If you’ve been on the hunt for the ultimate timepiece for car enthusiasts, look no further than Porsche Design’s Chronograph 1. Debuting over five decades ago, the chronograph watch is among the most legendary chronographs in the game. 

While countless watch legends have gone through evolutions over the decades, the Chronograph 1 has remained largely redolent of its original design. However, Hodinkee has decided to collaborate with the watchmaker for the first time, with the concept of bringing modern touches to a timeless model.

A Brief History of Porsche Design

An offshoot of the legendary automaker, Porsche Design debuted in 1972 with the Chronograph 1. F.A. Porsche, the designer of the first Porsche 911, decided to expand the Porsche name with a namesake design studio. The firm’s inaugural product was infused with the automaker’s simple yet functional design language. Eventually, the studio expanded into sunglasses, headphones, and speakers, always managing to blend style and utility.

Originally intended to create a practical timepiece, the Chronograph 1 eventually became a go-to for not just auto fans but the U.S. Air Force and the West German Bundeswehr. Since then, however, the watch has become a mark of elegance in the watch world, with newer model releases coinciding with new vehicle debuts — often as exclusives for the car’s owners. 

Over the years, the watch has featured innovative materials and subtle design change-ups but if you look at early pieces from the brand, they’re highly similar to today’s releases. So what could Hodinkee add or change to bring the Chronograph 1 into modern-day watchmaking? Even the legendary watch publication admits that there’s “not much” it could do to improve upon an icon.

Hodinkee x Porsche Design Chronograph 1

Like some previous releases, this edition of the Chronograph 1 in collaboration with Hodinkee features a 40.8mm titanium case that’s been matte-black titanium-carbide coated and adorned with a black titanium bracelet as well. However, most of the design touches have been done to the dial itself. Notably, the Super-LumiNova coat is darker on the indices compared to the hands, both of which contrast the black on the dial and case. This is a nod to Porsche enthusiasts who love “backdated” 911s to get a vintage look.

At the bottom of the dial, there’s the letter “H” to signify this Hodinkee collaboration, but it’s also colored in the same red as the “3H” symbol used for the ‘80s-era German military watches. Since Hodinkee is located in the United States, the inner tachymeter bezel shows miles instead of kilometers like a normal Chronograph 1. However, the day-date display features a Japanese option for the days of the week to pay homage to Porsche Design’s fans in Japan (you can toggle between English and Japanese days if you want). 

Also returning is the COSC-certified Porsche Design Caliber WERK 01.140 automatic chronograph movement which powers the triple register configuration. The movement is not visible through any exhibition caseback but the back of the watch does feature some co-branding, along with the edition numbering (out of 350).

​Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

Limited to just 350 pieces, this Hodinkee collaboration of the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 is apparently just the first in a trilogy of releases, as implied by some text on the caseback. Priced at $9,650, the first 100 examples are currently up for grabs on Hodinkee’s web store.

Porsche Design x Hodinkee Chronograph 1

Hodinkee teams up with Porsche Design for a new version of its iconic Chronograph 1, featuring some modern touches such as a mile tachymeter and pre-aged lume coloring.