This Is Easily One of the Best-Looking Takes on One of the Most Iconic Chronographs Ever

To quote my colleague, Johnny Brayson, “There are only a handful of chronograph watches that can truly be considered iconic.” A proven expert on watches and watch history, he counts the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 among them — although, rightfully, below the likes of the Rolex Daytona, Omega Speedmaster and Heuer Monaco and Carrera.

That said, the latest edition — the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 Anniversary Edition — might sway him (and you) to bump it up the list. This might just be the finest edition the brand has ever offered.

Porsche Design

Ninety years of F. A. Porsche

This watch is not a complete standalone, per se. It was designed in conjunction with a special edition 911 GT3 90 F car, weekender bag and, most quirkily, a “Porsche Junior” Sports Sled.

What’s the common thread between these seemingly disparate offerings? They are all meant to pay homage to 911 designer, Porsche Design founder and grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche — better known as F.A. Porsche — on what would be his 90th birthday.

Porsche Design

The watch, in particular, is especially unique, as it’s based on F.A. Porsche’s personal watch — one his family still owns. In fact, there’s one particularly noteworthy detail:

On the dial, right above the day-date window, there’s usually a Porsche Design logo. However, “F.A.P.” (his name in acronym format) appears in its place, just as it does on the Professor’s own timepiece.

And yet, that’s only one (admittedly killer) detail among many that make this take on the Chronograph 1 a standout.

Porsche Design

A true driver’s watch

At its core, this watch is based on a previous anniversary edition — one that the brand released alongside Hodinkee. A lot of that watch’s best features return, including its house-made automatic movement, titanium case and overall styling.

It does have some noteworthy changes, some more subtle than others. For instance, its hands and dial feature a special Super-LumiNova coating made to mimic the look of older, patinated tritium or radium. It also has a bilingual day-date display (just not the Japanese kanji of the previous edition) and, as mentioned, the Professor’s initials.

Porsche Design

Flip the watch over, however, and there’s a much bigger surprise. The solid caseback of the original has been replaced with an exhibition caseback designed to mimic the shape and color of the accompanying limited-edition 911 GT3 90 F wheels.

The watch also comes with a pair of bands — a leather option and a link bracelet — both with quick-change mechanisms to make swapping them exceptionally quick and easy. The result is a watch that truly captures the spirit of Porsche — the man and the brand — and is sure to be a major favorite among watch lovers and car fanatics alike.

Porsche Design

Coming soon

The brand has not yet announced pricing or availability for the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 Anniversary Edition. However, if the Hodinkee watch this one is based on is any indication, it’s safe to assume it will be priced over $10,000.

Porsche Design

Porsche Design Chronograph 1 Anniversary Edition

Specs

Case Size	40.8mm
Movement	Porsche Design Calibre WERK 01.140
Water Resistance	100m

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