BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
When you think of the Porsche 911, you probably think of three things about it: the engine is mounted at the back, it has cool wheels and Jeremy Clarkson says that they all look the same. It’s that second point that’s of most interest today. As commonly known, the Fuchs wheel is likely the most recognisable wheel style ever. It was first designed by Ferdinand Porsche Jr and Otto Fuchs KG for the first generation of 911s which rolled off the production line in the early 1960s, and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017. Otto Fuchs KG doesn’t just make these wheels for Porsche, though. Their wheels have graced models such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class W116 and 190E, the BMW M3 E46 and M4 F82, the Audi R8 and the Rolls-Royce Phantom VII. That’s a lot of history, and ahead of the ADAC Deutschland Klassik 2023 motor rally, Union Glashütte is paying tribute to that by using the most famous Fuchs wheel of them all.
The catchily named Noramis Date L.E. Deutschland Klassik 2023 watch pays tribute to classical car design. It has a simplistic stainless steel case that measures 40mm x 10.4mm and has a water-resistance of 100m. Presented on a brown leather strap, this watch has elegance written all over it.
The dial is where it’s at, though, as the classic Fuchs wheel takes centre stage with the silver 5-spoke design standing above the glossy blackness of the dial. I like the silver wheel nuts that have been added as decoration. This watch is good proof that a watch’s dial doesn’t have to have a traditional finish, you can go mad and get great-looking results. The hands seem to stand out on the dial, which will be very useful when reading time at a glance, and SuperLumiNova on said hands will allow for night-time reading. The date window at 6 O’clock is presented correctly, i.e. it’s symmetrical, and the backdrop is colour matched to the dial, so I have no qualms with it.
Inside the watch is the self-winding calibre UNG-07.S1, which has a 3.5Hz beat rate and a power reserve of 60 hours. It also has a silicone hairspring to assist in resistance to magnetism, and the calibre itself is based on the ETA 2892 base.
Overall, this watch looks good, but I feel it’s one for the fans of classic Porsches only. I’m not sure the people who can afford to own and run those cars would have one of these, in the same way that it’s unlikely anyone who owns a Breitling for Bentley actually owns a Bentley from new. That was harsh. The Union Glashütte is nowhere near as gauche, although if they did a ‘spinner’ variant, it would be up there.
The price is €2680, and it’s limited to 200 examples only. The ADAC Deutschland Klassik 2023 motor rally will run from the 24th to the 27th of May.
