Blog

Tools and smart accessories that help sports practicians and athletes assess and improve their performance precisely and accurately are on the rise.

But, of all smart tools, there is one that cannot be missing from any athlete’s kit: the chronograph watch.

What is a Chronograph Watch?

A chronograph or a chronograph watch is a specific type of watch that combines a stopwatch with a display watch and is often used in sports.

The term ‘chronograph’ is derived from the union of Greek words: ‘khrónos’, meaning ‘time,’ and ‘gráphō’, meaning ‘to write’. ‘Writing time’, therefore.

An action was performed by a type of clock invented by Nicolas Matthieu Rieussec in the 1820s, whose form and function were very different from those of today’s timepieces.

These are actually more appropriately descended from Louis Moinet’s ‘thirds counter’, which already featured the form known today, with its three small counters.

What Kind of Accessories Are They?

Chronographs are special time accessories; wearable, practical, and functional, these watches allow you to measure time with extreme precision and keep track of your results.

In addition, the coolest and most luxurious models, such as those by Longines with their classic and timeless lines, make it possible not to renounce elegance even when doing sport.

Moreover, these watches are distinctive and irreplaceable accessories for sporty and stylish men or women who can choose between wearing a chronograph in everyday life to keep track of performance and challenge their limits.

What Are the Characteristics of Chronograph Watches?

Although there are many different chronograph models, they all have some common features, namely:

• the classic watch case, with hour, minute, and seconds hands
• two or three miniature counters divided into 60, 30, and 12 units
• the crown
• two buttons positioned, one above and one below the crown

The counters serve to count the seconds (60 units), minutes (30 units), and hours (12 units) and in most models, they are positioned at 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, and 9 o’clock.

The activation and blocking of the timer, as well as resetting to zero, is done via the two side buttons.

Some chronographs have additional functions, such as Flyback, a function introduced in the 1930s to meet the requirements of aviators who needed to measure flight times quickly, accurately, and in a practical way.

After starting the timer, press the button to reset the hand to zero and release it to start a new time measurement.

Some models also feature a tachymeter scale and date display while pulsometric and telemetric scales and a split-second function are less common.