Chronograph
A chronograph is a stopwatch complication that times an elapsed interval without disturbing normal timekeeping. Side pushers start, stop and reset the counter, with the seconds usually supported by minute and hour sub-dials. It comes in both quartz and mechanical versions.
At a glance
- Complication type
- Elapsed-time stopwatch, runs independently of normal timekeeping
- Controls
- Side pushers: start, stop, reset
- Found in
- Both quartz and mechanical calibres
A chronograph is a self-contained stopwatch built into a watch. The main time display carries on as usual while you trigger a separate mechanism to time an interval to the second, then reset it and start again.
How you operate it
You run it with two pushers on the side of the case. The top pusher starts and stops, and the bottom pusher returns the counter to zero. The elapsed time is usually split across up to three readouts:
- Central chronograph seconds: the large hand that sweeps the dial
- Minute counter: minutes accumulating on a small sub-dial
- Hour counter: a further sub-dial for longer measurements
The complication exists in both quartz and mechanical calibres. A mechanical chronograph sits among the more advanced members of the mechanical watch family, since it adds a genuine layer of complexity.
Reading speed with a tachymeter
Many chronographs pair with a tachymeter scale printed around the bezel. Run the chronograph over a fixed distance and stop it, and the value the seconds hand points to gives you the average speed. Among travel-minded complications, the chronograph is one of the most practical to actually use.
For affordable quartz chronograph examples, see our guide to the best Japanese watches.
Examples
The Seiko Chronograph (SSB427P1) shows a typical quartz chronograph layout: elapsed-time counters and sub-dials driven by the side pushers.
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Comparison
The names sound alike, which is why these two are often confused, yet they describe completely different things.
| Option A | Option B | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chronograph | Chronometer | A chronograph is a complication that times an elapsed interval; a chronometer is a certification that a watch meets an accuracy standard. A watch can be both, but one does not imply the other. |
Related terms
Watches that show this
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a chronograph and a chronometer?
A chronograph is a stopwatch complication that times an elapsed interval, started and stopped with pushers. A chronometer is a certification that a watch meets a defined accuracy standard. A watch can be both a chronograph and a certified chronometer.
How do you use a chronograph?
Press the top pusher on the side of the case to start the timing, then press it again to stop. The elapsed time reads on the seconds hand and usually on minute and hour sub-dials. Pressing the bottom pusher returns the counters to zero, while normal timekeeping is unaffected.
What is the tachymeter scale for?
The tachymeter is a scale, usually printed around the bezel, that works with the chronograph to measure speed. Run the chronograph over a known fixed distance and stop it, and the value the seconds hand points to gives you the average speed.