Modern watches do so much more than tell you the current time: they have stopwatches, calendars and many other practical features. A chronograph watch offers several methods of measuring time, and most people will want at least one of these watches in their collections. This chronograph watch buying guide defines the many functions available in chronograph watches, so you can make a more informed buying decision.
What defines a chronograph watch? Basically, it offers more than one way to measure time; however, there are many functions available in chronograph timepieces. Acquaint yourself with these different functions, also known as complications, and then search for the watch that matches your needs.
Chronograph watches are available in many designs, including luxury, casual and sport watches. These intricate timepieces are more prominent among men's watches, yet many women's watches also feature the chronograph design. The most easily identifiable of chronograph watches have three subdials set into the main dial. The subdials display the stopwatch and other extra functions.
This glossary defines the common chronograph features and many extra features that are found on the best chronograph watches.
Complication: The term "complication" refers to any watch function other than the basic timekeeping function, e.g. calendars, stopwatches, alarms and other extras.
24-hour time: Many watches have a subdial, scale or digital function for tracking time in the 24-hour format in addition to the 12-hour format. The 24-hour format is also known as military time.
Alarm: Watches can have daily, hourly and 12-hour alarms, and many multifunction watches have more than one alarm.
Altimeter: The altimeter complication determines altitude by measuring changes in barometric pressure. An altimeter is a common feature in a pilots' watch.
Analog chronograph: This chronograph watch displays both the time and stopwatch functions with analog hands on a dial. The center hand will indicate the stopwatch functions while the seconds display in a subdial. Quartz watches with analog chronograph function often display 1/10th seconds and 1/100th seconds in subdials.
Analog-digital chronograph: This watch style has an analog dial with hands and a separate digital display. The two displays usually operate independently of each other.
Aperture: A window set in a watch dial that displays a function, apertures most often display the calendar date, weekday or month.
Countdown timer: A countdown timer measures how much of a preset time period has passed. The yacht timer found on some watches will sound alarms during a countdown to a race start time.
Depth sensor: A function of some divers' watches that determines depth by measuring water pressure.
Digital: A dial that shows the time and other features in a LCD (liquid crystal display) or LED (light emitting diode) display. This feature is useful for displaying detailed information on a multifunction or chronograph watch.
Double chronograph: A double chronograph watch features two independent stopwatches. The stopwatch function can time two events simultaneously.
Dual time: This function allows the user to keep track of the time in two times zones at once. The display can have two dials: a subdial placed in the main dial or analog and digital displays on the same dial.
Elapsed time bezel: A register displayed on a rotating bezel that measures the distance covered over a specific period of time.
Flyback hand: This is the extra hand that, along with the second hand, performs the splits-second function of measuring intervals.
Hour recorder: The recorder measures and displays, in a subdial, up to a specific period of time. The most common recorders are 12-hour, 60-minute and 30-minute registers.
Lap timer: A lap timer measures the segments of a race; it can be stopped to show the time for each lap without losing track of the total race time.
Lap time memory: Some sport watches have the ability to store lap times that can later be recalled by the user. A lap time memory will be found in a quartz watch with digital display.
Moon phase: A complication that tracks the phases of the lunar month in a subdial. Some watches track the 24-hour day with a sun and moon subdial.
Perpetual calendar: The perpetual calendar automatically resets the day at the end of the month or year, including during leap years, to keep a timepiece's calendar accurate.
Pulsimeter: A function of advanced sport watches that measures the wearer's pulse rate.
Rattapante: This is the French term for splits-second chronograph function.
Register: Register is an alternative word for subdial.
Shock resistance: Shock resistance refers to the durability of the watch case and its ability to protect the movement and complications. To be considered shock resistant, a watch must be able to survive being dropped onto a wooden floor from a height of three feet or withstand an impact of equal strength.
Splits-second chronograph: This function allows two hands to measure specific amounts of time and the intervals. The hands move together, but one hand, called the flyback hand, can be stopped independently to note a point in time while the other hand continues to move. The flyback hand can then be started again and will "fly back" to catch up to the first hand. This function can be used as a lap timer.
Stopwatch: A timepiece or timing function that can be started and stopped instantly to measure an exact period of time, often to a fraction of a second. The stopwatch is usually displayed by a hand on the analog dial, but is also found in digital display watches.
Subdial: The small dials set in the main dial of a watch face are called subdials.
Tachymeter: A tachymeter measures the distance covered by a moving object. On a timepiece, the tachymeter has a scale set on the bezel or the dial that is used in conjunction with a stopwatch hand to calculate the measurement.
Is a chronometer similar to a chronograph?
No. A chronograph watch has multiple functions for measuring time, and a chronometer is a certification of accuracy. A chronometer timepiece has been tested for accuracy by a Swiss laboratory, the Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres [COSC]. Timepieces qualifying as chronometers are accurate to 5 seconds per day and include a COSC certification number.
What is the difference between a chronograph watch and a multifunction watch?
The chronograph watch is a timepiece that features more than one method of measuring time and includes a stopwatch function. Many watches feature multiple functions, but may not necessarily be chronograph watches; for example, a watch may have several alarms, but no timekeeping function beyond displaying the current time. On the other hand, many multifunction watches do combine chronograph functions with other features.
The whole watch
Saving time
Shop online! Well, of course an e-tailer will want you to shop online; however, there are many reasons online shopping for chronograph watches is a great idea:
