Watchmakers have been marking milestone anniversaries from the very get-go in 2022. With the likes of the 50th anniversary of Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak and the 60th anniversary of TAG Heuer's Autavia, another big date connected to watches and sports cars could run the risk of being forgotten.
Not when the company in question is Porsche though, which decided to organize such a momentous celebration there's no way it could slip under the radar. The Porsche Design department is marking its golden anniversary with the re-release of the brand's first Chronograph 1 model, a restored 911 S 2.4 Targa from 1972, and the launch of a special model called the 911 Edition 50 Years Porsche Design.
The distinctive historical chronograph, two Porsche sports cars and a special exhibition in the Porsche Museum running until July 10 are sure to get motors running. The year 1972 is in the center of attention, when Ferdinand Alexander Porsche founded Porsche Design together with his brother Hans-Peter as a studio dedicated to taking the brand's design further, transcending the boundaries of motorsport.
Their first timepiece was the Porsche Design Orfina Chronograph, which was the first commercially available watch with a black PVD-coated case. Not only was this first unconventional all-black model for its time praised for its revolutionary appearance, it also became famous for its guest appearance on the big screen. This model was worn by Tom Cruise in the 1986 film Top Gun.
The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 1972 Limited Edition inspired by the first model has remained true to the appearance of the watch from 1972 in terms of its font, hands and use of the color black. Places have been kept on the dial for the tachymeter scale, chronograph counters, and day and date displays.
The case material has adapted to the latest trends. The sports watch case measures 40.8 mm in diameter and is made of titanium, which Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was already using for watches in the 1980s. The PVD-coating has been replaced with a durable carbide coating. Orfina was the company Porsche Design partnered with to make the first watch.
The place the company’s name once had on the dial has been taken by the Porsche Design logo. After all, the watch is now manufactured at the company's own facilities. The logo has also appeared on the solid caseback. Some of the latest updates include the arrival of Super-Luminova and sapphire crystal with seven layers of anti-reflective coating.
The watch’s engine has also been replaced. The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 1972 Limited Edition is now driven by the new Porsche Design Werk 01.140 with a frequency of 4 Hz and 48-hour power reserve. This movement has proven its accuracy with COSC certification. The re-release of the original Chronograph 1 has been limited to 500 pieces.