Launched last year and already in receipt of an iF Award, the P’6780 Diver from Porsche Design is being issued in a Black Edition at Baselworld 2011. What is not changing is the advanced three-part case construction, comprising a hinged circular stainless steel inner case housing the movement, a titanium bridge structure, which accommodates the case when hinged down, and a black caoutchouc strap featuring a folding clasp. The watch is resistant to a pressure of 100 ATM, which corresponds to a diving depth of 1,000 metres (328 feet). It is powered by a highly precise self-winding mechanical movement.

Black watches are very much the trend these days, one that was begun by Porsche Design many years ago. It was Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, founder of the Porsche Design luxury brand, who came up with the world’s first-ever all-black watch in 1972. The matt black colour is now integrated within the durable PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) coating applied to the watch. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche liked the colour. According to him, "Black is the only colour that does not detract from the form."

As with all Porsche Design watches, the P’6780 Diver demonstrates a compelling functionality. The three-part construction allows the watch to be operated wearing gloves: this involves using the two upper locking pushers to unlock the hinged inner case and raising it from the safety bridge. The winding crown and bezel can then easily be adjusted. When the inner case is safely locked within the bridge, neither crown nor bezel can be moved inadvertently. The watch offers outstanding legibility thanks to the contrast of the white hands against the black dial. The lugs are flexible for optimum on-wrist comfort.

The Diver’s advanced sealing system keeps the inner case water resistant to a depth of 1,000 metres (328 feet, 100 ATM); no helium valve or screw-down crown are necessary. As is usual with Porsche Design, the use of colour is frugal in the extreme. One solitary blue stripe on the rim designates the first 15 minutes, while the same colour is also used to outline the broad, luminous minute hand. Also coated in luminous material are the remaining hands, baton indices and numerals of the dial and bezel: the optimal underwater legibility they offer at advanced diving depths confers peace of mind during a diver’s decompression phase. Back on land, the blue flash against the matt black background looks just great.

Prices: CHF 9,500 - € 6,950 - $ 10,300

Porsche Design is known for incorporating new types of innovative materials and useful supplementary function into its watches: 1978 saw the appearance of the first wristwatch to feature a built-in compass, 1980 the first chronograph to be fashioned from ultra-tough yet light titanium, and 2004 the first mechanical chronograph to sport a digital display. Meanwhile the Worldtimer, launched in 2007, displays the time in all 24 time zones at the press of a button.


Porsche Design is a luxury brand with a particular focus on technically inspired products. The Porsche Design brand was established in 1972 by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. The products stand for functional, timeless and purist design, characterised by their technical innovation. The product portfolio includes watches, sunglasses, luggage, a sports and fashion collection as well as electronic products and a men’s fragrance line. All the brand’s products are designed at the Porsche Design Studio in Zell am See (Austria) and are available worldwide in the company’s own stores, franchise stores, shops-in-shops, high end department stores and exclusive specialist retailers. The venerable Swiss watchmaking house of Eterna is the licensee for the production and sale of Porsche Design watches.

Movement/functions	:	Calibre Sellita SW 300; self-winding automatic movement; 42-hour power reserve; 28,800 v.p.h.; 25 jewels; diameter 25.60 mm (11 1/2 lines); height 3.60 mm; hours, minutes and seconds; date indication; Porsche Design rotor.
Dial/hands	:	Black; date indication at 9 o‘clock; bar indices and Arabic numerals filled with luminous material in white; dial ring with diving time indication and minute track; centred black hour hand with grey tip, filled with luminous material in white; centred black minute hand with blue tip, filled with luminous material in white; centred black seconds hand with white tip.
Case/back	:	Shot-blasted stainless steel container and shot-blasted titanium bridge with black PVD coating; scratch-resistant, dual anti-reflective sapphire crystal; non-screwed crown with special sealing system and “Clous de Paris” motif; titanium case back fastened with four screws; water resistant to 1,000 metres/ 3,280 feet (100 ATM); diameter 46.80 mm, height 17.05 mm.
Bracelet/clasp	:	Black caoutchouc strap, shot-blasted titanium and stainless steel with black PVD coating folding clasp with diving extension.
Reference	:	6780.45.43.1218