Back in black: The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 celebrates 75 Years of the iconic car brand
Fergus Nash- Celebrating the 75th anniversary of Porsche’s first car, the band have re-released a special edition of the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 limited to 475 pcs.
- The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 was originally designed by the same Ferdinand Porsche who designed the 911
- It was originally the first watch to feature a blacked-out PVD case
If you want to talk about a brand with a heap of achievements, Porsche would be an outstanding choice. Despite being one of the world’s most important automotive manufacturers, they’re also one of very few non-watch companies to have contributed significantly to the world of watches. The designer of the 911 was Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche and his eye for aesthetics was unquestionably exceptional. Not only did he create one of the most iconic sports cars of all time, but he also changed watchmaking through the Porsche Design Chronograph in 1972. Having already celebrated the watch’s 50th anniversary last year, Porsche Design have now released another special edition in celebration of Porsche’s first car 75 years ago.
The original Porsche Design Chronograph 1, manufactured by Orfina, wasn’t just popular because of its looks, but also because of its ingenuity and technological advancement. It was the first watch to be fully blacked-out, pioneering the use of PVD treatments on watch cases. On top of that, its appearance on the wrist of Tom Cruise in Top Gun cemented its place in popular culture beyond the watch nerds and the racing fans. The new 75 Years of Porsche Edition isn’t an exact replica of the original by any means, although it shares a lot of the same details that have captured collectors’ hearts. The 40mm jet-black case is made from titanium with a blasted matte finish, keeping it light on the wrist with a Porsche striped fabric strap as well.
The dial was designed to evoke the instrument cluster of the first Porsche 911, with lots of helpful detail that remains legible. Minutes are counted at 12, hours at 6, and there’s a running seconds subdial at 9. The day and date windows at 3 o’clock are a classic feature of the Valjoux and Lemania movements which the vintage models used, and we can see the Porsche Design script below with the modern PD logo above. There’s also fine text boasting the movement’s chronometer certification, a luxury which certainly isn’t guaranteed with older models.
The movement currently used by Porsche Design is the WERK 01.140. The design of the movement is still based upon that Valjoux 7750 which was used for the 1972 reference, however it’s had vast upgrades with flyback chronograph functionality, black-coated decoration, and COSC certification that ensures accuracy within +6/-4 seconds per day. Looking through the sapphire display caseback, we can see that the automatic winding rotor has taken the shape of the Fuchs wheel with a Porsche crest.
The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 75 Years of Porsche Edition pricing and availability:
The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 75 Years of Porsche Edition is limited to 475 pieces, and will be available starting June 8. Price: US$11,000, limited edition of 475 pcs.
| Brand | Porsche Design |
| Model | Chronograph 1 – 75 Years of Porsche Edition |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm x 14.15mm |
| Case Material | Titanium |
| Water Resistance | 100m |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Black |
| Strap | Fabric with racing stripes and interchangable black leather strap |
| Movement | WERK 01.140 |
| Power Reserve | 48 hours |
| Availability | June 8, 2023. Limited to 475 pcs. |
| Price | US$11,000 |