60 Years of the Porsche 911: Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 911 S/T
When it comes to finding the right birthday present, it is not uncommon to make a mistake, much to the chagrin of the person receiving the gift. Often the birthday boy or girl finds themselves deposited with a pile of rather unimaginative presents. Porsche, on the other hand, is taking a different approach and has come up with a very appropriate gift for the milestone anniversary of its icon. To mark 60 years of the Porsche 911, Porsche is introducing the 911 S/T, a particularly purist model that teaches us that less can sometimes be more.
Porsche 911 S/T and Porsche 911 S/T with Heritage Design Package
But that’s not all: Porsche Design is accompanying the 911 with an exclusive anniversary edition of the Chronograph 1, of which there will be 1,963 pieces available and which is reserved solely for buyers of the sports car.
Chronograph 1 – 911 S/T
The new Porsche 911 S/T: A particularly purist model
The new 911 S/T picks up on the spirit of an old, particularly performance-oriented version of the first–generation 911 from 1969. This special racing version of the 911 S was known internally as the 911 ST and did entirely away with large spoilers and other aerodynamic aids. The new model thus follows its ancestor and combines elements of the 911 GT3 RS with the body of the 911 GT3 with Touring package, supplemented with lightweight components specially developed for the 911 S/T. In the rear sits the 521 hp 4-litre boxer engine from the GT3 RS, which offers the ultimate interaction between driver and machine with the short-ratio manual transmission.
The special model embodies a purist blueprint like almost no other and defines itself as much by what it does not possess as by what it does possess. Unlike a GT3 RS, it is free of any ostentation and strives for functionality. This is particularly noticeable in its lightweight construction: the bonnet, wings, roof, boot and – familiar from the GT3 RS – the doors are all made of carbon fibre.
Further lightweight construction measures, such as the roll cage and the standard equipment with magnesium lightweight rims, make the anniversary model the lightest production 911 with a DIN empty weight of only 1,380 kg. But when it comes to selling, Porsche seems to be rather inspired by maximalism: with the Design Heritage Package, the model limited to 1,963 units (in honour of the year in which the 911 was launched) costs a hefty 309,692 euros, placing it at the top of the 911 price range.
Porsche Design is celebrating the anniversary of the Porsche 911, aka the epitome of German design and engineering for 60 years, in its very own way: with the anniversary editions of the Chronograph 1 – 911 S/T and Chronograph 1 – 911 S/T with Heritage Edition. The watches pay homage to the 911 S/T 2.4, which was specially developed for racing with motorsport-proven lightweight components that made the hearts of many a Porsche enthusiast beat faster back in 1970.
The case
Alexander Porsche, the creator of the first Porsche 911, not only designed the iconic car, but was also responsible for the conception of the first all-black watch as well as the first commercially produced titanium watch. In 1972, the founder of Porsche Design pursued a clear goal: “My aim was to create a watch to match the car.” This vision is equally followed by the new Chronograph 1 – 911 S/T, featuring a case made of lightweight titanium, which has been uncoated and blasted for weight optimisation reasons to echo the lightweight design concept of the Porsche 911 S/T. The diameter is a reasonable 40.5 mm, while the height is pretty hefty at 15.15 mm. The limitation number of the owner’s vehicle is laser-engraved onto the watch’s caseback.
The dial
Like the regular Chronograph 1, the dial of the 911 S/T (as well as the Heritage Edition) still has a matte-black appearance, but now it is adorned with white and green phosphorescent indices and markers. The hands shine in a classic black and white combination and are easy to read, even in low-light environments, thanks to a Super-LumiNova coating. Furthermore, the heritage-style 60-minute/second scale on the outer rim is in white, green and red; reminiscent of the revolution counter (tachometer) in a car. In addition, the bright green colour also makes an appearance on the date disc at 3 o’clock.
Other fine details round off the overall appearance: subdials are provided with H/M/S markings to signal the respective functions more clearly. A imitation gearshift print occupies the spot between 1 and 2 o’clock – in a silver version on the 911 S/T and in a golden version on the 911 S/T Heritage. Last but not least, a 911 S/Tbadge sits above the day/date window.
The movement
If we turn the two editions over, we catch sight of the Porsche Design WERK 01.240 through the open sapphire crystal caseback. The rotor picks up on the design of the magnesium wheel of the 911 S/T and is available in the colours Brilliant Silver, Dark Silver or Black. The Heritage Edition also offers the colours Ceramica and Brilliant Silver. The movement offers a frequency of 28,800 vph, a power reserve of 38 hours and is a COSC-certified chronometer.
Price & Availability
In addition to an uncoated titanium bracelet with a folding clasp, the Chronograph 1 – 911S/T is available on leather straps in black or Classic Cognac, which are made of genuine vehicle leather. However, only owners of the new Porsche 911 S/T will be able to enjoy the Chronograph 1 – 911 S/T, which is limited to 1,963 pieces – only they will be able to purchase the anniversary watch from 2 August 2023, at a price of 11,950 Euro (RRP) at Porsche Centres.
Since its founding in 2002, the Le Mans Classic has offered a unique throwback to the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans. With the active support of Richard Mille, who has been the main sponsor since its conception, the event has firmly established itself in the calendars of classic car enthusiasts around the globe. As…
The Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacture Audemars Piguet is introducing two new versions of the Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked and two new models of the Royal Oak Frosted Gold Automatic in 18-carat white or yellow gold. The new models with a diameter of 37 mm and 34 mm are designed for its followers with…
Cartier has introduced a quartet of engraved Santos-Dumont limited editions. The watch is best known for being the first pilot's watch in the world. The new models are now powered by a mechanical movement. Furthermore, they feature engravings with the original plans of Santos-Dumont, as the famous pilot – and Parisian fashion icon – worked…
Building on the momentum of its celebrated PRX and PR 516 collections, Tissot introduces the PR 516 Automatic Chronograph – a timepiece that harmonizes retro-inspired design with a contemporary chronograph. Drawing inspiration from the iconic 1970s PR 516 racing chronograph, this latest iteration showcases a 41mm case, automatic Valjoux movement, and a sleek white and…
Earlier this month, to mark the introduction of H. Moser and Cie.'s new online sales platform, the family-run Swiss watch company has presented three new models: the H. Moser and Cie. Vantablack editions. Their colour? Completely black. Unusually, the dials are coated with Vantablack, the blackest black ever produced by artificial means. In fact, Vantablack…
Although the El Primero Chronograph celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019, Zenith is launching another Revival edition of the original El Primero. Namely, the Zenith Chronomaster Revival 'Manufacture Edition' showcases a previously unseen dial – until now. According to Zenith, a box of old dials from the legendary El Primero A386 was found in the…
Swiss watch manufacture Oris has several pieces of good news to share with the watch world right now. Having recently completed its second sustainability report, it's evident that the company is meeting its sustainability goals. These are being achieved alongside the development of a number of environmental projects developed as part of the ‘Better for…
Audemars Piguet is introducing two new Royal Oak Offshore models housed in a 42 mm case in either steel or titanium. The watches have a dial with a "Méga Tapisserie" motif and appear on rubber straps. However, with the interchangeable strap system, these can be replaced easily and quickly. Last but not least, the in-house…
The Florentine watchmaker Panerai is introducing the Panerai Luminor Marina 44 mm - PAM01313. As a successor of the diving watch Luminor (the name is inspired by the luminous substance tritium) developed in the early 1950s, this watch will be the core model of the newly designed Luminor collection. The case of the Panerai Luminor…
At this year's Watches & Wonders 2020, Vacheron Constantin is introducing several novelties. The Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph is an addition to the Traditionnelle collection. The watch combines a monopusher chronograph with a tourbillon. The new 42.5 mm model has a 18-carat 5N case and it presents itself on a dark brown leather alligator…
A year ago, Tudor entered a partnership with Alinghi Red Bull Racing. This year, the joint hydrofoil AC75 (America's Cup 75) racing yacht set sail. It is the first time that Tudor advances into competitive yacht racing. In celebration, two new variations of the legendary Pelagos are released. The high-speed boat's design inspired the Pelagos FXD timepiece and the chronograph Pelagos…
The watchmaker Roger Dubuis is well-known for its unconventional, ingenious creations. Now, the new Roger Dubuis Excalibur Twofold is furthering the horology house's reputation. The 45mm skeletonised timepiece displays a unique 'ultra-white' design and a double flying tourbillon. The case is made out of a mineral composite fibre and is presented on a matching white…
With the Excalibur Monobalancier and Double Tourbillon, Roger Dubuis is presenting two new variants made of black ceramic. With these watches, the manufacture is venturing into the production of cases made of ceramic for the first time. The material is notoriously difficult to work with, which significantly lengthens the production process. Moreover, the watchmakers did…