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The Finest Chronograph Watches

Published : 04/18/2017 09:44:04

The chronograph watch is the most cherished complication by watchmaking lovers. Within this fascinating sector, the chronograph and multifunction are the most characteristic features of watches. Whether wristwatches, analog or digital watches.

Multifunction and chronograph are two completely different functions and it is important to know what makes them different. There is also a very common mistake that is confusing the term chronograph with stopwatch. We invite you to read this special article to clear all kind of doubts about chronos.

Let's start by explaining what a chronograph is.

What is a chronograph watch?

The chronograph can be defined as a function that graphically records time. We can find it in many wristwatches and it measures very accurately the time elapsed between a certain interval of time. For example, it is perfect to measure the time in a race.

Extremely accurate, chronograph watches measure and indicate until the last hundredth of a second. If time is money for you, a chronograph watch will be your best partner.

At the beginning, chronograph watches were prized mainly for their functionality. Today there is an increasingly aesthetic slope where users choose to buy watches with chronographs because of their designs and not only because the real utility they give.

The internal parts of an analog chronograph watch are:

1. Minute hand.

2. Case that measures minutes.

3. A needle that measures seconds.

4. Hours hand.

5. Case that measures the hour.

6. Case that indicates the seconds of the hour.

The external parts have three elements:

1. Push button

2. Crown

3. Push button

One of the buttons is used to set the time count to zero and proceed to measure it and serves both to start the time and to stop it. The other button is used when you want to measure various lenghts of time. This is useful, when you are in a race, for example, and we want to measure how long it has taken for the different runners.

Chronograph vs Stopwatch

The main difference between a chronograph and a stopwatch is the way in which they are classified according to different points of view.

The chronograph is defined mainly by how the meters are arranged (bi-compax or tri-compax) and the chronometer is defined according to whether it complies with legal parameters of the Government.

Then, what is a chronometer?

A chronometer is nothing more than a wristwatch that has a certificate that meets standards in terms of deviations. Previously it has been subjected to an exhaustive control where its precision has been verified and approved by the Swiss organization COSC (Control Ofifcial Swiss Crhonometers).

Among the tests to which watches with chronometers are subjected, we find position or temperature tests, evaluating their mechanism at the same time. This examines whether these watches meet the maximum allowable deviation values. Did you know that COSC certifies only one million watches per year? And we say "only" because this represents the 3% of Swiss Watches production.

Another peculiarity is that each stopwatch is exclusive and has its own "DNA". It has an identification number engraved on its movement and delivered by the COSC.

If we find a watch that has the chronometer function but does not have the certificate, then we can say that they are chronograph watches. That is, a stopwatch can be a chronograph watch but on the other way, a chronograph cannot be a stopwatch if it does not have the certificate of the COSC.

cronómetro certificado

In short, we can define all this saying that the chronograph is the function that measures an interval of time and the chronometer is a quality of the mechanism that is granted the COSC thanks to its high precision. If a watch does not have this certificate but time measurement is a chronograph watch.

What is multifunction?

The multifunction on a watch refers to the date. Showing it as a calendar, day of the week or the hour separately. A multifunction watch can have two or three cases depending on what it indicates. At first glance and just looking aesthetics it is easy to confuse a multifunction watch with a chronograph. But they measure very different values.

Types of Chronographs

Rattrapante Chronograph: It is the king of the jungle! The chronograph par excellence. And one of the most demanded of the moment. The main peculiarity of the rattrapante chronograph is the incorporation of a second counting needle of seconds. This needle (rattrapante needle) works with a separate button.

How does it work? When activating the mechanism the two needles start to move. When we press the button of the rattrapante needle it stops, and the other needle that measures the seconds continues working. The push-button is activated and the rattrapante needle makes an instant jump that reaches the other needle (the one that measures the seconds)

Conventional Chronograph: It is activated through two pushbuttons and counts both seconds and minutes or minutes and hours. One of the pushbuttons has the function to start and stop the time and the other of the pushbuttons is responsible for the reset.

Monopulating Chronograph: The watches with this type of chronograph are activated by a single pushbutton.

Flyback Chronograph: Counting automatically thanks to the incorporation of a pushbutton that allows it. It is not necessary to stop the chrono, zero it or restart it.

Foudroyante Chronograph: Here the needle performs jumps corresponding to the frequency of the movement thanks that a subsidiary dial is introduced in the case.

The Best Chronograph Watches at Geneve Company

We invite you to know our best chronograph watches. Like for example these conventional Oris and Tag Heuer Chronographs.

cronógrafos convencionales

This model on the left is Oris Artix GT Chrono and on the right Tag Heuer Carrera Calibre 16 Chronograph. Chronographs of the conventional type, elegant and with totally exclusive designs.

If you are looking for a monopulating chronograph then you are looking for the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Co Axial Master Chronometer 600M. And Flyback Chronograph, you can see this wonderful BREITLING PROFESSIONAL EXOSPACE B55 CONNECTED.

Thanks for your time. 

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