A Chronograph Icon Gets a Lot More Affordable Thanks to a Long-Overdue Update

The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 ranks as one of the most iconic chronograph watches ever made, for a number of reasons.

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For one, it has strong connections to the automotive world, as it was designed by Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche, the man behind the Porsche 911. It’s also an iconic movie watch, having been the wristwear of choice for Tom Cruise’s Maverick in both 1985’s Top Gun and its billion-dollar legacy sequel. And it’s generally considered the first all-black watch, pioneering a genre that’s ever-present today.

So any time the Porsche Design makes any change or update, no matter how small, it’s big news. Especially today’s update, as it actually lowers the price of the watch by up to $2,000.

Porsche Design

Strapped up

How did Porsche Design knock so much money off the price of its flagship watch? Easy. It ditched the bracelet.

OK, Porsche Design hasn’t actually ditched anything. You can still get a Chronograph 1 Numbered Edition in plain titanium or with an all-black carbide coating with a matching bracelet, just as before. But now, for the first time, PD is giving you the option of purchasing non-limited versions of the watch on a leather strap instead.

These aren’t your average leather straps, either. Porsche Design clearly put a ton of thought into these straps, rightfully treating them as a significant release as opposed to a minor update.

Porsche Design

For starters, the watchmaker used the very same leather that Porsche uses for the interiors in its luxury automobiles, ensuring you’ll be repping Porsche’s legendary performance on your wrist. Following that thread, the strap is also available in four colors derived from Porsche Design’s automotive sibling: Guards Red, Classic Cognac, Night Blue and the less imaginatively named Black.

The straps are equipped with a crosshatch-adorned push-button quick-release system matching the one found on the Chronograph 1’s bracelet. This premium feature makes these straps a breeze to take on and off without the use of any tools.

Lastly, we have the clasp, which is also well considered. Rather than going with a pin buckle or a traditional deployant clasp, the brand chose a hybrid clasp that offers the best of both worlds. The titanium clasp, in gray or black to match the case, has a pin buckle latching system to reduce wear on the strap, along with a folding deployant system to make the strap easier to put on and take off.

Porsche Design

Availability and pricing

I’ve saved the best part about this release for last, and that’s the price. Because these versions of the watch do not include a full titanium bracelet, Porsche Design was able to save a ton of money on materials and production costs. And the brand is passing those savings on to you.

The Chronograph 1 Numbrered Edition in plain titanium retails for $6,750 on leather, a full $1,500 less than the same watch on a bracelet, which costs $8,250. The savings on the more iconic All Black version are even greater, since the strap doesn’t require a pricey carbide coating. It’s priced at $7,650, which is a whopping $2,000 cheaper than the $9,650 bracelet version.

Porsche Design

Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – All Black Numbered Edition with Leather Strap

Specs

Case Size	40.8mm
Movement	Porsche Design Cal. WERK 01.140 automatic chronograph
Water Resistance	100m

• $7,650 at Porsche Design