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Porsche Design Chronograph 1 in titanium carbide case



The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 is one of the great original chronograph designs, but the rules of aging don't seem to apply. Whether the original and its many variations, or the modern reinterpretation we review here, the Chronograph 1 is the benchmark for the balance of form and function between dial and case. Since relaunching the Chronograph 1 in early 2022 (celebrating the watch's 50th anniversary), Porsche Design has been slowly adding interesting twists to the range, mostly in line with special releases from Porsche. The latest version takes a different approach, recalling their past as military watches but in civilian-friendly terms: practical.

The latest addition to the Chronograph 1 series recalls the details of military watches from the 1970s, with many small details presented in slightly altered form, from unit emblems to the tritium mark “3H” in a red circle – each one has been redesigned with to create a new, more inclusive platform called Utilities. Furthermore, this is not just an exercise in vision, as the new watch’s most striking feature is the case’s use of titanium carbide, a material developed and patented by Porsche Design.

The material is considered tougher and lighter than what we think of as titanium watches, and the exterior is sandblasted with titanium glass beads. The light gray matte look is consistent with the contrasting crown and pushers, as well as the black leather bund-style strap that comes with the watch. Each component gives the watch an overall unique vibe that feels completely different from the original version released in 2022. The addition of red in the form of a circular “TiC” replaces the “3H” on the dial, further solidifying the watch’s special character.

Elsewhere on the dial we can see the design of “Mankei” and the head of the corresponding marmot below, a reference to their collaboration with FAT International and their location of “Mankei” on the Grossglockner alpine road . It’s a symbol more suitable for civilian consumption and a celebration of the motor racing and heritage that the brand represents. It also sets the background for the updated Utilities label above the day and date windows at 3 o’clock.

Inside, Porsche Design uses the WERK 01.240 automatic chronograph movement. It is COSC certified and has a flyback function to time multiple consecutive events. The movement itself is 7.90mm tall, which means the case height for a 42.7mm watch is 15.5mm. But these were never particularly thin watches by any means, and with the use of an external strap, this was never going to be a watch for subtle wearability.