Chronograph Watches

Chronograph watches are watches fitted with chronograph movements. A chronograph is the technical term for a stop-watch. i.e. The wearer can measure a passage of time by starting and stopping the movement. The chronograph function is independent from the general timekeeping function. Chronograph watches usually have quartz movements, although they sometimes have automatic movements.

Chronograph watches have become very popular indeed in the 21st century, and are quite often purchased for their looks rather than functionality. They are multifunction timepieces for people who like functional gadgetry. These watches keep time accurately and function as a stop watch as well. Most watch manufacturers offer several forms of chronograph watches.

The dial of a chronograph watch has three small dials on the watch face. These dials show time divisions in: Fractions of seconds, seconds and elapsed minutes. The sweep second hand on the main dial face functions as a stopwatch and, on some chronographs, as a tachymeter measuring speed over a measured mile. .

There are either two or three pushbuttons around the watch case, in addition to the watch stem. These buttons are to start and stop the stopwatch or tachymeter function, reset these functions and to record a second timing function. The watch stem itself has two pullout positions; one click and you are able to recalibrate the stopwatch and tachymeter dials, the second click to reset the time on the main dial. .

Chronograph watches may be used at athletic events to time runners or accurately measure time periods in a game. The tachymeter function may be used to correctly calibrate the speedometer and odometer on an automobile, or time race cars on a course with a known distance. Yachtsmen use chronographs to time their sailing vessels on a course while practicing the best sail configurations and sailing reach for maximum speed. Some more elaborate chronographs are used by aircraft pilots for numerous navigational calculations. .

As well as their obvious functionality, chronograph watches look great. The dials are large with easy-to-read hands. Some watch designers have created multi-colored faces with the small dials being of a contrasting color to the main watch face. Chronograph watches come in both men’s and women’s styles, and at Watch Shop UK, we are proud to be the stockist of many chronograph watch brands.