Jun 6, 2015
Reading time 7 min.
Watch Insider's Top 10 Chronograph Watches: Are These The Best Chronographs?
For lovers of chronographs, read our WatchTime contributor's list of his personal choices - from brands like Breitling, Chopard, Jaeger LeCoultre, Patek Philippe and others - for the top chrono watches.
Top chronograph watches remain incredibly popular, even if most of us don't even use their signature chronograph watch functions. I am no exception; along with GMT/UTC functions, chronographs are one of my favorite complications. For all chronograph fans like myself, I have compiled a top 10 list (actually it has now become a top 20+) of my personal best chronographs and best chronograph watches here and on my blog, Watch-Insider.com. All watches are relatively new, either from 2013 or 2014; I have added 2015 watches already and will do so again soon as the list will be updated throughout the year. The top 20 chronograph watches are listed in alphabetical order and prices aren't taken into account. While these are my personal choices for the top chrono watches at the moment, there are certainly other interesting chronographs worth mentioning. Please feel free to comment with your own choices for best chronographs and top chronograph watches. Also, some of the chronograph models shown here are available with other dials and/or bracelets and straps.
Breitling Chronomat GMT Black Steel: a limited edition of 1,000 pieces with an all-black design. Very cool! The 4-mm Chronomat is equipped with the in-house chronograph caliber B04, which also powers a second-time-zone indication.
Breitling Chronomat GMT
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Cartier Calibre de Cartier Chronographe: With its in-house caliber 1904-CH MC, this 42-mm chrono really deserves a place on the wrists of watch aficionados. In the past, many of them complained that Cartier did not offer any in-house movements, let alone in a chronograph watch. Gentlemen, things have changed!
Cartier Montre Calibre de Cartier
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Chopard Superfast Chrono: The 45-mm Superfast chronograph is equipped with the new in-house caliber 03.05-M, created at Fleurier Ébauches. This new manufacture, owned by Chopard, now produces less expensive chronograph calibers than its other facility, L.U.C. Step by step, calibers from Fleurier Ébauches will replace the ETA calibers Chopard is currently using. For more on the Superfast collection, click here.
Chopard Superfast Chrono
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Hublot Big Bang Unico Titanium Ceramic: The evolution of the Big Bang, with a slightly modified case and new “sexier” round push-buttons. The 45-mm titanium chronograph case contains the in-house caliber HUB 1242 Unico. A less expensive steel version will follow. Certainly a nice chronograph watch.
Hublot Big Bang Unico
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IWC Ingenieur Double Chronograph Titanium: With its split-seconds function, this 45-mm Ingenieur reflects the technical spirit of the collection. The 79420 caliber is based on the Valjoux 7750, years ago, IWC (specifically, Austrian movement developer Richard Habring, who worked there at the time) added the split-seconds mechanism to it and transformed the chronograph caliber more or less to an in-house caliber.
IWC Ingenieur Double Chronograph
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Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Chronograph Cermet: This is a very good-looking, 44 mm chronograph powered by Jaeger-LeCoultre's manufacture Caliber 758. The very light aluminum case is protected with an ultra-thin "Cermet" ceramic bezel.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Chronograph
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Longines HydroConquest Chronograph: Possibly the best price ever offered for such impeccable quality. Longines Caliber L688 is a modified version of the Valjoux 7753, equipped with a column wheel and exclusively reserved for Longines. Together with the all over quality of the 41-mm case and bracelet, it makes for a great deal.
Longines HydroConquest Chronograph
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Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Dark Side of the Moon: A 44.25-mm ceramic case that is cut out (drilled and milled) from a full ceramic block, with a ceramic bezel and a ceramic dial. It contains Omega's in-house Caliber 9300, with co-axial escapement and silicon balance spring. For more info on the watch, click here.
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Dark Side of the Moon
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Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Titanio: A 47-mm regatta-countdown chronograph in a titanium case... There is not another watch with that complication on the market that is as simple to use. It's equipped with the in-house caliber 9100/R.
Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyback Titanio
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Rado HyperChrome Court Collection: You might have not expected Rado to make this list, but it is deserving of recognition. I like the very cool 45-mm ceramic case and its design. Orange as a contrast to the deep black is just one color choice; green and yellow are two other options. The watch is equipped with an ETA 2894-2 movement.
Rado HyperChrome Court Collection
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Alpina Alpiner4 Chronograph: To me, one of the best newcomers in the past years. The Alpina brand finally discovers its history — which dates to 1883 — and produces good-looking, high-quality sports watches for a very fair price. Yes, there is “only” a Sellita SW500 movement under the dial rather than an in-house movement, but in the end, who cares? The Sellita SW 500 happens to be a very good chronograph caliber. The prices start around $3,495.
Alpina Alpiner 4 Chronograph
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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph: Still one of the coolest chronographs on earth. There is no need to reinvent an icon. In this cool new new blue execution, the Royal OakOffshore's engine is the in-house Caliber 3120, upon which AP adds a chronograph module produced by Dubois-Dépraz. Yes, some might say that the price is unacceptable for a watch with a modular movement, but since AP is still working on its own fully integrated chronograph caliber, there is no alternative at the moment. The price: $25,600.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph
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Blancpain Ocean Commitment Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback: I fall to my knees before this chronograph: so beautiful and — technically speaking — such a fascinating timepiece. The blue color is just gorgeous. The Bathyscaphe is powered by the 5-Hz-Blancpain Caliber F385. The balance wheel fulfills 36,000 semi-oscillations per hour; its balance spring is made of silicon. The price: 16,000 euros including tax.
Blancpain Ocean Commitment Bathyscaphe Chronographe Flyback
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Breitling Chronomat 44 Raven: The Chronomat is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and Breitling presented different special editions of that iconic watch. This is the one I like the most. Everyone should have a chance to see this watch live at least once. If you put it on your wrist, be careful: you will fall in love with it. The Breitling Chronomat 44 Raven is powered by the COSC-certified, in-house Caliber 01. The price: $9,825.
Breitling Chronomat 44 Raven
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De Bethune DB29 Maxichrono Tourbillon: This represents a truly unconventional approach in making a chronograph – in every sense. The timepiece has been executed at a stunning level. You aren't likely to find a better-looking chronograph caliber, except perhaps from A. Lange & Söhne or Patek Philippe. The DB29 Maxichrono is superlative, as is its price of $270,000.
De Bethune DB29 Maxichrono Tourbillon
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Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date: Finally, the Saxon brand has added a fully integrated automatic chronograph caliber to its collection. The entirely new, in-house-developed movement, Caliber 37-01, can be produced for a reasonable price, so the models equipped with it can be sold at fair prices. The prices start at $31,500. for the watch in a rose-gold case. The movement is used in GO's Seventies Chronograph, which is sold at a lower price point, but I much prefer the Senator.
Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date
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IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Expedition Charles Darwin: Forget its long and complicated name; the really cool thing about this chronograph is its bronze case and the fantastic IWC in-house Calibre 89365 that powers it. Bronze is a material that “lives,” so the watch's look will slightly change over the years. Cool, right? The price: 9,900 euros including tax.
IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Expedition Charles Darwin
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Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Chronograph Ceramic: A perfect outdoor and travel companion with an independently set second time-zone indication by a second hour hand. The second hour hand can be used to indicate your home time, and you can see through the little aperture, positioned just under JLC-Logo atv 12 o'clock, if it is night or day. This JLC watch is powered by the in-house calibre “757,” and looks really sharp in the black ceramic case. The price: 12,400 euros including tax.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Chronograph Ceramic
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Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon: What shall I write? Omega simply has done a wonderful job with this ultra-cool chrono. The gray ceramic case hosts the Omega in-house Caliber 9300, a masterpiece and one of the best contemporary chronograph movements. After presenting the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon last year and Grey Side of the Moon this year, what will Omega do for an encore? Perhaps a Speedmaster Bright Side of the Moon in a white ceramic case? The Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon sells for $12,000.
Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon
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Patek Philippe Multi-Scale Chronograph Ref. 5975P: Only 100 pieces of this stunning chronograph, powered by the in-house Caliber CH 28 520, will ever be made. The timepiece was presented for the manufacture's 175th birthday just some weeks ago. If you want one, you'd best hurry up and get on the list. I'm confident you won't regret this acquisition. Yes, the watch is available in other case materials, but for me the version in platinum is simply the best. The price: 78,000 CHF including tax.
Patek Philippe Multi-Scale Chronograph Ref. 5975
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What are your favorite chronographs, what is your personal top 10 chronographs list? Let me know in the comment section below. I look forward to reading your feedback. And feel free to add comments to my selection of best chronograph watches.
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