The new replica Porsche Design Chronograph Titanium watch looks like yet another masterpiece of German design. Delivering just the right combination of manliness and reserved elegance that could only be compared to that of a Porsche 911 Carrera sports car, the wristwatch is issued as a limited edition of just 500 pieces, which is really a pity: collectability or not, the world, which is dominated by tasteless, soulless objects of industrial design, needs more beautiful things like this one. It looks like nothing is added or subtracted just because an executive board or some guy in a room full of computers decided to “play a little” with additional elements just to make the piece “look more, um, complex, you know”.
Porsche Design’s, um, design is almost always easily predictable. In this regard the German brand reminds me of Apple Computers as it was when Steve Jobs was in charge. Their design language is well developed and highly articulated, and thoroughly calculated: they never seem to leave anything to chance.
As usual, the titanium Porsche Design copy watch looks very elegant in that reserved way we came to like since the German brand Braun has delivered its first product designed by Dieter Rams.
I don’t know how many iterations of their new timekeeper (and other objects of industrial design) they sculpt from Styrofoam before giving it a final go ahead, but it seems that, well, a lot. Every single element of the case, including the oversized setting crown, looks like the brand has invested thousands of man-hours creating this work of art. And don’t let the seeming simplicity of the piece full: it is that rare case where it takes more effort to make an object look simple than to make it look complex.
On the photos above and below you can see that the timekeeper’s titanium case seems to feature a unique “unibody” design with only its back cover screwed-down with eight polished screws. The matte black dial, too, offers a completely flat surface, which is decorated with twelve rectangular hour markers and a seconds/minutes scale, which is echoed by very vintage-looking 12-hour and 30-minute chronograph and small seconds sub-dials located at 6, 12 and 9 o’clock respectively.
There is no guilloche, no meticulous skeletonization, no complex three-dimensional surfaces, but nevertheless the face of the gadget looks absolutely, unquestionably stunning with the thin bezel with its usual tachymeter scale serving as a perfect frame for this picture.
The legendary ETA Valjoux 7750 automatic movement was, too, extensively modified. Hidden behind a black tinted sapphire crystal, the mechanism has all of its visible parts blacked out and decorated with Geneva Stripes, while its original oscillating weight has been replaced with a new part that features the famous “Porsche Design Icon” logo (it is also visible on the dial and the oversized setting crown).
But I still can’t call it too thick: for timepieces powered by the Caliber 7750, this is a pretty normal size. Just make sure that your shirt has wide enough cuffs to accommodate this beautiful monster.
See also: Porsche Design P’6620 Dashboard Chronograph in Black PVD Titanium
Photos: Porsche Design
WWR preliminary verdict
Originality 4.5/5
Build quality: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Legibility: 5/5
Value for money: 4/5
Porsche Design Chronograph Titanium Limited Edition watch specification
Price: €4950 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, ETA Valjoux 7750, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 25
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 48 hours
Movement decoration: Blacked out parts, Geneva stripes, skeletonized oscillating weight
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph, tachymeter
Case material: Titanium, bead-blasted
Bezel material: Matches case
Crown material: Matches case
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 42.00 mm
Case height: 14.62 mm
Lug width: No data
Dial: Matte black
Numerals: None
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap: Black calfskin strap with black stitching and a bead-blasted folding clasp made of titanium and stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Case back: Sapphire, tinted black
Measuring almost 15 millimeters thick, the Swiss made Porsche Design replica wristwatch is obviously not for the kind of persons seeking for ultra-slim timekeepers.