Alright, let’s talk about something I got my hands on a while back, the Porsche Design Chronograph 1. And I mean the original 1972 version, not one of those re-issues they keep churning out. Getting one wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, let me tell you.
My Quest for a Piece of History
I’d been on the lookout for one for ages. You hear stories, you see pictures, and you think, “Yeah, I need one of those.” It’s not just a watch; it’s a bit of a legend, isn’t it? Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the guy behind the 911, started his own design studio, and this chronograph was his first project. First one! Imagine that. They initially made them as gifts for Porsche AG employees. Can you believe it? Talk about a nice work perk.
So, the hunt began. I spent a good deal of time digging around, talking to collectors, sifting through listings. You find a lot of duds, or pieces that have been messed with. It’s a proper mission to find one that feels right, that hasn’t been polished to death or had all its original bits swapped out. It’s like trying to find a decent classic car – patience is key, and you gotta know what you’re looking for.
What I Found Out (The Hard Way, Mostly)
Once I finally landed one, I really started to get what all the fuss was about. Porsche Design has this whole philosophy, right? “Optimise function. Reduce the form to the essentials.” Sounds a bit like corporate speak, but when you actually hold and use this watch, it clicks. There’s no fluff. Every part of it is there for a reason. It’s straightforward. It does its job, and it does it well.
Here’s what I learned through wearing it, not just reading about it:
- The black PVD coating, which was pretty revolutionary back then, isn’t just for looks. It cuts down on glare, which is genuinely useful.
- The dial is super legible. Big white hands and markers on a black background. Simple. Effective.
- That Swiss movement inside, a Valjoux 7750 in many of them, is a workhorse. It just keeps on going. Reliable. That’s what you want, isn’t it? Something that just works.
You can tell that the folks at Studio F. A. Porsche in Austria and the watchmakers over in Switzerland actually talked to each other. It’s not just a pretty face; the engineering is solid. It feels like it was designed by someone who understood mechanics and usability, not just aesthetics.
It’s Not Like These Newfangled Gadgets
I was at a family thing a while back, and my nephew, bless him, was showing off his latest smartwatch. Thing had a million apps, a screen brighter than the sun, and he was tapping away at it constantly. He looked at my Chronograph 1 and asked, “What apps does it have?” I just smiled. “It tells the time, and it times things,” I said. “And it’ll still be doing that long after your gadget is in a landfill.”
He didn’t quite get it. People are so obsessed with the next update, the next feature, the next shiny toy that’ll be outdated in six months. This watch, though? It’s from 1972. It’s seen things. It still looks cool as hell, and it works perfectly. It’s a tool, a reliable piece of kit. It’s funny, because well-kept ones like these can actually go up in value. Try saying that about your phone in five years, let alone fifty.
It’s just a different mindset, I guess. Appreciating something built to last, something with a clear purpose, something that doesn’t need to be constantly “connected” to be useful. It’s the essence of good design, really. And that’s why this old chronograph still gets a regular spot on my wrist. It’s a reminder that sometimes, simpler is just better. No fuss, no drama, just solid performance. That’s my take on it, anyway.
