Porsche Design: "Chronograph 1″ - Timepiece from a cult brand

Two icons, one designer: The Porsche 911 and the “Chronograph 1″ – both masterpieces by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche.

To this day, it stands for exquisite design in many product segments and was recently honored with three German Design Awards in the main category "Excellent Product Design." Among them was a "Chronograph 1." The model was reissued in 2022 and is now available in various versions.

“Chronograph 1 Utility – Limited Edition”

The "Chronograph 1 Utility – Limited Edition" has now been honored in the "Luxury Goods" category of the German Design Award competition. It combines the iconic design of the original with modern technology.

The case is made of solid titanium carbide. The abbreviation "TiC" for titanium carbide on the dial indicates this. This material, developed and patented by Porsche Design, is not only lighter than the stainless steel used in the 1970s timepiece, but even lighter than conventional titanium. It is also hypoallergenic, highly scratch-resistant, and not subject to any visible aging process.

The visual similarity to the model from the seventies is particularly evident on the dial, including the coat of arms depicted.

The dial of the historical model, the military version for the U.S. Air Force flight squadron, featured a tiger's head as its heraldic symbol. The new edition still features a heraldic symbol between 4 and 5 o'clock, but it's now a screaming marmot, colloquially known as a "mankei."

This Mankei icon, part of the collaboration between Porsche Design and FAT International, refers to the Mankei mountain hut on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, near Studio FA Porsche in Zell am See. It is operated by Ferdi Porsche, great-grandson and namesake of Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche, the founder of the legendary German brand.

To ensure comfortable readability of the displays even in poor lighting conditions, Porsche Design has replaced the original hydrogen isotope tritium with blue Superluminova. Additionally, two marker dots at 12 o'clock provide orientation in the dark.

The Porsche Design WERK 01.240 automatic movement with COSC certification, flyback, and chronograph functions provides power and precision. This edition comes with a slate gray strap made of Porsche vehicle leather.

“Chronograph 1 – All Black Numbered Edition”

This version of the “Chronograph 1” is also an excellent model and received the 2024 German Design Award in the “Luxury Goods” category.

"The 'Chronograph 1 – All Black Numbered Edition' draws on the characteristic features of the legendary black watch classic from Porsche Design and translates them into a formally and technically contemporary design that also makes this elegant, sporty chronograph unmistakable," said the jury's statement.

This reinterpretation of the "Chronograph 1" features a matte black dial, just like the original from 1972, and the crown and clasp are adorned with the Porsche Design logo. On the back, the sapphire crystal caseback reveals the Porsche Design Icon winding rotor. The sapphire crystal, with its seven-fold anti-reflective coating on both sides and a hard coating, ensures unobstructed readability, no matter the time of day. The tachymeter scale and day/date display are in the contemporary Porsche font, and the minute hand features the tapered shape optimized by FA Porsche.

The mechanical chronograph caliber WERK 01.140 with COSC certification and a 48-hour power reserve powers the "All Black" and guarantees precision. It is protected by a 40.8-millimeter titanium case with a titanium carbide coating, water-resistant to 10 bar.

“Chronograph 1 – FAT 2025 Edition”

The latest version of the original from 1972 is the "Chronograph 1 – FAT 2025 Edition," limited to 136 pieces. It appeals to motorsport enthusiasts and watch lovers alike. Developed in collaboration with FAT International, the event company of Ferdi Porsche, which operates the Mankei mountain hut on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and hosts the legendary GP Ice Race in Zell am See.

The chronograph is the first from Porsche Design to feature an all-white, luminescent dial. Inspired by the legendary Porsche 962, the 1994 Le Mans winner, it was designed specifically for the FAT community.

Originally, FAT International was a French logistics company that, in 1994, worked closely with Porsche and former racing driver Joachim Dauer to win the overall victory at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans with innovative modifications to the Porsche 962 and a clever interpretation of the regulations.

Inspired by this success story, Ferdi Porsche, nephew of Prof. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the creator of the Porsche 911 and founder of Porsche Design, made it his mission to revive the name FAT International as a modern motorsport community – and to generate enthusiasm for Porsche Design timepieces.

In the dark, luminous highlights reveal hidden details: The silhouette of the Porsche 962 adorns the hour counter. The 6 in the subdial at 6 o'clock, along with the added digits 9 and 2, forms the car name of the 1994 LeMans-winning Porsche. The FAT International logo also appears below the date display, and the lettering replaces the SAT and SUN numbers on the English weekday display, thus making every weekend a race weekend.

The case of the "Chronograph 1 – FAT 2025 Edition" is also a tribute to the Porsche 962 and its aerodynamic shape and matte carbon fiber finish. It is made of titanium and coated with matte black titanium carbide. The crown is adorned with the historic Porsche Design logo, and the case back is engraved with the silhouette of the 962, the FAT 2025 logo, the Porsche Design lettering, and the limited edition number.

The heart of the chronograph is the COSC-certified Porsche Design caliber WERK 01.240 with flyback function.