Combining functionality and style, a chronograph watch is perfect for those who love accessories with a bold edge. Explore the range at Michael Hill.
While a standard timepiece tells time, a chronograph watch also has a built-in stopwatch, which measures elapsed time.
A chronograph combines the functionality of a sports watch with the stylish craftsmanship of a dress watch, making them a favourite for those who enjoy the great outdoors, or who have a taste for luxury. Chronograph watches for men and women can effortlessly transition from work to the gym to your next event, coming in a range of styles, including gold, silver and rose gold watches.
These timepieces are equipped with two pushers on the side of the watch case to activate the stopwatch function, as well as two or three sub dials that display the elapsed time in hours, minutes and seconds. Many chronographs also have a tachymeter inscribed on the edge of the watch's face that allows you to convert time into speed.
When looking for the best chronograph watch, consider your personal taste and how it will fit in with your lifestyle, striking the right balance between the two.
As well as reading time, a stainless steel or black chronograph watch can be used just like a regular stopwatch, which is useful for runners and other athletes. Press the top pusher to start and stop timing and press the bottom pusher to reset the chronograph to zero. It can even be used as a makeshift timer or alarm.
Time measured on the stopwatch is separate from the regular watch. Some watches can count up to 30 minutes, while others can last for up to 12 hours.
The tachymeter can be used to measure speed and distance travelled from up to 60 seconds, allowing you to measure how long it takes to travel to your next destination.
Some chronographs also come equipped with water resistance and solar power capabilities, which is especially great for adventure seekers and those who often spend their time outdoors.
The second hand of a chronograph moves independently of its timekeeping capability, and can be started, stopped and reset like a regular stopwatch.
A men’s or women’s chronograph watch can come in the form of either an automatic or a quartz watch. It keeps time in much the same way as other watches, building up tension in the mainspring until it slowly releases in order for the gears to move.
This type of watch comes with additional systems and mechanisms to power both its timekeeping and stopwatch capabilities. This means that more moving parts are required for a chronograph compared to other watches, so both functions do not interfere with one another.
Chronograph watches are versatile and can offer the best of both worlds: The sleek, sophisticated feel of a luxury watch combined with the high performance and technical capabilities of a sports watch.
A Seiko chronograph watch is particularly iconic, dating back to 1964 with the release of their Crown chronograph. Known for their precision and reliability, a Seiko chronograph is sharp, durable and highly accurate, offering such features as water resistance and solar powered movement, with lasting power reserves.
