In celebration of its remarkable 75-year journey, Porsche Design has unveiled a new limited edition of their iconic Chronograph 1, christened the “75 Years of Porsche Edition“. A true testament to the enduring legacy of Porsche-branded sports cars, this commemorative piece carries forward the legacy of the original Chronograph 1, a product of Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche’s ingenious design, released in 1972. This watch marked the beginning of the Porsche Design era and was the first-ever black-coated timepiece, a purposeful decision by Porsche, maintaining a design language that’s still discernible today.
Limited to just 475 pieces, the 75 Years Porsche Edition of the Chronograph 1 boasts a 40.8 mm black carbide-coated titanium case, complemented by side pushers and an inner tachymeter bezel. Adorned with an anti-reflective matte-black dial, the watch combines black and white accents to elegantly display the modern Porsche Design logo with distinctive lettering. Adding a touch of uniqueness is a winding rotor, taking the shape of the iconic Fuchs alloy wheel with the Porsche emblem in the center, visible through the sapphire crystal caseback. An engraved “75 Years Porsche” logo adorns the caseback, commemorating the milestone.
Internally, the watch is powered by the Porsche Design WERK 01.140 caliber, boasting 25 jewels and a generous power reserve of 48 hours, ticking away at 28,800 vph. The case, with its barrel-like shape, exudes a matte shine thanks to the glass bead blasting and provides up to 100m of water resistance, proving itself capable for various scenarios, from an unexpected rain shower to a quick jump in the pool. The dial, taking cues from dashboard instruments of the 60s and 70s, offers strong contrast and perfect legibility with a neon orange central chronograph seconds hand, reminiscent of a racing car’s tachymeter needle.
The watch comes with two strap options: a perforated black leather strap and a NATO-style strap lined with leather. The latter features a red centerline, light blue stitching, and black hardware, with an easy-to-use quick-change system facilitating the switch between the two. The textile strap, reminiscent of Martini racing vibes, also includes black DLC-coated titanium end links.
Retailing at $11,000, the Chronograph 1 – 75 Years Porsche Edition can be pre-ordered from Porsche Design’s website. Despite the premium price tag, it falls within the range of many other high-end automatic chronographs on the market, offering a unique piece of Porsche’s illustrious history to collectors and aficionados. Also be sure to check our list of 50 best black watches for men.
