I always thought of a chronograph watch as a simple stopwatch. I didn’t really think of them as elegant timepieces or even expensive timepieces for that matter. I do remember the Seiko timepieces Roger Moore wore in his James Bond movies; those were chronograph watches. However, I never thought that companies such as Rolex or Zenith made such expensive luxury watches. Boy was I wrong.

As I stated a chronograph is a watch and a stopwatch but also can do other things. These kinds of watches were produced as early as the 18 Th centuries but didn’t rise in prominence until the 1820’s. The Gallet Watch Company is one of the first chronograph makers from the 1800’s. A chronograph is not to be confused with a chronometer.

There are two types of chronographs. One type is the Digital Chronograph which uses digital displays for time and stopwatch. And then there are Analog Chronographs which use arms for time and stopwatch function.

A Double Chronograph is two separate stopwatches. It will measure two separate events that last different times. It used to be called a Fly back Second.

In the study of watches there is something called Complication. This is were timepiece measures more than just minutes, hours, and seconds. The measurement of minutes, hours and seconds is called movement. Usual add-on such as day, date, and chronograph is not enough movements to call a watch complicated. Your usual date display chronograph may have 250 plus parts and a more sophisticated watch could have as many as a 1000 parts. These are ultra complicated watches and are only produced in limited numbers.

Because of the complexity of the manufacture of these watches the price increases. Also, there is the name. A Rolex will cost more than a Citizens chronograph or a Seiko. Your high quality chronograph is handmade and can be very costly. However, they are very fashionable, sleek, and classy looking. These kinds of watches are thought of adventurous and bold. They go hand in hand with the adventurous professions like boating, piloting, and astronaut and race car driver. These watches are also waterproof. The waterproof chronograph was made in the 1930’s

If you want a regular chronograph watch you can get one at any department store. Brands such as Citizen or Seiko will be there. However, if you have a few coins to splurge go with the Zenith or Rolex. Zenith watches look futuristic and certainly are different and they do cost a pretty penny. The Zenith Defy brands run several tens of thousand of dollars. Rolex watches as you may have guessed are gold and diamond studded. They can cost a couple hundred thousand dollars. If you have the money then get it.

The Rolex Daytonna brand of chronograph watch does have the elegant look that Rolex is known for but it is more rugged looking and manly in my opinion.