
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Porsche Design Early Orfina Kilometer Bezel - Box and Tag (Ref. 7176s), 1970s
- Maker / attribution
- Porsche Design (maker)
- Date
- 1970s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 40 mm
- Stock no.
- Product 8304486023351
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Huntington Company (product 8304486023351)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1970s Porsche Design Early Orfina Kilometer Bezel - Box and Tag (Ref. 7176s) (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Huntington Company (dealer) (stock number Product 8304486023351), this is a wristwatch by Porsche Design, dated 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 40 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Huntington Company
History & Significance This early Orfina Porsche Design chronograph sits at the beginning of the design lineage Ferdinand Alexander Porsche established in the mid 1970s. The ref. 7176s is one of the earliest executions of Porsche Design’s partnership with Orfina, defined by its matte black PVD case finish, integrated automotive-inspired design, and Lemania 5100 movement. These watches were known for their utilitarian appearance and were worn extensively, which is why surviving examples with intact PVD and good dial condition are noticeably harder to come by today. The kilometer inner bezel is correct to these early variants and provides a clearer look at how Porsche Design positioned this watch for European markets. The simplicity of the layout, combined with the early PVD finishing and tritium lume, gives this reference an unmistakable vintage tool-watch presence. This watch was also recently serviced by Superior Watch, an authorized Porsche Design service center, and the PVD finish was restored as part of the work. Finding an example with both early details and service is notably difficult, especially as many were heavily worn over the years. Writer’s Thoughts Early Orfina 7176s models have a unique presence that is slightly different from later examples. The original typography and crown are the two major differences. The service history adds further confidence, making it a strong choice for anyone seeking a ready-to-wear vintage Porsche Design chronograph. Our Promise Every watch is thoroughly vetted, carefully described with complete transparency, and guaranteed authentic. Each piece is offered in honest condition, ensuring collectors receive a timepiece that reflects both originality and integrity. Specifications Brand: Orfina Model: Porsche Design ref. 7176s Year: circa 1970s Case Material: Black PVD-coated stainless steel Case Size: 40mm Bezel: Fixed inner bezel with kilometer tachymeter scale Dial: Black dial with tritium markers Crystal: Mineral Movement: Lemania 5100 automatic chronograph Strap/Bracelet: Original black PVD bracelet Buckle/Clasp: Folding clasp signed PD Contents: Watch only Condition Case: PVD finish in excellent condition with crisp edges Bezel: Clean inner kilometer scale with minimal wear Crystal: No major nicks or chips Dial: Early printing matte dial in excellent condition with original tritium Hands: Original handset with matching tritium tone Strap: Original PVD bracelet with light wear Buckle/Clasp: Signed clasp in clean condition
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Wristwatches
Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.
After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.
What to look for
- The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
- The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
- Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
- Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
- Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
- Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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