Porsche Design
Grenchen, Switzerland · Est. 1972
Founded by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche
Porsche Design was founded by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in Stuttgart in 1972, applying the same functionalist design philosophy to watches and luxury goods that defined the Porsche 911. The brand's watches, produced in collaboration with Swiss manufacturers, reflect Porsche's design language — minimal, purposeful, and engineered in appearance.
- Founded
- 1972
- Headquarters
- Grenchen, Switzerland
- Group
- Other
- Price Segment
- Mid
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Chronotimer — Motorsport-inspired chronograph collection with dashboard-style dials, titanium cases and racing aesthetics.
- 1919 — Minimalist collection with clean Bauhaus-influenced design, paying tribute to the founding year of the Porsche engineering office.
- Sport Chrono — Technical sport watches featuring the brand's signature all-black design DNA and performance-oriented complications.
Timeline
- 1972 — Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, designer of the Porsche 911, founds Porsche Design in Stuttgart and creates the world's first all-black chronograph.
- 1978 — Introduces the Compass Watch and Ocean series, pioneering the use of titanium in watchmaking.
- 1980 — Design studio relocates to Zell am See, Austria, expanding into lifestyle products beyond watches.
- 2014 — Porsche Design Timepieces partners with movement suppliers to develop exclusive calibres for its watch collections.
- 2023 — Continues partnership with movement suppliers for the 1919 and Sport Chrono lines; brand moves toward more lifestyle-oriented positioning under Porsche AG ownership.
- 2026 — Opens new Timepieces Manufactory in Grenchen, Switzerland, with modernised facilities and expanded production capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Porsche Design
- Is Porsche Design connected to Porsche cars?
- Yes. Founded by F.A. Porsche (designer of the 911), Porsche Design is a subsidiary of Porsche AG. The watches share the brand's engineering-first, function-over-form philosophy.
- What was the first all-black chronograph?
- The Porsche Design Chronograph I (P'6510), released in 1972 — the first watch with an entirely black case and dial, pioneering a trend that countless brands have since followed.