It’s not every day that a truly original watch rears its head. The Porsche Design Chronograph, however, is one such timepiece.

Designed by none other than Ferdinand Alexander ‘Butzi’ Porsche (creator of the 911), it was a technological marvel released in the very midst of the Quartz Crisis. Available in stainless steel, it was perhaps more famously seen in black PVD-coated steel — as in this example — making it the first commercially-available timepiece to feature such a ‘blacked-out’ treatment. 

This particular Porsche Design Chronograph is a modern reproduction, housed in a 41mm black titanium carbide tonneau case with a signed crown, a mineral crystal, dual barrel pushers, and a smooth bezel. It features a matte black dial with an inner mile scale bezel, luminous indices, a matching, modified ‘sword’ handset, a triple-register chronograph, and a day-date display. Paired to a matching, titanium carbide bracelet with a signed blade clasp, it’s powered by the Porsche Design WERK 0L140, COSC Certified caliber, perhaps one of the most significant and interesting automatic chronograph calibers ever developed.

This piece is part of a limited run of 350 examples made for HODINKEE in 2024.

It’s a rare occurrence when one has the opportunity to snag such a cool model. You know what we’re gonna say:

Don’t sleep on it!