure.
