Oooh Porsche it monopush it real good

Porsche Design makes watches that you can either love or hate. This specific piece, the oddly inspiring new MONOBLOC ACTUATOR Titanium Chronograph has won my heart.

Obviously based on cars that go fast, the Monobloc has a titanium case and an eminently legible face. Further, it has an odd “mono block” actuator that tilts back and forth to start and stop the chrono. Porsche Design describes it thusly: “Inspired by the functionality of the high RPM mechanical valve control of the new Porsche 911 RSR, the engineers at Porsche Design Timepieces AG invented an integrated rocker switch, which controls the chronograph’s operation entirely from inside the watch’s case. This paradigmatic example of performance at the highest level exemplifies precision engineering in the smallest possible space.”

Now look, I’m as into passing the buck on design decisions as much as the next guy but let’s just admit that this design is beautiful, elegant, and minimalist. We don’t have to blame pistons firing or the engine block of a 911 on how this looks. Bottom line? Jeez I like this watch and I think this is some iconic work by Porsche Design.

From the release:

?What qualities do motorsport and time measurement share in common: Precision, functionality, and performance in every second. Like a racecar, a wristwatch is a typical product of the 20th century, which has repeatedly spurred engineers and technicians to achieve progressively greater feats. Porsche Design is the intersec- tion of these two worlds. Established by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in 1972, Porsche Design has always drawn its inventive spirit from numerous sources, the foremost being Porsche’s unique competence in motorsport. The goal is to cre- ate technically inspired products outside the automotive world, yet with the same high standards of aesthetics and function that distinguish Porsche motorcars. Achieving this objective means constantly questioning the status quo, developing innovative technical solutions, and conducting intensive tests to guarantee long- lasting performance. “If you analyse the function of an object, its form often be- comes obvious”: this leitmotif continues to inspire iconic products from Porsche Design today.