Turbo Time: Porsche Design Releases Limited Edition of Chronograph 1

This year, Porsche enthusiasts are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first 911 Turbo – a sports car that has created history. The Turbo concept is synonymous with a multitude of superlatives. The cutting-edge flat engine, the powerfully designed rear of the car, and the unmistakable wing.

In celebration of this special anniversary, Porsche Design is releasing the Chronograph 1 – 50 Years 911 Turbo Edition, strictly limited to 500 pieces worldwide. The timepiece features a chronograph with flyback function and a weekday-date indication.

When Porsche unveiled the fastest road-going sports car of its era at the 1974 Paris Motor Show, crowds flocked to the stand to witness the birth of an automotive icon – the Porsche 911 Turbo (G model). Its 3.0-liter 6-cylinder boxer engine produced an incredible 260 horsepower for its time.

Two years earlier, in 1972, Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche had designed the Chronograph I, the world’s first completely black watch. This timeless, sporty precision instrument with a minimalist design followed the design principles of the Porsche 911, also the brainchild of the genius designer. Combining a black case with an anti-reflective black dial for perfect readability, the Chronograph I epitomized the idea of a “sports car for the wrist”.

As a tribute to the jubilee, the Chronograph 1 – 50 Years 911 Turbo Edition is made of ultra-light and durable titanium and finished with a scratch-resistant black titanium carbide. Water-resistant to 100 meters, the case measures 40.8 mm wide and 15.5 mm thick.

But the similarities between the two products are most evident in the dial, which echoes the instrument panel of the first 911 Turbo with its three totalizers. As in the cockpit of the legendary sports car, the white hands and hour-markers, as well as the striking red stop-seconds hand, combine with the matte black dial and the seven-fold anti-reflective sapphire crystal to ensure optimum readability. The “Flyback” inscription above the 6 o’clock position is printed in the font of the historic 911 dashboard. The dial is also adorned with the historic Porsche Design logo from the 1970s.

Inside, the COSC-certified Porsche Design caliber WERK 01.240 with a power reserve of 48 hours is at work. Its sophisticated flyback function combines starting, stopping and zeroing in a single operation. The movement is equipped with a winding rotor in the design of the legendary Fuchsfelge. A first at the time, the single-piece aluminum rim ensured more spontaneous responses from the chassis and has since become iconic. The characteristic cloverleaf design was created by F. A. Porsche. The embossed Porsche emblem adorns the matte black chromed fox wheel, another link to the 911 Turbo (G model).

The beige textile leather strap also emphasizes the connection between car and watch makes it clear that this timepiece was designed specifically for Turbo enthusiasts. It features a quick-release system with a black Velcro fastener and black loops. The soft black Velcro closure is reminiscent of the Turbo’s interior carpet and provides excellent comfort. The color of the strap pays homage to the metallic beige paint and full leather interior of the first Porsche 911 Turbo. A distinctive badge on the strap at the 6 o’clock position displays the iconic Turbo branding, which can also be found on the back of the car’s seat backs.

The Chronograph 1 – 50 Years 911 Turbo Edition includes an additional titanium bracelet with titanium folding clasp and fine adjustment. Pricing is marked at $12,000.

To learn more, visit Porsche Design, here.