Porsche – Eterna, Quartz prototype, 1995
Prototype category: mock up
Description: Symmetric, rectangular, nickel plated brass cased prototype with brushed surfaces. Stainless steel, brushed, curved case back fixed with six screws to the case. Outside and Inside of the case back unmarked. Black dial with white printed ‘Porsche Design’ at ’12’ just below a white printed triangular index. White printed, fine cross printed in the center, white printed baton indexes at ‘6’ and ‘9’, date window at ‘3’ with mock up black date disc. White hour and minute hands, red second hand. Acrylic crystal. Large crown with no logo. Original strap and signed steel buckle.
Dimensions: 28mm (without crown), lug width: 19mm
Movement: ETA 956.412
Additional info: After the acquisition of the watch brand Eterna in 1995 through Porsche, their watches were produced by Eterna until 2014. (1).
The Porsche Design studio released quite a large variety of models, all bearing the same sober but sporty aesthetics and the use of high tech materials to evoke the racing spirit of the car brand. However, all released watches have in common, that despite the play with different design elements, all watches have a round case, either with integrated bracelet or suited for leather straps.
If this mock up would have been worked on further and marketed, it would have represented a clear break with the typical round case shape used by the Porsche Design Studio and would thus have been the first rectangular or tank shaped watch within the Porsche Design portfolio ever.
The fact of using a quartz caliber is not new, the Porsche Design model line during the Eterna era, normally included also a few more affordable models. As mentioned, this piece is a mock up with a non functioning quartz caliber and its design was most probably rejected at this stage already.
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