What is a Chronograph Watch?
A chronograph is a timepiece or a watch with multiple functions; namely, timekeeping and stopwatch functions.

History of the Chronograph Watches
‘Chronos’ and ‘graph’ refers to ‘time’ and ‘writing’ in Greek. A chronograph is a time-measuring device which contains a mechanism that permits to stop at least one hand to expedite the reading of the elapsed time.

The chronograph was invented by Rieussec, a Frenchman in 1821. In fact, the only timepiece that was named Chronograph was this. It was written on the dial attached to the index. The dial may function as a stopwatch. A patent was given to him in 1822.

In the 1910s, the chronograph, also known as the stopwatch, was proposed as a wrist watch. As time passes, the popularity or these watches increased. In the early 1990s, the Swatch watch company started the production of affordable and fashionable chronographs and it was well sought after by consumers. In the recent years, almost every respectable watch company has a chronograph in its collection.

Real Chronograph
Chronographs are watches that can measure time in various ways. They can be used for one or more specific time measurements besides using it for day-to-day time keeping. To allow this, the dial has several sub dials with a scale, from which the measurements can be read. A central second hand can be started and stopped, without interfering with the continuous time.

More complicated chronograph watches have a sub register for total number of hours, often located at 6 o’clock location on the dial. This will allow it to take measurements up to 12 hours. Chronograph watches have a relatively complicated movement and this applies to even the simpler chronograph watches.

The Sporting Image
Stopwatches were used mainly by sportsmen and the military in the past. Because of their profession, they had to be able to measure the time of various events precisely. Therefore, using a chronograph was a practical choice.

In a sports event, the difference between Gold and Silver award winner is very often a matter of hundredths of a second. Mechanical watches are unable to measure this, so quartz chronographs are used.

To racing enthusiasts, a stopwatch with tachometer is very useful. A tachometer will automatically indicate the speed in kilometers per hour.

Divers have their own time piece as well. Their basic requirement is that the case is waterproof. That is why a diver’s chronograph has round pushers, a screw on crown, and a screw back case which is provided with rubber gasket-rings to keep water out. At a depth of 30 meters there is hardly any daylight penetrating, so luminescent numerals and hands on a dark dial are necessary.

The most important feature of any diver’s watch is the diving ring. This is a rotating bezel around the dial or the crystal. It is divided in minutes and often has a triangular fluorescent marking at 12. Before divers take to the water, they have calculated the time they can spend under water.

Fashion
In the present, wearing a chronograph is a matter of taste, rather than profession. The chronograph is becoming a fashion statement. However, they are also used in daily life situations like making a cup of instant noodles, which requires a rather accurate timing otherwise noodles will turn out either too turgid or too flaccid. The biggest appeal of the chronograph is probably the exciting and sportive image, as it is the watch for astronauts, car racers and pilots. These professions are known to be more adventurous.

Besides those who chose functionality or image, there is a small group of enthusiasts (collectors) that considers the movement to be the most beautiful part of the watch. You will know more about this if you have seen a chronograph watch opened.

As a rule, a chronograph is more expensive than a normal or automatic watch, due to the complexity and craftsmanship necessary for manufacturing.

Talking about Chronograph watches, have you checked out Primo Chronograph Collection yet? Here’s a preview:

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