Porsche Design By IWC Sportivo Chronograph Titanium 3743

This watch needed a battery change and landed on my desk. 

It belongs to a "friend of a friend". Word must be getting out that I can handle stuff like this...

While a quartz chronograph from the early 1990s by Porsche Design may not sound like much, this “Sportivo Chronograph” is a very special watch. The owner will find out today when he reads the review. 😁

Why?

1) It derives from the first titanium wristwatch (the “Titan”) ever mass-produced (by IWC for Porsche Design).

2) It incorporates very distinctive “monobloc actuators” to operate the chronograph that were introduced with the “Titan” and that the brand continues to use to this day.

3) It is powered by the first Swiss mecha-quartz caliber ever made by none other than Jaeger-LeCoultre.

It comes in a 36 mm wide by 8 mm thick titanium case. It has a "lug-to-lug" length of 43 mm, but in practice it is 50 mm since the end links that crimp the rubber strap and connect it to the case do not fully articulate.

It has a tonneau shape beneath the bezels and the monobloc actuators sit flushly on the right hand side. The finish is sand blasted throughout.

The case back is threaded and is also made of titanium.

The watch features a flat sapphire crystal that sits ever so slightly above the top of the bezel. A black tachymeter scale with white printing acts as a retaining ring.

The highly contrasted dial features three sub-registers. Everything is white over a black background, except for the orange chronograph seconds hand. The date window is located at 4:30 p.m., nicely balanced by markings on the opposite side.

The luminescence continues to perform surprisingly well.

The integrated rubber strap is thin and tapered. The clasp is signed and it has an unusual single release button configuration.

It is equipped with caliber P1485, which is none other than the JLC 631. Introduced in 1987, it is a meca-quartz “hybrid” movement of surprising complexity: two step motors, 25 jewels and 233 components. When it hit the market, it was undoubtedly revolutionary, being highly capable and ultra thin.

The watch weighs 49g, so it's hardly noticeable on the wrist.

As you can see, it is a watch that has a lot to tell. Its history and idiosyncrasy possibly explain its high value. They can be had second hand from €1,500 and up.

Does anyone else need a battery change?

Link to full article. 

It's in Spanish but you'll find a translation tool at the top of the page.