The Art of Watchmaking. The Porsche Way.

The Chronograph I was the first all-black chronograph to revolutionize the watch world and caused much controversy. But where did the idea for the innovative design of this watch, which over time would become an icon and a bestseller, come from? The unmistakable lines of the Porsche 911 continue to shape sports car design to this day. The feeling of performance, speed and elegance takes on a whole new form. Each generation of the 911 turns it into an icon. F. A. Porsche incorporated this sports car DNA directly into the Chronograph I, which he later designed, thereby translating the basic idea of the vehicle into a watch – creating the first sports car for your wrist.

A three-part series with Adrian Barker explores the mindset of Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the origins of Porsche Design Timepieces, and the legacy of the Chronograph 1—spanning the brand’s design roots, motorsport heritage, and use of modern materials. Born in 1935, F. A. Porsche grew up immersed in design, later joining the family business in Stuttgart in 1958. There, he developed his signature approach to technology, materials, and minimalist form, contributing to the creation of the iconic Porsche 911. In 1972, he founded Studio F. A. Porsche and was commissioned to design a watch for Porsche AG. Guided by his principle of honest, functional design, he created the Chronograph I—the first matte black chronograph. Inspired by the cockpit of the 911, it featured a highly legible black dial, contrasting indices, anti-reflective glass, and a red seconds hand. The result was a timepiece that translated automotive performance into watchmaking—a “sports car for the wrist”—and a design that continues to define Porsche Design today.