Hands-On Take To The Ice With The New Porsche Design Chronograph 1 GP 2023 Edition

We have the Rolex Daytona (and the race it's named after), the TAG Heuer Monaco (to name one example from a brand with very deep motorsports roots) and in the modern context we find special edition watches from IWC, Richard Mille, and others that connect the given product with the ethos of a driver, a team, a race, or even a series. Where did you think TAG Heuer got the name for their Formula 1?

Last year Cole brought us an inside look at another notable partnership, the GP Ice Race and a special Porsche Design watch created to commemorate the 2022 running of the event in Zell am See, Austria.

Well, this year Porsche Design and the GP team are back with another limited edition model to commemorate the 2023 event, which is taking place in just a few weeks, running from January 27 to 29. Following suit from last year, the new Ice Race model is based on Porsche Design's Chronograph 1 and it's called, fittingly, the GP 2023 Edition.

We'll get to the watch in a moment, but I did want to strongly suggest that you read Cole's story from last year as the GP Ice Race is about a lot more than some cars driving around on a frozen surface. You can learn more about the history here, but in the modern context, the folks behind GP have recreated a traditional ice racing event and turned it into a festival for automotive enthusiasts of all kinds. Nestled in the Austrian alps, Ice Race brings all facets of car culture into one special place – out on the ice.

Did you happen to catch my recent Talking Watches with Ferdi Porsche? He is part of the leadership behind GP and is also the nephew of F.A. Porsche, who founded Studio F.A. Porsche and in turn Porsche Design. I spent a week with the small teams that bring both of these worlds together and it's no stretch to say that when it comes to cars and watches, they are both great company and complete nerds, the partnership makes a lot of sense.

But let's get to the watch, the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 GP 2023 Edition. It's a special take on the Chronograph 1 formula, and while based on the format that was relaunched last year for the 50th anniversary of the Chronograph 1's creation, it has been given a number of small tweaks that not only set it apart from the standard Chronograph 1, but also from that of the previous 2022 Edition.

Sticking to a proven formula, the GP 2023 Edition has a titanium case that measures 40.8mm wide, 14.15mm thick, and 45mm lug-to-lug. With a black dial and bright neon orange chronograph accents – which remain directly referential to the gauges of a 911, a car that was designed by F.A. Porsche, who also designed the Chronograph 1 in the early '70s – the GP 2023 Edition sports a 60-scale rehaut (vs. 2022's tachymeter) and a day/date display (in English and German, natürlich) capped by the vintage Porsche Design logo. The movement has another surprise in store, but we'll get to that shortly.

The most obvious derivation from both the standard Chronograph 1 and the sold-out GP 2022 Edition, is 2023's use of a bare titanium case rather than black titanium carbide surface treatment. But, in a fun visual mix that really grew on me over my time with the GP 2023 Edition, the screw-down crown and chronograph pushers are treated to a black finish, as are the quick-release adapters for the white nylon/velcro GP Ice Race strap. If this is Zell's take on two-tone, I'm here for it.

Water resistance is 100 meters, the front crystal is sapphire, and the back has a closed titanium caseback. On the caseback there's the standard edition number out of the 250-piece run and a couple more surprises. First, the tiny image of a yeti driving a tractor, which is something of a calling card for GP Ice Race. Next is one special little word that is always a treat on an automotive-themed chronograph… flyback.

Yessssss. The evolution of the GP Edition from 2022 to 2023 is not simply aesthetic as Porsche Design has fitted their Werk 01.240 automatic chronograph movement, which features a full 12-hour chronograph with central seconds and flyback functionality to the watch. For those unsure, a flyback chronograph allows the wearer to restart the chronograph from zero without first stopping and resetting the measure. Just press the pusher at four while the chronograph is running and the measure zeros out and then continues on.

While the flyback function can trace its roots to Longines and WWII aviation, it's also quite handy when you want to very quickly reset a chronograph for another event, such as when a race car starts another timed lap. Without the flyback feature, you'd need an additional chronograph if you wanted to accurately measure flying lap times.

The Werk 01.240 is a proprietary 4Hz automatic movement with 48 hours of power reserve and COSC chronometer certification. The movement itself is manufactured by Concepto in a setup that is exclusive to Porsche Design (including elements like the quick-change day/date). The base design references the longstanding architecture of the Valjoux 7750 and once the movements are delivered to Porsche Design, their manufacture team completes in-house quality control and confirms COSC performance for each movement. 

On wrist, the GP 2023 Edition is largely what I expected, a slightly different take on one of my favorite watches of 2022. Between us, I don't think they needed to change anything about the GP 2022 Edition, as it was a lovely iteration of an already hard-to-get watch (that being the "standard" 2022 Chronograph 1). They could have made more of the same and just slapped on a 2023 case back, but I'm thankful that they didn't as the GP 2023 Edition is nothing short of a treat.

The sizing is excellent with hooded lugs that articulate well on a variety of wrists and enough width to help the Chronograph 1 feel modern and well-proportioned. Legibility is excellent, the lume is solid, and the flat sapphire crystal ensures minimal glare. All of the touchpoints, be it the crown, the pushers, or the small buttons to disengage the quick-release system for the straps, all feel well made, easy to use, and absolutely befitting of a watch at its price point of just over $9k.

The quick-release system is a cut above almost anything I've tried at any price point. It's smooth, mechanically positive (so that you know when it's clicked in place), and doesn't require an insane amount of pressure or even a specially-shaped fingernail. The GP 2023 Edition comes with two straps, a black leather option and a longer two-piece white nylon strap that is meant to be worn over the sleeve of your winter jacket while you ski behind a vintage race car on a frozen runway in Austria. Seriously, it's called Skijoring – have you still not read Cole's story from last year's Ice Race?

On either strap, regardless of the edition, I love the way the Chronograph 1 wears. There is something so very pleasing and modern about the taper of the case into the strap or strap adapter, just as it is with the bracelet on other models. Sure, the nylon strap is a bit of a gimmick, but Ice Race is all about having fun with cars and I think the strap fits that vibe beautifully.

And though I'm not generally one for black straps, the included black leather from Porsche Design is slim, simple, and feels great on wrist while giving the GP 2023 Edition something of a more serious look and feel that is matched by its titanium double-folding clasp. While I'd add that I do wish they had offered a bare titanium bracelet to match, I've owned other watches with the same sort of case and lug design (think: Sinn 144) and found them to be fairly flexible when it comes to strap options. I think a nicely worn green canvas strap would look great with the 2023 Edition.

Limited to just 250 examples – a few of which will be available via the Hodinkee Shop – the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 GP 2023 Edition is currently on pre-order for $9,650, which is the same price as the current-spec Chronograph 1 "All Black Numbered Edition" and only a small increase over the ~$8,500 of the 2022 Edition, given the inclusion of a flyback chronograph movement and COSC certification.

All told, I like it, a lot. Yes, it's the kind of "a lot" that would be more meaningful if I could afford the watch in question, but I do plan to someday own a Porsche Design Chronograph 1. It's a great-looking, distinctive, and legitimately automotive-themed chronograph that doesn't mess with a proven design while still managing to excel on small details.

As a reference to Porsche Design's connection to Ferdi Porsche and the GP Ice Race, I like the watch all the more. Though I am gutted to say that I can't make Ice Race this year, I am happy to have had a chance to see the GP 2023 Edition in the metal. Next year, if I'm lucky, maybe I'll take the 2024 Edition out for some Skijoring.