When it comes to Porsche Design’s new Chronograph 718 Spyder RS, you have options
D.C. HannayAs the famous slogan goes, “Porsche…there is no substitute”. A young Tom Cruise knew it after outrunning the bad guy with his father’s 928 in 1983’s Risky Business, and the legend rings true more than ever today. In celebration of the introduction of the new 718 Spyder RS, Porsche Design has made an introduction of their own, with the new Chronograph 718 Spyder RS, and like the car itself, the owner can trick out the timepiece with a host of options. I had a go with their online configurator, a fun exercise that boosted my US$8,800 base price to an eye-watering US$11,200, but with the car’s starting price of US$160,700, I doubt that’s going to be a factor for Porsche’s customer base. Oh, and by the way, only owners of the new 718 Spyder RS can actually buy the watch, so that definitely excludes yours truly. Ah well, a boy can dream.
Although the 718’s roots go back to the original, humble little Boxster, it’s safe to say that the new 718 Spyder RS is a bona fide supercar. And like it, the matching chronograph is something of a supercar among watches.
Even without the connection to the 718 Spyder, this is a very cool timepiece, with all manner of exotic materials and sleek design touches. The 42mm case stays lightweight, thanks to its titanium construction that can be ordered au naturale, or in a black titanium carbide finish. In fact, the list of options in the online configurator rival the actual automobile’s. Likewise, the bezel can be had in natural or black titanium, and with your choice of a tachymeter or timing scale.
The options continue for the dial, with real carbon fibre as an option, and you can also select an outer ring in a factory-colour finish to match your Porsche. The three-register layout offers hours at 6 and minutes at 12, with a clever checquered flag “gear indicator” running seconds at 9. Hands come in a choice of black, white, or yellow, and, continuing with the tech-leaning details, the indices are actually blocks of ceramic lumed with Super-LumiNova.
The COSC-certified WERK 01.200 automatic chrono movement starts out as a modified Valjoux 7750, enclosed in case-matching bead-blasted titanium. It has a flyback function and a 48-hour power reserve, but the most visible party piece is the custom rotor. Stylised after the Spyder’s alloy rims, you can specify from two different styles in various colours to match your personal car. It’s one of my favourite details of the watch, especially with the black case option, as the white lettering surrounding the visible caseback reminds me of the lettering on a racing tire going around the wheel-like rotor. You can also have the caseback engraved with your personal car’s VIN number, or 12 characters of your choosing.
The options list doesn’t stop there, as you finally need to choose from two different leather straps with contrast stitching, or a raw or black-finished titanium bracelet to match the case, each option attached via a push-button quick release. The leather gets inserts of black Race-Tex, making the connection to the materials found in your own car’s seating. But hey, if you’ve gone this far into the bespoke car-buying experience, you may as well do the same with your carefully considered wristwear.
The Porsche Design Chronograph 718 Spyder RS pricing and availability
The Porsche Design Chronograph 718 Spyder RS is available now to owners of the Porsche 718 Spyder RS, either through their authorised Porsche dealer or via the online configurator, starting at US$8,800 before options.
| Brand | Porsche Design |
| Model | Chronograph 718 Spyder RS |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 14.6mm (T) |
| Case Material | Natural or black titanium |
| Water Resistance | 50m |
| Dial | Black, optional carbon fibre |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Bracelet/Strap | Leather strap, optional titanium bracelet |
| Movement | WERK 01.200 automatic flyback chronograph (Valjoux 7750 base) |
| Power Reserve | 48 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date, flyback chronograph |
| Availability | Now to owners of the Porsche 718 Spyder RS |
| Price | Starting at US$8,800 |