Watch Test: Porsche Design P’6620 Dashboard


If you dream of one day owning a Porsche 911, you can fill your time until then with luxury articles from Austria-based Porsche Design, like this Porsche Design P’6620 Dashboard chronograph watch. Read our test of the watch with photos by OK-Photography.

Porsche Design watches are made by Eterna, the 150-year-old watch manufacturer based in Grenchen, Switzerland. The P’6620 Dashboard chronograph has a precisely engineered, 44-mm case made of PVD-coated titanium; a seamless, smooth-fitting link bracelet with an invisible clasp; a large, fluted crown and grooved pushers, and a finely decorated ETA 7753 movement with a specially shaped rotor inspired by the spokes of a Porsche wheel. The watch is striking and sporty yet understated. Its details are harmonious without being boring. The high edge of the dial and its almost vertical minutes track provide unusual depth, even though the watch as a whole is not very thick, only 14.5 mm. All of the type used on the dial, including the date and the tachymeter track, are in Porsche Design typography – a pleasure to look at, especially when compared with the mismatched typefaces from other manufacturers.

Porsche Design P'6620 Dashboard Chrono - CU dial
The case is in PVD-coated titanium; all the typography on the dial is in the same Porsche Design style.

The 7753 used in this watch is ETA’s “top” grade; it has a Glucydur balance and was thoroughly pre-adjusted by ETA. Although the movement is not certified by COSC, the rate results it achieved on our timing machine met COSC standards. The average gain was quite low: 4 seconds per day when the chronograph function was on and only 2.8 seconds per day when the function was off. The greatest deviation between the various positions remained within the range of acceptability (9 seconds). Very similar individual scores with the chronograph switched off and on show excellent workmanship on the gears and arbors. When the watch was worn, it showed a gain of only 1.5 seconds per day.

Porsche Design P'6620 Dashboard Chrono - back
The movement’s rotor resembles the spokes of Porsche wheel.

We found only two points to criticize about the P’6620. First, to change the date you must press a button on the left side of the case instead of turning the crown. This requires using a ballpoint pen or other pointy object – not a good idea with a coated case. Second, the dial is not perfectly legible. The ends of the central hands are too far away from their tracks and the chronograph counters have only one or two numerals each. And what about the price? Is it necessary for a chronograph with a mass-produced movement to cost $6,100? It may not be necessary, but it’s understandable when the quality is superior and the watch is from a desirable brand. The new Dashboard has both attributes, although it may never be a collectors’ piece. The simple, harmonious sports-watch design will continue to please any wearer, even after his own 911 is finally parked in the driveway.

Porsche Design P'6620 Dashboard - front-backPros
+ Harmonious, understated design
+ Nicely fluted crown and pushers
+ Finely decorated movement

Cons
– Time displays are not perfectly legible.
– Date cannot be changed using the crown.

SPECS:
Manufacturer: Eterna SA, Schützengasse 46, CH-2540 Grenchen, Switzerland
Reference: 6620.13.46.0269
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds; chronograph with 30-minute and 12-hour counter; date; hack mechanism
Movement: Automatic ETA 7753, “top” grade; 28,000 vph; 27 jewels; Etachron regulator; Incabloc shock absorption, 48-hour power reserve; diameter = 30 mm, height = 7.9 mm
Case: Bead-blasted titanium with PVD coating; curved sapphire crystal with double-sided nonreflective coating; fully threaded back with sapphire window; screw-down crown; water resistant to 100 meters
Strap and clasp: Bracelet and safety     folding clasp made of bead-blasted titanium with PVD coating
Rate results (Deviations in seconds per 24 hours, with chronograph switched off/on):
Dial up         +4/+2
Dial down         +7/+5
Crown up        +5/+4
Crown down        +1/+1
Crown left         -1/-2
Crown right         +8/+7
Greatest deviation of rate    9/9
Average deviation    +4/+2.8
Average amplitude:
Flat positions        296°/281°
Hanging positions        267°/251°
Dimensions: Diameter = 44 mm, height = 14.5 mm; weight = 168 grams
Variations: Rubber strap; titanium case; white dial and titanium bracelet or white rubber strap; rose-gold case and calfskin strap ($36,500)
Price: $6,100

SCORES:
Strap and clasp (max. 10 points):                 8
Operation (5):         4
Case (10):         8
Design (15):     12
Legibility (5):     3
Wearing comfort (10):     8
Movement (20):     13
Rate results (10):     7
Overall value (15):     12
TOTAL: 75 POINTS

This article first appeared in WatchTime’s October 2010 issue; it was posted on March 17, 2015 and has been updated.

 

Save

Save

Save

No Responses to “Watch Test: Porsche Design P’6620 Dashboard”

Show all responses
  1. Bill Bonnell

    I am currently looking at this watch. At a current price of $999 on eBay this should be a very good buy unless there is something else that has been uncovered and assuming that this is an Eterna prior to their split with Porsche Design.

    Reply
  2. Randy Rogers

    I am surprised as Eterna and Porsche had broken off their relationship last year pre-Baselworld, when Eterna was acquired by China Haidian and Porsche Design was going on their own. If this is incorrect, Eterna provides an interesting asset and historical continuity.

    Reply
  3. Jonathan W. Fink

    Hopefully, Eterna, under its new owners is, is going to develop an in house chronograph. For the present, however, this watch is just a plain bad value. We are able to buy Midos for half as much with better specs.

    Reply
  4. charilaos.kinezos

    good.watch.but.for.the.brand.and.the.movements….I think . to . expensive. With. $6.1000.i.prefer.to.by.lwc.or.zenith.thanks.charilsos

    Reply
  5. Neil Kirby

    It’s a smart design, as Porsche Design watches always are, but $6,100 is a ludicrous price for a so-so accurate chronograph, not that it will trouble people eho can afford a 911.

    Reply
Leave a Reply