As you all know, I am a huge lover of all things Porsche, and Porsche Design watches are not the exception. As soon as I received the press release on the new Porsche Design Chronograph 1 '1975 Limited Edition', I loved how the watch looked in the pictures, and I immediately asked for a prototype of the watch to review in the metal.
This is Porsche Design's most compelling release in years, offering collectors a rare opportunity to own a piece of automotive-inspired horology history; however, I feel the watch falls short when compared to the Chronograph 1 - 50 Jahre —50 year— 911 Turbo Edition.
When you first lay eyes on the Chronograph 1 '1975 Limited Edition', the immediate impression is one of purposeful restraint. This isn't a watch that screams for attention—instead, it commands respect through understated excellence. After spending time with this watch, it's clear that Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche's revolutionary 1972 vision has evolved into something very nice.
Design Philosophy Meets Modern Engineering
I typically box Porsche Design watches in four different categories or eras: the Porsche Design Orfina era, the IWC Porsche Design era, the Flat Six watches era, and what I like to call the resurrection era around five years ago. To me, the new watches recently launched by Porsche Design are a great way of bringing back that vintage aura that the brand owns.
The most striking aspect of this limited edition is its all-uncoated titanium construction—a first for Porsche Design outside of exclusive automotive partnerships. Although the case is stated by Porsche Design as 40.8 mm in diameter, when measuring with my digital caliper, the watch is actually 41 mm. Nevertheless, the case looks much smaller in the metal because of its stepped bezel design.
The watch feels substantial yet surprisingly lightweight, with a total weight of 126.8 grams, a testament to titanium's exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. What's particularly impressive is how the watch wears smaller than its specifications suggest, making it remarkably comfortable on a variety of wrist sizes. The way the watch feels on the wrist reminds me of the vintage Porsche Design chronographs I’ve perused in the past.
The uncoated titanium finish pays direct homage to the pivotal 1975 refinement of F.A. Porsche's original design from 1972—the world's first all-black chronograph—, and this limited edition celebrates the moment when brushed stainless steel met the iconic black dial—a combination that would later inspire highly sought-after military variants.
Dashboard-Inspired Excellence
The dial is where automotive DNA truly shines. Drawing clear inspiration from the Porsche 911's dashboard, the semi matte-black surface creates stunning contrast with crisp white numerals and markers. The bold redish—more like a fluorescent pink in person—central chrono seconds hand adds a purposeful pop of color that is supposed to resemble the orange hands on the Porsche dashboards. Here, unfortunately, the watch falls short as the color of the seconds hand is a different color from the hands on the instruments of the Porsche, which are more of a true burnt orange.
Where the Chronograph 1 '1975 Limited Edition' over delivers is in terms of legibility and clean design with a good layout. The watch feels both functional and emotionally engaging. Every element serves the fundamental principle that form equals function—there's no decoration for decoration's sake here. One thing that I love about this watch is the day-date indication, and more so, the ability to have the day of the week displayed in German or English.
In terms of design and looks, I have to be very honest and call a spade a spade, the new Porsche Design Chronograph 1 '1975 Limited Edition' is very similar to the Sinn Chronograph 144 St Sa or the defunct Bell & Ross Space 2 by Sinn—which can be purchased preowned at a fraction of the price on the new Porsche Design watch.
The Craftsmanship
Overall, the watch follows the principle of ‘form follows function’, and this is a ‘tool watch’ by all means. The robust screw down crown, the pushers with enough resistance to avoid activating or resetting the chronograph inadvertently, and the case and bracelet are very well made.
The quick-release strap system and micro-adjustment under the clasp deserve particular praise. With one click, you can swap between the included bracelet and alternative straps, making this watch remarkably versatile for different occasions and personal preferences. The system is also very intuitive and easy to use, unlike other watch brands where pressing the button in the back requires a degree in watchmaking—pun intended. The deployant clasp has two side pushers that protrude a little bit too much on the sides, and this is somewhat disappointing from a brand that integrates pushers seamlessly like those on the Flat Six chronographs. Not a deal breaker, though.
Powering the watch is the Porsche Design Calibre WERK 01.240, a COSC-certified movement that delivers the reliability expected from Swiss manufacturing. Unsure why, for this watch, Porsche Design decided to leave out the COSC designation on the dial when it was included on the Chronograph 1 ‘50 Year’ 911 Turbo—see the picture below. In my opinion, while it allows for the dial to be slightly less cluttered, this is something that helps justify the price of the watch and is worthy of being called out.
Collector Appeal and Exclusivity
Limited to just 350 pieces, this release offers genuine exclusivity without feeling artificially constrained. Each watch arrives in a special Limited Box complete with a commemorative plaque bearing the individual edition number, which is a thoughtful touch that adds meaningful provenance. The case back features laser engravings including the historic Porsche Design iconic logo, "1975," and the unique edition number, transforming each piece into a legitimate collector's treasure. These details matter, making the watch feel like a vintage Porsche Design watch from the 1970s.
Value Proposition
At nearly USD 10,000, the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 '1975 Limited Edition' is entering serious Swiss luxury watch territory. However, despite its titanium construction, limited production run, Swiss COSC-certified movement, and genuine Porsche Design heritage, it doesn’t create a compelling value equation. When compared to similar titanium chronographs from established Swiss manufacturers, the pricing feels exorbitant and rather opportunistic. The watch feels great on the wrist and looks great, but I think this is a watch that should’ve been priced in the USD 7K price range.
While it creates a genuine emotional connection without sacrificing horological credibility for Porsche lovers, the watch doesn’t deliver the same value as other watches in the USD 10K range. And yes, passing down the cost of a celebrity endorsement—in this case, using Orlando Bloom as the Porsche Design ambassador—to the end customer reflected in its steep pricing, just doesn’t feel right. I love the watch, but not for the price tag it comes with.
Sticker Price USD 9,650. More info on Porsche Design here.
