This is not the first time Porsche tries to sell you a timepiece to go with your Porsche automobile. However, The Chronograph I 911 Porsche Design 50th Anniversary Edition here is not just any timepiece. It is a reissue of the very first product Porsche Design product designed by the founder, Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche.
The significance is strong with this watch which makes it a must-have for Porsche enthusiasts (who are actually rich enough to own Porsche cars). Anyhoo… the Chronograph I was the world’s first completely black wristwatch in its time and had a stopwatch function.
It was billed as the first watch to have successfully transferred the design and functionality of a sports car to a watch. The anti-reflective crystal and the dial, for example, were derived from the dashboard of a Porsche car.
Plus, it had a black dial, red second hand, luminescent hour markers – all of which were rare during its time.
Fast forward to 2022, this modern iteration is powered by the COSC-certified Porsche Design movement 01.240, which boasts a flyback mechanism that allows stopping, zeroing, and starring of successive time intervals in a single action. A red flyback logo on the dial subtly hints at this awesome feature.
The reissue pays homage to the original in almost every way, including the bilingual date display, the original red second hand, et cetera but with visual updates like the current Porsche Design logo and folding clasp and integrated fine adjustment made of high-performance titanium.
It also has a sapphire glass back that reveals the winding motor. The latter is inspired by the wheels of the limited-edition model and painted in Platinum and features a rotor cap with the Porsche Crest referencing the center lock of the exclusive wheel design.
Buyers of the limited-edition car can acquire The Chronograph I 911 Porsche Design 50th Anniversary Edition which will have the limited edition number engraved on the back of the case, linking it to the sports car.
In addition, Porsche Design is also releasing the Chronograph I 1972 Limited Edition with NO visual parallels to the new special edition car, complete with the original Porsche Design logo and lettering for fans who want a piece of the history.
The Chronograph I 1972 Limited Edition watch is limited to just 500 pieces, with each commanding a cool US$7,700.
All images courtesy of Porsche Design.
