The new Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 911 Dakar and 911 Dakar Rally Design Edition in Titanium Carbide
Something is brewing on the horizon in the sandy desert of Dakar – is it a mirage? No, it’s the unmistakable curves of a Porsche, still clear through the sandstorm. But this is not just any Porsche speeding through the metres-high dunes. In the scorching heat, you can recognise the new Porsche 911 Dakar. The new Porsche 911 Dakar is a homage to the original model and revives some Porsche history. To introduce this car in their own way, Porsche Design is presenting the Chronograph 1 – 911 Dakar and the 911 Dakar Rally Design Edition, two timepieces that can withstand any sandstorm thanks to a watchmaking premiere and thus doing justice to their motorised counterparts.
The new Porsche 911 Dakar
The Dakar Rally, one of the last great adventures, is considered the most important long-distance and desert rally in the world. It was held once a year from 1978 to 2007, mostly on the African continent. A marathon race under the toughest conditions that demands absolute perseverance from the Porsche 911 Dakar and its driver. Who weakens first, man or machine? Porsche entered the race for the first time in 1984 with the modified 953. Thanks to a new idea, the first 911 with all-wheel drive, Porsche made it to the top at that time.
This exclusive model, limited to 2,500 units, shows once again that there seem to be no limits to the concept of the Porsche 911. The optional Rally Design Package is reminiscent of the iconic 1984 winning car, and with ground clearance 50 mm higher than a 911 Carrera with sports suspension, it’s clear to everyone that Porsche makes no compromises in this special model. In addition, the standard lift system can raise the front and rear by a further 30 millimetres to overcome any hurdle. As a result, ground clearance and ramp angle reach the level of classic SUVs – and that in a 911. The chassis can be lifted up to a speed of 170 km/h, which makes even the most ambitious off-road driving possible. If this speed is exceeded, the chassis automatically lowers itself back to normal level.
The Chronograph 1 – 911 Dakar and the 911 Dakar Rally Design Edition successfully capture the striking design highlights of the 911 Dakar. Equal to the innovative ideas that Porsche produces for its cars, the two timepieces feature a scratch-resistant case made of titanium carbide, developed by Porsche Design.
The exterior of the watch
The two novelties are the world’s first chronographs with a case made of titanium carbide. After 5 years of development work, Porsche Design has now succeeded in shaping a case from this resistant and scratch-proof material. Titanium carbide is characterised by an incomparable reduction in weight, making it even lighter than titanium. It also is resistant to ageing over time. Furthermore, a striking black overall aesthetic defines the look of the ceramic material. The pushers and crown, however, are made of titanium.
Oscillating rotor
On the back of the timepiece, the wheel motif has been reinvented. The winding rotor corresponds to the rim of the 911 Dakar down to the smallest detail. What is interesting here is that, analogue to the configuration of the car, the rim is also available here in two different finishes. You can choose either a black or white look for the rim. For the Chronograph 1 – 911 Dakar, the winding rotor is also available in grey.
Whoever purchases the watch can personalise it using the ‘Porsche Design Timepieces Configurator’. Key features, however, include the central cap adorned with the modern Porsche Crest. The caseback, on the other hand, is made of titanium. The rotor and the movement are protected by a sapphire crystal with seven anti-reflective layers.
The dial
The red accents, such as the “60” of the minute scale, which serves as a 12 o’clock marker on the altitude ring, and the red stop hands attract attention. Also in red is the lettering for the Porsche design WERK 01.240 with flyback function. The white minute and hour hands are filled with Superluminova luminous material to guarantee readability even at night.
The day and date display is positioned at 3 o’clock, while the 30-minute display is found at 12 o’clock. The small seconds at 9 o’clock is adorned with a Roughroads graphic in white, blue, gold and red, reminiscent of the retro styling of the Porsche paintwork. Last but not least, at 6 o’clock you will find the 12-hour display.
The inner workings
Since 2014, Porsche Design has been crafting each movement in their watch manufacture in Solothurn, Switzerland. Here, the know-how of sports car and watch experts flow together to create a synthesis between the two fields of expertise. The result: WERK 01.240. With its power reserve of 48 hours and a frequency of 4 Hz, the COSC-certified movement is an excellent companion for the next desert drive. The movement has a flyback function that combines starting, stopping and zeroing in one operation – every second counts in a race. In addition, the movement displays the day and date in German and English.
Price & availability
And finally, let’s take a look at the straps. The straps are an aesthetic reflection of the leather interior of the 911 Dakar. The black leather and contrast stitching in blue or green complete a coherent picture. The perforations are backed with Race-Tex material – the same as that found in car’s seats.
The Chronograph 1 – 911 Dakar and the 911 Dakar Rally Design Edition are true collector’s items and represent a symbiosis between the values of motorised performance and horological precision. The two novelties are reserved only for buyers of a 911 Dakar and 911 with Rally Design Package. Interested parties can obtain the timepieces for 13,950 euros incl. VAT.
Perforated leather strap made of Porsche vehicle leather in Black with backing in Race-Tex in Green/Blue and decorative stitching in Porsche vehicle thread in Green/Blue
MOVEMENT
Werk 01.240
MOVEMENT TYPE
Automatic
POWER RESERVE
48 Hours
FREQUENCY
28,800 vph (4 Hz)
FUNCTIONS
Chronograph with flyback function, day and date display in German and English
PRICE
EUR 13.950 – Only available in combination with the Porsche 911 Dakar and Porsche 911 Dakar Rally Design Package.
Benjamin Comar has been CEO of Piaget since 2021 and is responsible not only for a whole range of highly complex watches, but also for extravagant jewellery. For although the manufacture originally started out as a supplier of watch movements, by the mid-20th century the maison had a desire to extend its expertise to other…
At this year's Watches & Wonders 2020, A. Lange & Söhne presents a limited edition of the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater. Ever since 2015, this model has been the only watch to combine a mechanical jumping numerals display with a decimal minute repeater. Furthermore, only 30 pieces of the new model are available. It now comes…
A modern timepiece powered by an original movement from 1913 OMEGA is a company known for its craftsmanship. Now, for its latest creation, the brand has reintroduced a piece of technology from its past. The “First OMEGA Wrist-Chronograph Limited Edition” is a new collection comprising of just 18 watches, which house an original “18’’’ CHRO…
Ulysse Nardin, a venerated name in Swiss watchmaking, has long been known for its pioneering spirit and dedication to high horology. With the launch of the Diver [AIR], the brand has once again pushed the boundaries of what's possible in watch design and technology. This new addition to the Diver collection is not just another…
Collective Horology and Zenith have unveiled the Defy Skyline C.X Edition, a limited edition watch that reinterprets the Defy Skyline with a focus on industrial design. This marks Collective Horology's tenth project to be done in collaboration with another watch brand, and showcases a unique aesthetic and functional features. With a limited run of 200…
Watch manufacture Richard Mille is introducing a new flyback chronograph. The Richard Mille RM 72-01 replaces the previously discontinued RM 11 and is powered by the manufacture's first in-house chronograph calibre. The new model retains the brand's design aesthetics and, as usual, integrates a number of technical innovations. The Case The case of the Richard…
As the main sponsor of the Les Voiles De St Barth sailing regatta, Richard Mille presents the limited edition RM 60-01 Les Voiles De St Barth. Because the event cannot take place this year, the brand reaffirms its commitment and intends to donate all proceeds from the sale of an RM 60-01 to initiatives on…
The Hermès Slim d’Hermès Flagship is a new addition to the collection of the French luxury goods manufacturer. This watch, produced in a limited edition of 12 pieces, features an engraved depiction of the Hermès flagship sailing through a starry sky on a dial made of aventurine glass. Inspired by Dimitri Rybaltchenko’s design for a…
Audemars Piguet expands its Code 11.59 collection with two new models in stainless steel. These timepieces feature a grey dial and strap, complemented by the brand’s signature "Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50" accents. Available in both Selfwinding and Selfwinding Chronograph versions, these watches showcase the collection’s unique design and meticulous craftsmanship. Let’s take a closer look…
With the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante, the Glashütte manufacture is presenting a new split-seconds chronograph with a platinum case. It proudly bears the traditional design features of the 1815 collection, but surprises with an atypical placement of the subdials. The 1815 Rattrapante Honeygold "Homage to F. A. Lange" was introduced earlier, but it…
Breitling continues its '140 Years of Firsts' celebration with the debut of its first exclusive perpetual calendar chronograph movement, Caliber B19. To mark this milestone, Breitling has released limited 140th-anniversary editions of three flagship models: the Premier, Navitimer, and Chronomat. Each timepiece is equipped with the sophisticated Caliber B19, promising nearly a century of precision…
In an exciting move for fans of the brand, Tissot is bringing back a historic model. The new Tissot PR516 adopts the design of the original from the 1970s, but is now equipped with a state-of-the-art movement. True to its history, it dispenses with automatic winding in favour of manual winding. The mechanical chronograph represents…
In 2010 already the Geneva watch manufacture Patek Philippe united sports and technique with the ‘Nautlilus’ collection. Now the brand presented a new model (Ref. 5726/1A-014) of this line on the watch fair Baselworld 2019: A version with stainless steel strap, like the first Nautilus from 1976, and a blue dial with a subtle shading from…