
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Porsche Design Early Orfina Kilometer Bezel (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 8304485302455
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Huntington Company (product 8304485302455)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1970s Porsche Design Early Orfina Kilometer Bezel (Ref. 7176s) (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Huntington Company (dealer) (stock number Product 8304485302455), 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. Writer’s Thoughts These early Orfina PVD chronographs always feel more purposeful than later versions. The matte finish, the early-style dial text, and the kilometer scale come together in a way that feels true to Porsche Design’s original idea of a functional driving instrument. It wears exceptionally well at 40mm and has the low, compact profile that defines vintage Lemania cases. 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 shows even wear consistent with age while retaining good coverage and definition. Dial: Clean original dial with intact tritium markers and clear printing. Hands: Original handset with matching tritium tone. Crystal: Light wear appropriate for age. Bracelet: Original PVD bracelet with surface wear and minor loss typical for the period. Buckle/Clasp: The Folding clasp is secure.
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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