The beginning: first chronographs in the 18th century

The beginnings of the chronograph date back to the 18th century, when watchmakers began adding additional complications to conventional timepieces. As early as 1776, a significant development was made by watchmaker Jean Moïse Pouzait from Geneva, who designed a specially driven second hand. The second hand of this watch development had its own barrel. Although this second hand could be stopped, the hand could not be reset to zero. Furthermore, stopping this watch caused the entire movement to stop. If intermediate times had to be stopped, the period during which the watch was stopped had to be added to determine the time.

Milestones in the 19th century

Throughout the 19th century, various improvements and innovations were made to the chronograph. An important milestone occurred in 1831 by the Austrian watchmaker and employee of Breguet, Joseph Thaddäus Winnerl. The double-hand mechanism or rattrapante mechanism can be traced back to him. The principle of operation is based on two superimposed second hands. These can be stopped one after the other. The time interval to be measured can be calculated as a difference. For this purpose, the watch requires two independent, but coupled stop mechanisms. Because of this principle, the rattrapante chronograph is also known as a jumping second. An alternative name for the rattrapante is drag hand.

Another significant advance was the invention of the zero-setting chronograph by Adolphe Nicole. In 1844, he invented the so-called zero-setting heart, for which he applied for a patent in 1862. In 1862, it was also presented in the form of a fully functional pocket stopwatch. The zeroing heart can be understood as the pioneer of the flyback chronograph. This chronograph made it possible to reset the hand immediately after stopping, without stopping it first. This function was especially important for pilots and military personnel.

Blossoming in the 20th century

In the 20th century, the chronograph experienced a real heyday. In the 1930s, Breitling presented the first chronograph with a second pusher, its function made it possible to operate the start, stop and reset functions independently. This flyback technology is still used in most of these watches today.

In the 1960s, the chronograph conquered the world of motorsports. The famous Swiss watch manufacturer Heuer (now TAG Heuer) developed the legendary Autavia, which was a racing chronograph designed specifically for racing drivers. This watch was equipped with a tachymeter scale to measure speeds. With the typical design with two to three totalizers (subdials), the various Autavia models became a symbol of racing.

Automatic Chronographs

A major breakthrough was the development of the first automatic chronograph. This no longer had to be wound by hand; a rotor did the work while it was worn. The caliber 6139 was developed by the Japanese watch manufacturer Seiko in the late 1960s and launched on the market in 1969.

It was the first integrated chronograph movement with automatic winding. The function was first used in the Seiko Speedtimer, which reached market maturity shortly before the competition from Switzerland (Breitling, Heuer and Zenith).

Quartz and digital models

In recent decades, watches of all calibers have been increasingly equipped with modern technology. The introduction of quartz watches in the 1970s made it possible to measure time intervals precisely to the hundredth of a second. Later, stopwatches with electronic displays and digital readouts were also developed to enable even more precise measurements.

Nowadays, chronographs are available in many different designs, from classic mechanical models to high-tech watches and smartwatches. The latter are admittedly more precise and allow the measurement of the smallest intervals. However, time-honored mechanical chronograph types in particular still enjoy great popularity as exquisite pieces of jewelry. Subdials as an aesthetic feature characterize the look of many iconic chronograph models. True-to-the-original variants with rattrapante mechanisms can also be found, especially in the luxury segment.

Principle of operation: mechanisms of time measurement

A chronograph is, from the basic principle, a watch with additional functions that allow to measure time intervals. The principle of operation of the chronograph is based on a complex interaction of various mechanisms. These may differ depending on the type of watch (for example, manual winding, automatic or quartz chronograph), but they have in common the possibility of measuring time intervals. The chronograph should not be confused with the chronometer. The latter simply refers to a particularly precise mechanical watch. In most cases, the chronometer’s accuracy is certified (by the COSC in the case of Swiss movements). However, there are of course also chronograph calibers whose accuracy corresponds to that of a chronometer.

Chronograph function:

• On the one hand, the chronograph has a movement that displays the normal time. This movement drives the hour, minute and second hands and ensures that the time is displayed correctly.
• Moreover, the chronograph contains an additional hand: the stop second. Often, this is placed in the center of the dial. This hand as a function can be started, stopped and reset by a pusher. As a rule, this pusher is located on the side of the watch near the crown.
• An essential component of this type of movement is the clutch system. It consists of a clutch that connects or disconnects the additional stop-seconds hand to the movement. When the chronograph is not active, the clutch is disconnected, so the stop-seconds hand does not move and has no function.
• As soon as the pusher for the stop function is pressed, the clutch engages and connects the stop second hand to the movement. Now the hand starts to move and measures the elapsed time. Most often, a chronograph has subdials or totalizers, for example, to show measured minutes or hours.
• To end the stop function, the pusher is pressed again. The clutch disconnects the chronograph hand from the movement while the minute and hour hands continue to indicate the normal time. To reset the chronograph hand, a separate pusher is pressed. This resets the stop second hand and, if present, the minute hand and hour hand of the totalizers to zero.
• This basic operating principle applies to mechanical stopwatches. However, there are different variants and types of chronographs, including quartz models and modern digital watches based on electronic technology. However, the basic purpose of measuring time intervals remains.

Der Beitrag What is a chronograph? Function and history erschien zuerst auf Uhrinstinkt Magazine.

Timepieces with the name suffix “chronometer” enjoy a high reputation, although the exact meaning of the term is not clear to everyone. In today’s article, we clarify the question of what distinguishes chronometer watches and present the most popular models from renowned top brands in different price ranges. You will also learn how three of the most important certificates differ and by which manufacturers they are used.

Chronometer: Definition and main certificates

One of the most common mistakes among watch novices is the confusion between chronometers and chronographs. While the chronograph is a complication (additional function) that enables time stopping in addition to the regular time display, the chronometer describes a precision watch that has received a certificate of chronometer testing from a neutral official institution. To obtain the latter, fine-tuning (regulation) of the time indicator in various positions and at varying temperatures is required. The focus of chronometer testing is whether the time indicator meets specified precision standards. Simply put, chronometer watches are proven to be particularly precise watches.

Timepieces can be awarded their coveted status by various inspection bodies. The most famous is called COSC (Contrôle officiel suisse des chronomètres), is used by most manufacturers and essentially tests whether a movement (still unassembled) has a rate deviation that falls below -4 and +6 seconds daily. More stringent is the METAS chronometer test, which is conducted by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology and tests fully assembled watches under demanding conditions. METAS chronometer watches must not deviate from perfect time by more than -5/+5 seconds per day. METAS cooperates closely with Omega, but in theory can be freely used by all brands. In contrast, Rolex‘s “Superlative Chronometer” title is reserved only for the brand’s own luxury watches, is additionally carried out after the completion of a successful COSC test, and requires a maximum deviation of -2/+2 seconds.

METAS: Omega’s precision watches

Launched by Omega in 2015 with the ambition of improving the precision standards of the COSC, the METAS certificate is one of the most prestigious awards in the watch world. Successful “examinees” are allowed to call themselves Master Chronometer watches, which comes with a high status, especially due to the certification of at least 15,000 Gauss magnetic resistance. Interestingly, every METAS movement has already successfully passed a COSC test beforehand. The new generation Speedmaster Moonwatch, launched in 2021, is among the most prominent bearers of the title: equipped with the hand-wound caliber 3861, it offers 50 hours of power reserve and uses a silicon hairspring to ensure long-term accuracy at the highest level.

Automatic chronometers can also be found en masse in Omega’s variety of models – from the robust Seamaster collections to the elegant De Ville. However, some models, such as the popular Speedmaster 38, “only” have a regular COSC certificate. By 2023, Omega aims to change this and call all of its models Master Chronometer watches. Other brands have also recognized the potential of METAS testing – since 2021, for example, Tudor has been awarding its Black Bay with the strict certificate.

Breitling: Each watch has a COSC certificate

Breitling, on the other hand, places its full trust in the proven reliability of the COSC test, which was introduced in 1973, and has been launching all its models as chronometer watches for years without exception. Whether it’s the aviation icon Navitimer, diving legend Superocean or compact ladies’ models like the Chronomat 32 – no flying B makes it to the wrist without an officially certified precision test. That’s especially important for Breitling newcomers to know, because the manufacturer differentiates strongly in price between manufacture movements like the popular B01 and purchased movements based on ETA. The additional price of around 2,000 to 3,000 euros, which has to be paid for the manufacture movement in collections like the Superocean Heritage, is therefore not paid for noticeably higher accuracy, but for 70 hours of power reserve, the complex column wheel mechanism and other technical highlights.

Legendary classics such as the Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43, which already live up to the official distinction in the title and leave no doubt about their certified precision, enjoy the greatest popularity. Those who like it particularly imposing will make the right choice with the new Super Chronomat in the 44-millimeter format.

Rolex: Tighter in-house testing

Rolex’s automatic timekeepers are among the most rigorously tested watches in the industry. Since 2015, in parallel with the launch of the new generation of movements with a whopping 70-hour power reserve (see caliber 3255), the industry’s most famous luxury brand has been awarding the title of Superlative Chronometer to watches that have already successfully passed a COSC test and, after being encased, also pass its in-house testing, which requires extremely low rate deviations of no more than -2/+2 seconds. Power reserve, water resistance, automatic winding and other technical aspects must also meet the toughest requirements.

The prime example of certified horology is the current Submariner Ref. 124060 with caliber 3230, whose blue Parachrom hairspring is one of the central highlights of the modern generation of movements. The brand new Datejust Generation of 2022 (Ref. 126300) with the automatic chronometer caliber 3235 also demonstrates how the Geneva-based luxury brand lives up to its great name through technical excellence. The fact that the superlative timepieces are always accompanied by a COSC certificate creates double security for customers and the certainty that, despite high in-house standards, there is still an independent party involved.

Tag Heuer, Junghans and Co.: COSC as an upgrade

Breitling’s practice of differentiating in its product portfolio between chronometer watches and lower-priced alternatives without the certificate is widespread in the industry. Tag Heuer, for example, tends to ship its entry-level models without COSC testing, while higher-positioned editions have the official precision certificate. The automatic chronographs in the current Tag Heuer Carrera collection (e.g. Ref. CBN2A1A.FC6537) are among the most sought-after models in the brand’s portfolio, powered by the Heuer 02 manufacture movement and boasting a COSC certificate. The same goes for the Autavia Flyback, which performs the stopping, resetting and restarting of its chronograph function with a single push of a button. The entry-level Formula 1 collection also has a COSC certificate in its upscale versions, which can be awarded for quartz movements as well as for mechanical calibers.

The traditional German brand Junghans also gives buyers of its prominent Meister collection the choice between chronometer watches and regular timepieces. One of the most sought-after models among precision lovers is the Meister Ref. 027/4130.00, which combines silvered elegance in the dial with timeless shapes and an automatic movement including an exposed case back.

Der Beitrag The most popular chronometer watches erschien zuerst auf Uhrinstinkt Magazine.