To celebrate the launch of the new Porsche 911 Dakar, Porsche Design has revealed two timepieces that capture the very essence of the desert-destroying sports car. Chronograph 1 - 911 Dakar and the Chronograph 1 - 911 Dakar Rallye Design Edition are destined to be highly exclusive timepieces, and will only be made available to owners of the latest 911.
The elegant face boasts a clean, uncluttered look and has been designed to be readable at a glance. The black dial features mostly white lettering, although the "60" of the minute scale, the flyback lettering, and the stop hands have been finished in a sporty red hue.
Look closely, and you'll note the "911 Dakar" badging takes place above the date display.
The 911 Dakar Rallye Design Edition goes a step further. In the smaller seconds dial, Porsche Design celebrates the company's motorsport success with a white, blue, red, and gold graphic. This harks back to the 1984 Paris-Dakar rally, where a Porsche 953 draped in these colors claimed victory.
Porsche's attention to detail extends to the winding rotor, which has been designed to mirror the 911 Dakar's wheels. This can be specified in black satin or solid white. However, the Chronograph 1 - 911 Dakar is also available with a Vesuvius Gray finish.
The rotor and intricate mechanisms are protected by scratch-resistant sapphire glass. The case back, pushers and crown are made of titanium.
Porsche Design was the first watchmaker to introduce a chronograph fashioned out of titanium, but the brand's latest watches take things a step further - their cases are made from titanium carbide, a scratch-resistant and highly robust material. Not only is it lighter than regular titanium, but it is also hypoallergenic and resistant to visual wear and tear.
The strap on Chronograph 1 - 911 Dakar is inspired by its namesake's interior. The black leather with Shadegreen contrast stitching features a backing made of Race-Tex (also in Shadegreen) and comes from the seat middle of the raised sports car.
The 911 Dakar Rallye Design Edition uses Shark Blue Race-Tex and contrast stitching.
With prices starting from $14,500, the timepieces are rather expensive. Then again, like the 911 Dakar itself, the timepieces will be exclusive. Just 2,500 examples are expected to be made and will be presented to customers with a plaque and a high-quality box.
They're not the only watches built to commemorate a 911 in recent months. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of a Stuttgart legend, TAG Heuer released the Carrera x Porsche RS 2.7 limited edition watch.
Interestingly, Porsche isn't the only automaker to introduce a high-riding supercar of sorts. Lamborghini's Huracan Sterrato will also hit the scene shortly. While we've already seen official images, the reveal is only scheduled for later this month. We can't wait for these two to battle it out on a rally special stage.