24 best chronograph watches for looking fly – and every budget (2024)

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24 best chronograph watches for looking fly – and every budget (4)

Watches

By Thor Svaboe

    From a legendary new TAG Heuer Carrera Skipper and arguably Rolex's best Daytona yet to the latest Tissot PRX, GQ's expert edit of the best chronograph watches has something for everyone

    If you're a sports fiend with an interest in horology, chronograph watches are for you. They have long since escaped their sheer functionality (measuring elapsed time, in some cases, down to a thousandth of a second) to become style icons in their own right. You only have to look on the wrists of Dwayne Johnson, Bradley Cooper and Lewis Hamilton for proof.

    And here's why: more often than not, the arrangement of two or more often three counters on the dial create a visual harmony often missing from other "complicated" timepieces and add another layer of interest to the design. Granted, time-only "dress watches" have an allure all of their own, but if betting the farm on a beater that will herald your entry into the serious watch market while offering sufficient wrist appeal to attract the right kind of attention, then a chrono is the best way to go.

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    24 best chronograph watches for looking fly – and every budget (2024)

    FAQs

    24 best chronograph watches for looking fly – and every budget? ›

    Rolex Daytona 116506. The king of all chronographs ever is of course the Rolex Daytona, and the king of all Rolex Daytonas is the anniversary platinum addition with cheeky diamonds littering the dial.

    What watch brand is famous for chronographs? ›

    Rolex Daytona 116506. The king of all chronographs ever is of course the Rolex Daytona, and the king of all Rolex Daytonas is the anniversary platinum addition with cheeky diamonds littering the dial.

    What is flyback chronograph? ›

    A watch complication that allows the wearer to restart the timing without needing to first stop and reset it.

    What is the difference between flyback and regular chronograph? ›

    Instead of stopping and starting the chronograph repeatedly, the flyback allows them to reset and restart the timing process in a single motion, ensuring accurate calculations without delay. The intricate engineering behind the flyback function involves the coordination of various components within the watch mechanism.

    Can a chronograph be an everyday watch? ›

    You absolutely should have a chronograph watch in your rotation! They are stylish and functional with a look that says, “I am a watch enthusiast.” Chronographs work well for an everyday watch but can also hold their own in a formal setting— they look just at home with a t-shirt and jeans as they do with a suit and tie.

    Which watch does Elon Musk use? ›

    He is mainly spotted wearing an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra watch and a TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 1887 SpaceX Chronograph. Surprisingly he doesn't own all the fancy luxurious brands that every man of his caliber can own.

    What watch did Einstein use? ›

    Einstein was known to be a big Longines fan and collector. It is known that the physicist purchased at least two Longines watches for himself, at least one wrist watch and one pocket watch. There isn't much known about the wristwatch. The pocket watch is displayed in the Bern Historical Museum in Switzerland.

    Is Omega Speedmaster a flyback? ›

    Famous Flyback Chronographs and Their Stories

    In the world of luxury timepieces, certain flyback chronographs stand out, each carrying a legacy that transcends time. Among these is the revered Omega Speedmaster, a symbol of human achievement in space exploration.

    What is a rattrapante watch? ›

    Rattrapante chronographs, also referred to as split-seconds chronographs, are a type of chronograph with two seconds hands that allow for the ability to time multiple simultaneous events, such as runners during a race. It can also time a series of events, such as the laps a single person makes on a track.

    What makes a watch a flyback? ›

    The so-called flyback function allows an ongoing time measurement to be interrupted and a new one to be started instantaneously by merely pressing a button. It combines three steps – stop, reset to zero, and restart – into one.

    What are the disadvantages of a chronograph watch? ›

    The drawbacks include cost, poor aesthetics, and the fact that the vertical clutch can be difficult to service. If you're a traditionalist who will happily trade a bit of precision for the joy of watching your chronograph in action, the horizontal coupling system is for you.

    Why are chronographs so expensive? ›

    Why are chronograph watches expensive? Chronographs are generally more expensive than a standard watch for the very same reason a coffee machine is more expensive than a cafetiere: their inner-workings are far more complex, feature far more components, and are thus harder to manufacturer, assemble and test.

    Which is better chronometer or chronograph? ›

    While a chronograph refers to an added stopwatch feature, a watch that's a chronometer has passed stringent tests for accuracy. It is possible for a chronograph to also be considered a chronometer if it has passed the tests of high accuracy.

    How to choose a chronograph watch? ›

    DON'T choose a chronograph that is not waterproof if you plan to use it outdoors or running. DON'T expect to use a chronograph as an alarm clock. Most have no audible alarms. DON'T assume that every watch that looks like a chronograph has a chronograph.

    Is it bad to leave chronograph stopped? ›

    ' The simple answer to this question is that nothing will happen. Generally, with the rapid development in watch crafting, no harm will happen if an automatic watch is left on stop. If you leave it on the stop, the only thing that will happen is the power will get depleted.

    Is quartz or automatic better? ›

    However, quartz watches offer more reliable accuracy, because they are consistently accurate to within approximately half a second per day, while automatic watches can be off by a few seconds per day. Accuracy on an automatic watch will also be affected by a variety of factors.

    Which watch brand created the chronograph? ›

    As far as history knows, Longines was the first brand to create it and did so in 1913. Longines's Monopusher chronograph was accurate to 1/5th of a second. Two years later, in 1915, Breitling released its own chronograph that included the first dedicated pusher to start, stop, and reset the chronograph.

    Why are chronograph watches so popular? ›

    When it comes to watch complications, few are more ubiquitous than the chronograph. The feature, which incorporates a start and stop function to measure elapsed time, is a favorite among watchmakers, who are constantly revisiting it, adding aesthetic details and mechanical flourishes.

    What are the top 3 Swiss watchmakers? ›

    One of the oldest tropes in fine watchmaking is that there is – or was – a “big three,” of traditional Swiss fine watchmaking. These were the classic Swiss fine watchmaking brands: Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Audemars Piguet.

    Did Breitling invent the chronograph? ›

    Concomitantly to the Premier, Breitling builds up on his legitimacy in the chronograph development (Breitling patented the first independent chronograph pusher in 1915 and the first second independent pusher in 1934) and brings some more complications to the elegant Premier including a highly complicated split-second ...

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