Introducing: The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 1975 Limited Edition (Live Pics)

What We Know

Unveiled tonight at an evening with Hodinkee and Watches of Switzerland, the Chronograph 1 – 1975 Limited Edition is Porsche Design's latest addition to its growing stable. This is the brand's cornerstone chronograph you know and love, but this time, it's notably devoid of a black coating. While that finish was revolutionary in 1972, ultimately making the Chronograph 1 emblematic, in a sense, Porsche Design began offering an uncoated stainless-steel sibling in 1975.

The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 1975 Limited Edition

The 1975 Limited Edition riffs on that uncoated vintage variant. Rather than stainless steel, the modern iteration is executed in glass bead-blasted titanium, a clear upgrade. There is additional history in that choice as well; Porsche Design released its first watch with a titanium case in 1980. A previous modern Chronograph 1 featured this same case material and finish, the 911 S/T edition, though in order to purchase that watch in 2023, you needed to be an owner of the new 992-gen Porsche 911 S/T.

Stepping back for a brief moment. The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 was the first watch design from Ferdinand Alexander "Butzi" Porsche, the man credited with designing the Porsche 911. If you're a regular reader of Hodinkee, that much should be on the 101 quiz, but fewer enthusiasts may understand every variant of the Chronograph 1, both vintage and modern — and that's alright.

Today's edition is classical in its styling from the matte black dial to stark white accents. The glass bead-blasted titanium case and bracelet provide a more industrial look than previous black-coated Chronograph 1s. Inside beats the Porsche Design Caliber WERK 01.240, a COSC-certified flyback chronograph movement. At 40.8mm wide and 14.15mm tall, the case wears comfortably, striking a balance between wrist presence and wearability. The flyback chronograph capability is a useful and smart addition. The day-date window offers both German and English languages, a clear hat tip.

The folding clasp of the bracelet features fine adjustment as well as the Porsche Design logo. Branding on the caseback includes the same logo, flanked by "1975," and the unique limited edition number out of 350.

The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 1975 Limited Edition was announced alongside the brand's new partnership with Watches of Switzerland (which owns Hodinkee). The model was debuted at the WoS SoHo flagship and marks the beginning of WoS serving as the exclusive third-party watch retail partner for Porsche Design's timepieces in the U.S.

Limited to 350 pieces worldwide, this Chronograph 1 is available now and priced at $9,650.

What We Think

It's no secret that we here at Hodinkee are big fans of Porsche Design and specifically the Chronograph 1. Our very own 2024 limited edition Chronograph 1 aimed to be the "perfect" update to the black-coated original from 1972, with small tweaks and modern upgrades where necessary. The 1975 Limited Edition follows the same playbook, only looking to a slightly more niche vintage iteration of the model. In all honesty, it is a release that is long overdue for Porsche Design lovers — everything you want, nothing you don't.

Stepping beyond a tribute design or simple re-edition, the 1975 goes a step further with the choice of titanium case and bracelet as well as the COSC-certified flyback chronograph movement. Tougher, lighter, and more capable — it's the uncoated Chronograph 1 that F.A. Porsche would've designed today.

For many, modern Chronograph 1s are unfairly looked at as releases solely trading on heritage and vintage trends. Yet for those watch and car enthusiasts who are willing to look just a single layer deeper, the careful tweaks to this iconic design make for an undeniably excellent modern chronograph. In the growing Chronograph 1 family, the 1975 might be the cleanest and most wearable expression yet. No car purchase required, no special logo on the dial – just great design and modern convenience.

The Basics

Brand: Porsche Design
Model: Chronograph 1 – 1975 Limited Edition
Reference Number: 6041.8.02.002.10.2

Diameter: 40.8mm
Thickness: 14.15mm
Case Material: Titanium, glass bead blasted
Dial Color: Matte black
Indexes: Painted, white
Lume: Yes, Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Titanium bracelet with matching glass bead blasted finish, titanium clasp with fine adjustment

The Movement

Caliber: Porsche Design WERK 01.240
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, flyback chronograph
Diameter: 30mm
Thickness: 7.9mm
Power Reserve: 48 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Jewels: 25
Chronometer Certified: COSC Certified