We drop the top on the Porsche Design Chronograph 718 Spyder RS
Jamie WeissWhile carbon fibre is still a relatively exotic material in watches, it’s been used in performance cars for over 40 years, with Porsche at the forefront of its usage. The first-ever carbon fibre car was the legendary McLaren MP4/1 Formula 1 car from 1981 (which was powered by a TAG-branded Porsche engine), and in 2004, the Porsche Carrera GT famously boasted an all-carbon monocoque. This is all to say that there’s something particularly Porsche about carbon fibre. That’s why I was so stoked to be able to review the Porsche Design 718 Spyder RS Chronograph: a sporty piece with an exceptional carbon fibre dial that’s modelled after another boundary-pushing, carbon-fibre-heavy Porsche open-top speedster.
Some context
I was actually wearing this watch at the Australian launch of the Porsche Macan E, the German brand’s new electric crossover SUV. Sadly, the weather was a bit too wet to get behind the wheel of a 718 Spyder RS – but the Macan E still uses a fair amount of carbon fibre and is still an impressively fast beast, so the watch didn’t feel out of place. Indeed, the point of vehicles like the Macan E, Porsche says, is for you to have an elevated and eco-friendly daily driver that helps you justify owning a petrol-powered Sunday racer like the 718 Spyder RS. It’s like wearing a fitness tracker on one wrist and a mechanical watch on the other, if we’re to stretch a horological comparison…
It’s also worth pointing out that, like every Porsche Design watch connected to a specific vehicle (such as the Chronograph 1 911 S/T or 911 Dakar), you can only purchase one of these watches if you already own the corresponding vehicle. In that sense, it was a real treat to be able to wear it. However, the Custom-Built Chronograph that this model is based on is available to all.
Speccing it out
It’s also worth detailing the options this specific watch has, as there are theoretically hundreds of thousands of permutations. First of all, the carbon fibre dial is an option – it’s an exclusive option to this model, so you’d be silly not to go for it. Other options include a black DLC titanium case, GT hands, a Shark Blue chapter ring (Shark Blue is one of my favourite Porsche colours, up there with Irish Green), and a Spyder RS leather strap made with Race-Tex, Porsche’s proprietary synthetic textile that’s similar to Alcantara and is used in the interiors of their sportiest models. The winding rotor is also shaped like a 718 Spyder RS rim.
What’s it like to wear?
Just as a 718 Spyder RS isn’t a particularly subtle car (yet Porsche, of all the exotic car makers, has a uniquely demure character), the Porsche Design Chronograph 718 Spyder RS doesn’t exactly fly under the radar, nor is it too gauche. At 42mm in diameter and just under 15mm tall, it wears reasonably large, but the case and strap make it less than hefty.
The black DLC case and carbon fibre dial are stealthy, but then the pops of yellow and the blue chapter ring of this model catch the eye. Mileage will vary depending on how you spec the watch: if you go for a bright-coloured chapter ring, stitching on the strap and this yellow GT dial, you’ll turn more heads than if you spec it in darker colours.
My favourite feature of this watch is the running seconds indicator, which on this model features one hemisphere with the Spyder RS badge and the other with a chequered flag pattern. The signature 6-9-12 Valjoux layout is cool too, giving great visual acuity. Some people might not like the 4 o’clock date window, but I think in this execution it works well, as it’s nicely balanced by the Porsche Design logo.
The large, finely-knurled crown and stubby chronograph pushers are also pleasantly ergonomic, with the ETA 7750-based Porsche Design WERK 01.100 movement providing satisfyingly snappy chrono action. And the rim-as-rotor thing ranks as one of the best Easter eggs in watches right now.
Closing thoughts
It’s inarguable that the biggest selling point of Porsche Design’s watch range is that they’re so customisable – or that there are watches that are explicitly modelled after specific vehicles in Porsche’s lineup. If you own a 718 Spyder RS, what better watch to pair with it? But just because you have to own a 718 Spyder RS to buy one of these, it doesn’t mean you have to be behind the wheel of one to wear its corresponding watch. The 718 Spyder RS is an uncompromising two-door drop-top. It’s not really a daily driver – you’d probably need another, more practical car in the garage alongside it. But say it’s bucketing outside, not the right time to drive a convertible (like it was when I had it for my review). Strap this watch on, and it’s the next best thing.
On its own, the watch holds up as a piece of design – the carbon fibre dial is a particular highlight. The nods to the 718 Spyder RS are also subtle enough not to detract from its versatility. Again, the watch’s sartorial versatility will largely be a factor of how you choose to customise it, but there’s a stealthiness to its design that means it would suit a large variety of occasions, from track days to boardroom meetings. I just wish you could also get a carbon fibre case to really maximise that carbon look…
Porsche Design Chronograph 718 Spyder RS pricing and availability
The Porsche Design Chronograph 718 Spyder RS is exclusively available now to owners of the Porsche 718 Spyder RS, either through their authorised Porsche dealer or via the online configurator. Price: starting at €9,500, as tested €11,250
| Brand | Porsche Design |
| Model | Chronograph 718 Spyder RS |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 14.68mm (T) |
| Case Material | Titanium or black DLC titanium |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Matte black or carbon fibre, customisable chapter ring |
| Strap | Nappa leather with Race-Tex Case finish-matched titanium bracelet |
| Movement | Porsche Design WERK 01.100, ETA 7750 base, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 48 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, running seconds, date, chronograph |
| Availability | Exclusively available to Porsche 718 Spyder RS owners, custom-commissioned |
| Price | Dependent on customisation, base price €9,500, as tested €11,250 |