In 1972, Porsche debuted its lifestyle brand Porsche Design with the groundbreaking all-black Chronograph 1, a watch that still looks cutting-edge today. Three years later, it followed that up with something more understated by ditching the black PVD for a natural steel case.
Last year, Porsche Design brought that timepiece back in limited titanium variant with the 1975 Limited Edition. Now, they’re following it up with something more accessible and arguably more versatile.
Titanium Has Always Been Part of the Story
Back in 1980, F. A. Porsche introduced what was then a radical concept: a watch built entirely from titanium. It was one of the first times the material had been used in fine watchmaking. This new version is a continuation of that legacy.
If It Ain’t Broke…
Like last year’s limited-edition, this numbered model features a 40.8mm case with glass bead-blasted finish and integrated bracelet. Also, the matte black dial with white hands, white indices, and a red chronograph seconds hand also return. The 911 dashboard-inspired layout with sub-dials at 9, 12, and 6 o’clock remains as clean and readable as ever. You also get Super-LumiNova on the hands and indices, a bilingual German/English day-date window at 3, and a seven-layer anti-glare sapphire crystal round it out.
The Differences
Where this differs from last year’s 1975 Limited Edition is under the hood and on the back. The 1975 had the WERK 01.240 with flyback functionality. This model swaps in the WERK 01.400 automatic, which is COSC-certified and good for 48 hours of power reserve, beating at 28,800 vph. The caseback here is sapphire rather than solid, showing off the blackened bridges and the PD-logo rotor of the movement. It should also be said that with the new movement, the flyback functionality has also been lost, which isn’t a dealbreaker and justifies the lower price.
Spec Sheet
Model: Chronograph 1 All Titanium Numbered Edition
Case Material: Glass bead-blasted titanium
Case Size: 40.8mm
Case Thickness: 14.15mm
Movement: Porsche Design WERK 01.400, automatic chronograph
Water Resistance: 100m
Lume: Super-LumiNova on hands and indices
Caseback: Sapphire crystal with laser-engraved sequential numbering
Bracelet: Glass bead-blasted titanium with folding clasp and fine adjustment
Limited Edition: Numbered; capped at 1,000 pieces per year
Pricing & Availability
The Chronograph 1 All Titanium Numbered Edition is available now at $8,250, a notable step below the $9,650 of both the All Black and the 1975 Limited Edition. You can pick one up through the brand’s website, Porsche Design stores, and participating Porsche centers. Production is capped at 1,000 pieces annually, so it isn’t a one-and-done limited run but it’s not going to stack up on shelves either.
Recap
Porsche Design Chronograph 1 All Titanium Numbered Edition
Porsche Design’s Chronograph 1 All Titanium Numbered Edition is essentially the more accessible, longer-run answer to last year’s sold-out 1975 Limited Edition — same bare titanium case and bracelet, same dialed-in black dial, just without the flyback movement and at $1,400 less.
