The best things in life? The ones you remember – and make even better. Which brings us to the Chronograph 1 – 50 Years 911 Turbo Edition.
930/50. That was the magic number – the internal factory code for the turbocharged engine Porsche had mounted in its new flagship model, the 911 Turbo. The car made its world debut at the 1974 Paris Motor Show. The engine weighed in at 207 kilograms and delivered 260 horsepower for a top speed above 250 km/h. The 911 Turbo was also the first vehicle from the Porsche stables to come standard with internally ventilated disc brakes and aluminum brake calipers developed for the 917 race car, the first Porsche overall winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Zuffenhausen kept expectations modest at first, in part due to the oil crisis: just 1,000 units of the 911 Turbo were planned. But by 1977, 2,876 had been sold – to buyers that included Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan, German soccer star Uli Hoeneß and Princess Antoinette of Fürstenberg. Well, what can you say? That’s when the Turbo story really took off.
On the subject of success stories: another one began in 1972 – a very special one. With the Chronograph I, the first all-black timepiece, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the creator of the Porsche 911, presented a watch that fused form and function in perfect harmony. “My aim was to design a watch for the 911 driver,” he said later. Simple as that.
And since Porsche always takes things one step further, they’ve now released the Chronograph 1 – 50 Years 911 Turbo Edition, limited to just 500 units. A tribute not just to the 911 Turbo, but to the original Chronograph I as well. And it shows. The movement is powered by a rotor in the shape of the legendary Fuchsfelge® (Fuchs wheel), the strap is embossed with the word “Turbo” – which also appears on the caseback. Speaking of which: the caseback features a seven-layer anti-reflective sapphire crystal and also bears the two most important years in the Turbo timeline – 1974 and 2024 – along with the individual edition number (XXX/500).
Some things can’t – or simply shouldn’t – be changed. That’s why the dial of the Chronograph 1 – 50 Years 911 Turbo Edition is almost identical to the 1972 original. The matte black design with its emphasis on legibility stays true to the first version, aside from the historic Porsche Design logo and the flyback lettering above the six o’clock position – a reference to the 911’s original boost pressure gauge.
On the other hand, the 911 Turbo has always stood for constant innovation, technological progress and new materials. Which is why the case of the Chronograph 1 – 50 Years 911 Turbo Edition isn’t made of stainless steel, but titanium – coated in a scratch-resistant titanium carbide finish.
A quick note on the straps: the Chronograph 1 – 50 Years 911 Turbo Edition comes with two. One is a black titanium bracelet, the other a beige textile band. The color scheme pays homage to the original 911 Turbo’s paint – Platinum Diamond Metallic – and its all-leather interior.
So here’s a thought that’s twice as true when it comes to the Chronograph 1 – 50 Years 911 Turbo Edition: it’s a good thing that time doesn’t stand still.
Chronograph 1 50 Years 911 Turbo
Case
titanium with black titanium carbide coating
Movement
Porsche Design caliber WERK 01.240, chronograph with flyback function, day and date display, COSC-certified
Straps
quick-change system; titanium bracelet: titanium folding clasp with push-button release and fine adjustment; textile strap: Velcro fastener
Watertightness
up to 10 bar (dynamic)
TEXT: Wiebke Brauer
PHOTOS: Steffen Jahn
ramp #68 Happy as a Clam
