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Porsche Design Timepieces AG founded in Switzerland

Porsche Design repositions its business with luxury watches

“By taking this step, we are continuing the successful history of Porsche Design timepieces, which began in 1972 with the iconic Chronograph I”, says Juergen Gessler, CEO of the Porsche Design Group. “We are especially happy to have acquired Patrick Kury, a watch expert who – as well as demonstrating a profound understanding of our brand – is extremely skilled and accomplished when it comes to developing watch mechanisms. Kury has already proved this by developing the Porsche Design Indicator, the most complex watch mechanism in the world.”

“Porsche Design timepieces have always led the way for the entire watch industry in terms of design and concept”, says Patrick Kury, CEO of Porsche Design Timepieces AG. “As part of the new strategic realignment, we are consciously going back to the roots of Porsche Design timepieces. These revolutionised the industry in the 1970s and 1980s in terms of design and the materials used, as they included the world's first black watch as well as the world's first titanium watch. In the 2000s, Porsche Design timepieces boasted impressive technical highlights such as the mechanical-digital stopwatch display of the Indicator.”

As has been the case for more than 40 years, Porsche Design timepieces are positioned in an exclusive niche in the luxury watch category. The products are available around the world in the luxury brand's stores and from selected leading retailers. Currently, the company is preparing to launch the first watch series offered solely by Porsche Design. This series is reminiscent of the distinctive characteristics of the two most successful models produced by the luxury brand, the Chronograph I and the titanium Chronograph, which were matt black and made from titanium respectively: The first model in the series – the Porsche Design Timepiece No. 1 – heralds the era of Timepieces made by Porsche Design.

The self-winding chronograph features a case made from titanium, which has a diameter of 42 millimetres. The matt black case of the No. 1 was not painted – instead, it was coated by means of a special process. With regard to technical features, the model is equipped with a mechanical Valjoux 7750 chronograph mechanism that has a power reserve of 48 hours. The blackened sapphire crystal case back that shows the inner workings of the exclusive, energy-optimised Porsche Design rotor is a real eye-catcher. The Porsche Design Timepiece No. 1 with black rubber strap is waterproof up to a depth of 50 metres (5 ATM) and is limited to a production run of only 500 units.

Characteristics that Porsche Design has been presenting as watchmaking milestones for more than 40 years. The legendary Chronograph I was the world's first black watch as well as the first product produced by the luxury brand. In 1972, the timepiece caused a furore, as the self-winding chronograph – a concept that had previously been inconceivable – was entirely black and provocatively plain. By releasing this timepiece, Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was anticipating a trend that, while revolutionary at the time, defines the watch industry today. In 1980, Porsche Design revolutionised the watchmaking world with the first timepiece made from titanium ever to be seen. 20 years later, this was followed by the first watch to feature an aluminium case. The launch of the Indicator in 2004 saw the brand reach a new milestone: For the first time, this model combined chronograph functionality with a purely mechanical, jumping digital display. This was made possible thanks to the world's most complex watch mechanism produced in a limited run: Four spring barrels are required to power all functions reliably and the mechanism comprises a total of more than 800 individual parts.

Porsche Design is a luxury brand and was founded in 1972 by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. The products represent functional, timeless and purist design, and boast an impressive level of innovation. All products are designed by the Porsche Design Studio and are sold around the world in the brand's own shops, as well as in franchises, concessions, high-end department stores, exclusive specialist retailers and in the official online store.