Porsche Design Watches

Porsche Design Watches

Porsche Design isn’t just some badge-engineered marketing trick. It’s one of the original design-forward watch brands — and one of the first to bring real automotive

engineering language into the world of wristwear.

Form follows function. Titanium over gold. Chronographs that actually make sense. That’s the Porsche Design way.

A Little History

Founded in 1972 by Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche — yes, the guy who designed the 911 — Porsche Design was created as a separate

studio focused on industrial design. The first product? A watch.

The Chronograph I, released the same year, was a game-changer: the first all-black PVD-coated chronograph, with a stark, legible layout inspired

by a 911 dashboard. Built by Orfina with a Valjoux 7750 inside, it became an icon — worn by German pilots, F1 drivers, and collectors who knew better.

From there, Porsche Design produced watches in partnership with IWC (for 20+ years), then Eterna, and more recently started moving toward full

vertical integration under the Porsche Design Group umbrella — still rooted in function-first engineering.

What Collectors Love

There’s a lot to chase here, and a few different eras to know:

  • Chronograph I (Orfina era) — PVD-coated Valjoux-powered legend. The OG blackout tool chrono. Highly collectible.

  • IWC era (1978–1997) — includes titanium-cased masterpieces like the Ocean 2000 diver and Compass Watch. All built with IWC internals and Porsche Design flair.

  • Eterna era (2000s–2010s) — modern automatics, integrated bracelets, and a return to clean, tech-focused design. Undervalued today.

  • Modern PD (post-2017) — full in-house design, built in-house, including high-spec titanium chronos and 911 Chronotimer models tied to the automotive side of the brand.

Collectors love the clarity, purpose, and engineering elegance Porsche Design brings to the table. No fluff. No unnecessary flourishes. Just sleek, well-executed modernism.

Why Porsche Design Still Matters

Because they’re one of the few brands that’s stayed true to their aesthetic for over 50 years — and they’ve never tried to become something they’re not.

These watches are for guys who appreciate design integrity, functional minimalism, and a little motorsport DNA. Titanium? Standard. Lume? Crisp.

Dial layouts? Always balanced, always usable.

And with roots tied to both the watch world and the design world, they occupy a unique space: not just a fashion accessory, not just a tool,

something in between, built for people who like driving fast and thinking sharp.

What’s Out There Now

Current production includes:

  • Chronotimer Flyback — titanium-cased, COSC-certified flyback chrono with a clean 911-inspired layout.

  • 1919 series — ultra-slim, architectural watches with Porsche design codes in every line and curve.

  • Chronograph 1 – 1972 Limited Edition — modern reissue of the OG, down to the red seconds hand and blocky date window.

On the pre-owned side, there’s a serious opportunity in the IWC-era titanium divers, Eterna-built chronographs, and even some funky ‘80s digital/analog hybrids.

Fed’s Take

Porsche Design doesn’t get enough credit.

I’ve sold a few Chronograph I reissues, and they were way better in the metal than I expected. Clean dials, tight tolerances, and none of that over-designed nonsense you

see in some “automotive” brands.

It’s one of the few companies where the phrase “design-first” actually means something. If you like titanium, tool watches, and cars… this is your lane.

Check Out Our Porsche Design Inventory

Delray Watch is always on the lookout for unique Porsche Design watches — especially Chronograph I and IWC-era titanium models.

If you have a Porsche Design watch you’re ready to sell or trade – reach out. We’re always buying.

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