Porsche Design launches Chronograph 1 Utility, the second instalment of its collaboration trilogy with Hodinkee
Guy Parker- The new Chronograph 1 Utility – Limited Edition for Hodinkee is a military-inspired watch with a difference.
- The watch features the debut of WERK 01.340, an updated version of the iconic Lemania 5100 automatic movement.
- This limited edition of just 350 pieces is priced at US$9650, with 100 pieces to be retailed exclusively by Hodinkee.
Porsche Design chronographs have been around since 1972, when Ferdinand Alexander Porsche’s design philosophy of the 911 was first translated to mechanical timepieces that have adorned the wrists of film stars and motor racing legends. Its Germanic approach to watch design continues with the new Porsche Design Chronograph 1 Utility – Limited Edition for Hodinkee, the second release from the powerhouse collaboration. The first collaboration in 2024 resulted in a racing chronograph. This time around it’s a military chronograph.
The new Chronograph 1 Utility maintains the strong Porsche Design DNA and laser-focussed attention to clarity, function and readability, but the watch is powered by the new WERK 01.340 calibre, a reworked Lemania 5100. This robust automatic movement returns after a 20-year absence, having previously been extensively used in military chronographs for decades. And it has a neat party trick up its sleeve! In addition to the usual central seconds hand, it has a central stop-minute hand with a red tip shaped like a fighter jet. Cool hey?! The brand new WERK 01.340 uses the proven architecture of the Lemania 5100, but benefits from improved modern-day engineering and greater accuracy. There should be enough here to keep both movement nerds and design nerds happy!
The 40.8mm diameter case is crafted from lightweight titanium, which has been given a bead-blasted treatment using glass beads. A screw-down case back engraved with specifications and branding, along with a branded screw-down crown, helps provide 100 metres of water resistance. The overall thickness is 15.41mm, so it’s probably not a watch you’ll grab on a day you’re wearing a slim-fit dress shirt! The lug-to-lug measurement isn’t given, but we can safely assume it will be very compact thanks to the hidden-lug design.
The case design is suitably pure and purposeful, with no reflective surfaces and no decorative adornment, just the way it should be! Nothing here is delicate, just a chunky stepped bezel atop a straight-sided tonneau case. A sapphire crystal protects the black dial and features seven layers of anti-reflective coating on each side, plus a hardness coating. Legibility should be truly impeccable.
The three-link titanium bracelet spans the full width of the watch head for a semi-integrated look and features a single pusher quick-release mechanism so you can easily swap the bracelet out for the supplied ‘Agave Green’ leather bund strap, which looks superb and is crafted from the same leather as found in Porsche sports cars, a nice touch! Bracelet links are secured by screws, and the clasp has micro-adjustment.
Powering the chronograph is the Porsche Design WERK 01.340, which is COSC-certified, bringing accuracy to within -4/+6 seconds per day. This 30-jewel movement delivers a very respectable 60-hour power reserve with a 28,000 / 4 Hz beat rate. The calibre allows for a unique tri-compax dial design that incorporates a central red running seconds hand with a lume tip and a central running minutes hand. Recessed sub-dials comprise a 24-hour register at 12 o’clock (in place of the original AM/PM indicator), a running seconds display at 9 o’clock and a 12-hour register at 6 o’clock. A white-on-black, bilingual German/English day-date display balances the dial at three o’clock, flanked above and below by ‘Utility’ and ‘Porsche Design X Hodinkee’ text respectively.
The monochrome, utilitarian appearance is given an injection of colour thanks to red accents, including a circled ‘Ti’ in reference to its titanium credentials. The deep chapter ring swaps the usual tachymeter markings for a simple 12-hour scale more useful for military use; recessed sub-dials and a day/date window help bring depth to the dial, and Super-LumiNova is used to improve low-light legibility.
It’s always great to see new releases from Porsche Design, a collectable brand with a loyal following. But it’s even better to see a new watch that’s made as part of a meaningful collaboration. The Chronograph 1 Utility is a fantastic-looking and well-engineered tool watch that puts function front and centre. The Porsche Design DNA has not been diluted, but the Hodinkee collaboration genuinely offers enthusiasts something different, thanks to the revival of a legendary Lemania movement. The watch is a fitting tribute to the original Porsche Design military watches of the 1970s/80s, with enough small differences, improvements, and subtle nods to the collaboration without being in your face. We already can’t wait for part three of the trilogy!
Porsche Design Chronograph 1 Utility – Limited Edition for Hodinkee pricing and availability
The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 Utility X Hodinkee is available immediately but is limited to 350 pieces worldwide, with 100 pieces exclusively reserved for Hodinkee customers. Price: US$9,650
| Brand | Porsche Design x Hodinkee |
| Model | Chronograph 1 Utility |
| Reference | 6041.6.02.001.12.2 |
| Case Dimensions | 40.8mm (D) x 15.41mm (T) |
| Case Material | Titanium |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front with double-sided AR |
| Dial | Black |
| Lug Width | 22mm |
| Strap | Titanium bracelet and leather Bund-style strap |
| Movement | Porsche Design WERK 01.340, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 60-hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, running seconds, central chronograph seconds, 24-hour register, 12-hour register, day/date |
| Availability | Available now, limited to 350 pieces |
| Price | US$9,650 |