Learn about the functionality and history of chronograph watches, from racing-inspired Rolex Daytona to the iconic Omega Speedmaster, available on Bezel.
Complications transform traditional wristwatches from boring timekeepers to versatile tools with multiple functions. The Chronograph is one of such popular complications with practical real-world uses. The chronograph complication adds a stopwatch function to your timepiece. In addition to displaying the regular 12-hour time, a Chronograph wristwatch can measure specific time intervals.
This function has several real-world applications, from doctors using it to measure patient heartbeats to a pastry chef timing how long the dough has been in the oven. The most common use of the Chronograph is in the world of sports, where the timepiece is used by athletes and their coaches to time their laps.
Renowned chronograph Louis Moinet is often credited as the inventor of the Chronograph. He invented this function in 1816, specifically for tracking astronomical movement. In 1821, King Louis XVIII commissioned French watchmaker Nicolas Mathieu Rieussec to build a chronograph that could be used to time horse races.
Early chronographs had a small pen attached to the index hands, which marked the dial as it moved. The length of the pen mark would then indicate the elapsed time. This explains the origin of the word chronograph, which translates as “time writer”.
Although chronographs have been around since the early 1800s, it wasn’t until the 2nd half of the 19th century and early 1900s that this technology was perfected and sold commercially. Patek Philippe released the first chronograph watch in 1856, laying the foundation for this famous complication. In the 1930s, Breitling introduced the classic three-pusher chronograph style. This innovation marked the birth of the modern chronograph as it is known today.
In its early days, the chronograph was closely linked to the world of aviation as it made it easier for pilots to make precise speed and distance computations while flying. In a way, the rise in popularity of this watch complication can be linked to the growth of the aviation industry in the 20th century.
The Chronograph is a complex mechanism that runs on gears and springs built into the watch movement. When the chronograph function is engaged in a timepiece, the central second's hand moves to measure elapsed times. Modern chronograph watches also include minute and hour counters and the primary seconds functionality, making them comprehensive timing tools.
Chronograph watches usually feature subsidiary dials or subdials. This is a smaller dial contained within the main dial of the watch. On a chronograph timepiece, these additional dials show different elapsed times measured by the timepiece.
Based on the number of subdials on the watch face, Chronograph watches can be bi-compax (two subdials) or tri-compax (three dials). A bi-compact timepiece has two subdials. This includes a standard seconds counter and a minute totaliser. In most watches, the seconds counter constantly runs while the minute totaliser one works when the chronograph function is engaged.
A tri-compax watch has an additional dial to measure the elapsed hours. Based on this structure, a bi-compax chronograph watch can only record an hour, while a tri-compact model can time events for up to 12 hours.
The chronograph function of a timepiece is controlled by the pushers on the side of the case. Most chronograph watches have two pushers to control the chronograph function, but some have just one. These are known as monopushers.
In chronograph watches with two pushers, the top button initiates the chronograph function. Pressing this button a second time will stop the timer so you can measure the elapsed time. The bottom pusher is used to reset the hands to return to their original position.
Today, chronographs are mostly used by athletes to time races. But in the 18th and 19th centuries, these watches were popular with aviators for precise time and distance computations. This demonstrates just how versatile the chronograph function is and how much its use has evolved over the years. Their utility depends on the wearer’s needs and imagination. Here are some common ways a chronograph can be used in various fields.
Arguably, the biggest application of a stopwatch functionality today is in the world of athletics, where this watch measures the time athletes spend on sprints, long-distance races and other track events. Swimmers can also use chronograph watches to time lap times and overall race times. This timepiece complication is helpful for any sporting event that measures the athlete's performance in elapsed time, such as cycling and motorsports.
Although they’re less popular, Chronographs are still very useful in aviation. They are worn by pilots who use them to calculate flight times, time-critical maneuvers, or measure distance and engine performance. Chronographs can also track aircraft position, takeoff and landing times.
Researchers do a lot of experiments that must be timed accurately. A chronograph watch can be useful for such laboratory work to measure the rate of reactions and determine reaction kinetics. In physics and Astronomy, this watch complication can also be useful for timing the transits of stars, eclipses, and other celestial phenomena.
In medicine, a chronograph timepiece can be used to time and measure physiological events such as patient heart rates, drug reaction times, etc. Surgeons and other medical professionals can also use a chronograph to precisely time specific procedures or surgical steps.
Beyond the specialized applications of the chronograph function, it is also useful for everyday life. There are several events an individual might want to spend time on throughout the day, such as workout times, cooking times, measuring rest periods, and so on. A chronograph watch can be helpful in these and other personal activities.
Chronograph watches have varying mechanics of operations. While the basic idea of a chronograph timepiece is to time events, how this process works varies for different timepieces. Here’s an overview of the three main types of chronographs and how they work.
The simple or standard chronograph is the most common type of chronograph. It typically has two buttons (except for mono-pusher models with one button. These buttons straddle the crown, usually at the two and four o’clock positions.
The top button starts the chronograph function, with the sweep second hand tracking the elapsed seconds while the two subdials track the minutes and hours. Pressing this button the second time will pause the chronograph counter.
You can press this top button the third time to make the timer continue from the same position or push the lower button to reset the chronograph counter back to the starting position. Although it is the simplest chronograph mechanism, the standard chronograph is quite common in the watch market. Some of the most famous chronograph timepieces, like the Rolex Daytona and Omega Speedmaster, are simple chronographs.
The mono-pusher chronograph is a variant of the simple chronograph. In this case, the start, pause and reset functions are controlled by a single button (or the crown itself in some models). While this gives the case a cleaner appearance, the chronograph function is diminished. Once the button is pushed the second time to pause the counter, it cannot be continued again because the third push resets it back to zero.
The flyback chronograph is just like the standard chronograph, with two buttons to control the chronograph function. However, this type of chronograph is designed to be particularly useful for timing multiple laps.
With the flyback chronograph, the top button performs the regular function of starting and stopping the chronograph timer while the bottom pusher resets it back to zero. However, a flyback chronograph lets you reset it without pausing it first.
If the lower pusher is pressed while the chronograph is in action, the second hand will fly back to zero immediately and restart. This eliminates the extra step of pausing the chronograph before restarting it, which is the case with the standard clock. This complication is useful for measuring multiple laps of a race or any other event that happens in laps.
The Rattrapante, or split-second chronograph, is an even more advanced mechanism. Only the extremely rare triple-split mechanism is more complex (and expensive) than the split-second chronograph.
In addition to the two standard chronograph buttons, the split-second chronograph has an extra button on the other side of the case (usually in the 10 o’clock position). This third button controls the split-second function. The watch also has an extra chronograph seconds hand, hidden under the main one. This hand is only visible when the split-second button is engaged.
After pushing the top pusher to start the chronograph timer, you can press the split-second button to stop the main chronograph hand from moving while the second hand continues to move. This way, you can time events simultaneously when one ends before the other (like one athlete crossing the finishing line before the other).
A fourth type of chronograph is the triple split chronograph. Introduced in 2018, this watch can record split time for its seconds, minutes and hours counter, making it the most advanced chronograph function ever. However, considering the limited practical use of this function, the triple split isn’t quite popular in the horological world despite its technical superiority.
These are two words that people commonly mix up when they talk about chronograph timepieces. While they sound similar, Chronograph and Chronometer are entirely different words with unique meanings.
A chronograph is a timepiece with a chronograph complication. On the other hand, a chronometer refers to any watch that has passed a series of tests and has been certified as highly precise. Generally, chronometer watches have an accuracy of about -4 to +6 seconds per day.
A chronograph watch that has passed the Chronometer test can be called a Chronometer timepiece. However, several other watches can be chronometer-certified without this complication (or any complication at all). Watches passing this test often have the word “Chronometer” printed on their dial.
Chronographs are a collector’s favorite. This is partly due to their impressive inner workings, elegant aesthetic presentation, and real-world applications. It’s a complication almost every watchmaker aspires to make and perfect as part of their standard collection. Here’s an overview of some of the most famous chronograph watches in the market.
The Rolex Daytona was created in 1963 and dedicated to the world of motorsports. Rolex named this timepiece after the famous motorsport racetrack in Daytona Beach, Florida. Despite its rough early years, the Daytona would later become one of the best-selling Rolex watch models and arguably the most famous chronograph timepiece.
A celebrity favorite, the Daytona has been worn by celebrities and has earned several cool nicknames, including Paul Newman, Jean Claude Killy and John Player Special Daytona. Some unique limited edition versions of this watch have fetched six-figure prices at auction.
The Omega Speedmaster Professional was originally designed as a chronograph timepiece for timing motorsports. However, the model’s biggest claim to fame was that it was worn by the first astronauts to step on the moon. This is why it is commonly referred to as the moon watch.
Although the vintage models of the Omega Speedmaster are cherished by collectors due to their timeless design and connection to space exploration, Omega has continued to release new updated versions of the Speedmaster yearly. Many of these are limited edition models with a few hundred or thousand pieces.
The TAG Heuer Carrera is an iconic Tag Heuer timepiece released in 1963 when the company was simply known as “Heuer. It was designed by Jack Heuer and named after the famous Carrera Panamericana motorsports rally, which started in 1950 but was cancelled in 1955 before it was revived in 1988. The Tag Heuer company became an official partner and sponsor of the Carrera Panamericana rally in 1991. Jack Heuer’s famous Carrera chronograph has evolved into a comprehensive collection with a wide range of classic and modern models.
The aptly named El Primero was Zenith’s first automatic chronograph timepiece introduced into the market in 1969. It is also one of the earliest automatic Chronographs ever made and is considered one of the best in the world, renowned for its precision. Many of the best chronograph watches launched since 1969 are powered by the El Primero movement, although not all are Zenith watches.
The reference A386 Zenith El Primero, featuring a steel case, silver-plated dial and multi-coloured subdials, is the best-selling watch in this collection. The watch was made famous by the iconic design of its dial and subdials.
As the creator of the first chronograph timepiece with two pushers, Breitling is considered one of the pioneers of the modern chronograph movement. One of the brand’s most successful chronograph watches is the Breitling Navitimer, which was introduced in 1952.
It is a pilot’s watch and a valuable navigation tool equipped with a slide rule bezel that could perform some of the mathematical calculations performed by an aircraft’s onboard computer. In addition to timing flights and determining speeds, the Breitling Navitimer could also be used to determine fuel consumption, climb, and descent rates. Breitling has released several variations of this chronograph timepiece, including models named after Pan Am, TWA, and Swissair, three of the most popular airlines from the golden age of aviation.
Thanks to their complexity, rich heritage and inherently high demands, chronograph watches are among the most sought-after in the watch collection world. Some of the most iconic models have extremely long waitlists in the retail market.
Fortunately, you can find chronograph watches for sale in the preowned market with Bezel. With our online marketplace, you can find simple split-seconds and flyback chronographs from some of the top manufacturers in the industry. The luxury watches on our site are available in various styles to suit your preferences.
Every watch you buy on Bezel has been authenticated using our multi-step in-house authentication process, ensuring you get original and authentic models. Visit our website or download the Bezel App to find the perfect chronograph watch for you.
What’s more? If your desired timepiece is unavailable on our website, you can use our concierge services to source the specific model you have always wanted.
Bezel is available to download on the App Store now. Please reach out to our concierge team if there is anything we can help you with!
©2024 Bezel Inc.
All rights reserved.