WHILE LEARNING FROM WATCH BRANDS THAT FAIL
If you are lucky, there is a moment when you realise that time is not something to be fought against but something to be understood. The finest watches do not simply measure time; they mark a life lived with intent. In the world of horology, some take time seriously—who honour the past, see every detail as a whisper from history, and craft something worthy of the wrist.
Sunrex Watches, a name relatively new to collectors, is anything but new to watchmaking. It has been in the background for decades, producing timepieces for other brands. But in 2019, Chi Yeh Lin and Ray Lin decided it was time for Sunrex to step out from behind the curtain and tell its own story. What started in the 1970s as a family-run OEM manufacturer has become a brand with a vision that takes the precision of the past and shapes it into something worthy of the future, with each watch meticulously crafted to the highest standards.
Chi and Ray do not simply design watches; they tell stories.
A BRAND ROOTED IN TIME
Watches are often described as tools, but for Chi, they are a language. “We’ve been in the business long enough to understand design as a language,” he says. “It’s not just about function; it’s about what a watch says, remembers, and carries meaning.”
That is why Sunrex does not follow trends. Instead, it boldly rejects them, focusing on what lasts. “We like things that age well,” Chi explains. “We appreciate the way time shapes objects and makes them richer.”
This is the essence of Sunrex. Its watches do not scream for attention; they invite discovery. They belong to the past as much as they belong to the future, standing as a unique and rebellious statement against the fleeting nature of trends.
HONOURING OUR HEROES
The great watchmakers have always understood that a timepiece is not just an instrument but a tribute. Sunrex embraces this philosophy with the 321 and 611 watches that honour two of motorsport’s most significant figures.
The 321 is named after Ayrton Senna, born on March 21st. Senna was not just a driver—a force of nature, a man whose commitment to perfection redefined what was possible on the track. The 611, on the other hand, pays tribute to Jackie Stewart, who was born on June 11th. Stewart is a legend who won races and reshaped the sport.
“For me, the human element draws me to Formula One,” Chi says. “Senna’s discipline, his relentless pursuit of perfection. Stewart’s balance, his understanding that life is more than just winning. These are the things that inspire me.”
And this is what makes the 321 and 611 special. They are not watches designed to mimic a dashboard or throw in a tachymeter for effect. They are watches built in the spirit of these men—sharp, purposeful, and relentless in their pursuit of excellence. “We didn’t just want to make a watch inspired by racing,” Ray adds. “We wanted to capture what these men represented.”
A LESSON IN SIMPLICITY
Something is intoxicating about complexity. The world of horology is filled with grand complications, watches that do everything but make coffee. But for Chi, simplicity is its kind of luxury. “A watch has to do its job,” he says. “It has to tell the time. It has to be reliable. And if it can do that while being beautiful, we’ve done something worthwhile.”
This is why Sunrex embraces quartz movements—not out of rejection of mechanical tradition but of reverence for accuracy. “There is a beauty in reliability,” Chi explains. “And there is a freedom in knowing your watch is always right.”
The result is a watch that does not demand attention but commands it, a testament to Sunrex’s commitment to creating timepieces that are not just beautiful, but also reliable and functional.
“We see watches like cameras,” Chi says. “A film camera is romantic, but a digital camera is useful. Both have their place. But at the end of the day, capturing the moment matters.”
THE ART OF SOLAR
If Sunrex had stayed focused on vintage design and tribute pieces, it would have already carved a niche. But it did not stop there. It looked to the future, to solar.
“Bringing solar into the design was a challenge,” Chi admits. “It had to be practical, but it also had to be beautiful.” Ray expands on the struggle. “We didn’t want it to look like a typical solar watch. It had to retain the vintage feel, the warmth, the sense of history. But it also had to be a piece of technology that worked flawlessly.”
And so they experimented, failed, and refined. “There were challenges with materials,” Chi says. We had to ensure proper translucency and that the dial allowed light in but still looked rich. We also had to balance the vintage aesthetic with the modern technology of solar power. The result is a watch powered by the sun yet shaped by heritage, a timepiece that bridges the classic and forward-thinking worlds of watchmaking.”
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CARS AND WATCHES
There is something about cars and watches that resemble each other. They belong to the same world and mindset. They are both about precision, design, and engineering. But perhaps the actual link is something more profound.
Chi has a theory. “It’s about details,” he says. “Both worlds are obsessed with perfection. A car is not just about speed; it is about the sound, the feel, the balance. A watch is the same. It’s not just about time; it’s about how it sits on the wrist and catches the light.”
And that is why Sunrex belongs at Wristwatch Check. “This event is not just about watches,” Ray says. “It’s about passion. It’s about people who care about the things they wear, the things they drive, the things they collect.”
BE PART OF THE STORY
The finest watches are not simply bought; they are thoughtfully chosen. They are not impulse purchases but deliberate decisions. Sunrex is not for those who follow the obvious path—it is for those who appreciate the beauty of details, the weight of legacy, and the value of something built to last.
A Sunrex watch is for the collector who honours history without being bound by it. It is for the driver who understands the precision of a well-balanced car. It is for the individual who knows that time is precious—and that what we wear is just as precious.
A great watch does more than tell the time; it reminds you of what truly matters. It becomes part of your journey, a quiet witness to the moments that define you. Because time is not just something we track—it is something we live, and the right watch ensures those moments live with us forever.
