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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Watch family · Complication

Chronograph Watches

Verified

Watches combining ordinary timekeeping with a separate, stoppable and resettable stopwatch function, operated by pushers and typically indicated by a sweep seconds hand and subdial counters.

How the mechanism works

The mechanism behind these watches — how it is built, how it developed and its variants — is explained on the Chronograph page and the related pages below. This page covers what is particular to the watches themselves: identification, terminology and collecting.

Movement & mechanism

  • Column-wheel or cam-lever mechanism controlling start, stop and reset functions
  • Pusher-actuated coupling clutch engaging the chronograph seconds wheel with the going train
  • Register/subdial counters for elapsed minutes and, in some calibres, hours

Identification

  • Two pushers flanking the crown (start/stop and reset)
  • Subdial(s) for elapsed minutes/hours in addition to the running seconds
  • Tachymeter or telemeter scale sometimes printed on the dial or bezel

Terminology

  • Column wheel — a stepped wheel sequencing the chronograph's start/stop/reset functions
  • Cam-lever (shuttle) — a simpler alternative chronograph control mechanism
  • Flyback — a chronograph that can be reset and restarted instantly with one pusher action

Known variations

  • Monopusher chronograph
  • Two-pusher chronograph
  • Flyback chronograph
  • Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronograph

Pocket-watch ancestry

The chronograph complication was developed and refined in pocket watches from the early-to-mid nineteenth century before being scaled down for the wrist; early wrist chronographs were frequently converted or newly cased pocket-chronograph movements.

Collecting notes

One of the most actively collected complications; column-wheel movements and early vintage chronograph references are especially sought after.

Photographs

Large Silver Swiss Centre Seconds Chronograph – 1894
Large Silver Swiss Centre Seconds Chronograph – 1894 — WatchMuseum.org, © WatchMuseum.org, used with permission. WatchMuseum.org catalogue record
Large Silver Swiss Centre Seconds Chronograph – 1894
Large Silver Swiss Centre Seconds Chronograph – 1894 — WatchMuseum.org, © WatchMuseum.org, used with permission. WatchMuseum.org catalogue record
Large Silver Swiss Centre Seconds Chronograph – 1894
Large Silver Swiss Centre Seconds Chronograph – 1894 — WatchMuseum.org, © WatchMuseum.org, used with permission. WatchMuseum.org catalogue record
Agassiz Chronograph 14K Yellow Gold Pocket Watch – 20th Century
Agassiz Chronograph 14K Yellow Gold Pocket Watch – 20th Century — WatchMuseum.org, © WatchMuseum.org, used with permission. WatchMuseum.org catalogue record
Detailed view on chronograph pushers and crown of wristwatch Rolex Daytona (cropped)
Detailed view on chronograph pushers and crown of wristwatch Rolex Daytona (cropped) — Alesili, CC BY-SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons file page
Crown and chronograph pushers of a Montblanc Timewalker wristwatch V2
Crown and chronograph pushers of a Montblanc Timewalker wristwatch V2 — Pittigrilli, CC BY 4.0. Wikimedia Commons file page
Understanding The Mechanical Chronograph - A Watchmaker Explains
Understanding The Mechanical Chronograph - A Watchmaker Explains — fratellowatches.com, Rights unverified — web image search result, review pending. Web page (fratellowatches.com)

Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.

Sources & references

  1. Daniels, G., Watchmaking

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.