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Though I’m still confused on the pronunciation of Porsche (is it porsch or porsh-uh?), there is no mistaking the impact the brand has had on the automotive and design worlds. And, what the hell, let’s throw the watch world in, too, for good measure. Since 1972, with the release of the first all-black chronograph, Porsche Design has been producing watches that might take the sting out of not being able to afford a brand-new 911.
Now, with their latest iteration, the Chronograph 1–F.A.T. 2025 Edition, we see both the evolution of Porsche Design’s timepieces while also a nod to their own heritage. Taking the design principles of Ferdinand Porsche, the design team built almost an inversion of the original Chronograph 1 from the 70’s. While they have maintained 40.8mm black titanium carbide case, they’ve inverted the design with a white dial. Not only is this a first for Porsche Design’s watches, but it also serves a functional purpose: the dial is completely coated in white Super-LumiNova, making it readable in total darkness.
This is one example of how the Chronograph 1 – F.A.T. sits right at the meeting point between form and functionality. It’s the hidden Easter eggs of this watch that show how proud Porsche is of their heritage. Take, for instance, a Porsche 962 silhouette on the hour counter and a subtle “962” on the 6 o’clock subdial. One of my favorites is the F.A.T. International logo appears under the date, while the English day display replaces “SAT” and “SUN” with “F.A.T.” in signature red, making, as Porsche says, “every weekend a race weekend”. On the functional side, the watch runs on a Porsche Design WERK 01.240 movement and the indices and hands are designed to be in total contrast against the lumed white dial. This was specifically designed for easy visibility in even the most extreme conditions – like, oh, i don’t know, winning Le Mans or racing at 100 km/h on ice in Germany.
And that’s where the F.A.T. in this collaboration comes in. First founded in 1928 as a French logistics company, F.A.T. has grown to become a symbol of motorsport heritage and the community that comes with it. F.A.T is best known for launching the iconic Ice Race, which is now hosted in Zell am See, Austria annually, but has grown steadily to become a lifestyle brand in its own right, even opening a moto-themed restaurant.
The Chronograph 1–F.A.T. 2025 Edition is available now via Porsche’s website for $11,500. The watch is available on a variety of straps, including a matte black titanium bracelet with a Porsche Design clasp, a white textile strap with the F.A.T. Ice Race badge, and the exclusive violet-colored “F.A.T. Mankei Strap,” a textile-and-leather option inspired by the F.A.T. Mankei hut, a hospitality venture for the brand, located in the Austrian Alps.
