When the word chronograph is brought up, usually the things that come into mind are racing, planes, aeronautics and athletics. The reason for that is, if not marketed as timepieces for racers and pilots, they are also often described as sporty.
But there is even more to a chronograph, it can be used for tracking all sorts of things in our daily lives like cooking time, the time it takes to reach the subway, or if you have a car, it can be used for the parking meter; workouts; and etc.
Moreover, chronographs can be as stylish as they are functional. The chronograph function does not only add convenience to a watch but may also add to a watch’s aesthetic, which can also make a fashion-forward appeal.
But not all really know how to use it. So for some enlightenment on this kind of watch, we will provide a little brief on chronograph watches as well as a list of the best affordable chronograph watches in the latter part of this article.
Basically, the chronograph is a timepiece that also functions as a stopwatch and displays elapsed time in subdials. As a matter of fact, the word chronograph is derived from the words Chronos, which means time and Graph, which means writing. Why it was given such name is that the earliest versions of the chronograph actually did make use of a writing method through a small pen that was attached to its index, wherein the elapsed time was indicated by the length of the pen mark on its dial.
If you’re interested in more on the topic we have a more in-depth explanation of the chronograph here. So, let’s move on to the list of the best chronograph watches.
1.Seiko Men’s Chronograph Stainless Steel Watch
Designed with black, silver-tone and a dash of red, the Seiko Men’s Chronograph Stainless Steel Watch has a classic style that’s easily readable.
Its chronograph function includes a red central hand and a 60-minute chronograph timer subdial at the nine o’clock position. A 24-hour subdial is present at the three o’clock position. And the seconds function is provided by the subdial at the six o’clock position.
Other functions of this watch include a tachymeter on its black ion-plated bezel and a date display between the four and five o’clock positions.
It’s a Japanese quartz watch made of stainless steel and scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal that’s reinforced with 100-meter water resistance.
2.Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Chronograph Stainless Steel And Leather Watch
Elegant details and multifunctionality make the Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Chronograph Stainless Steel And Leather Watch an exceptional timepiece.
Presented in this chronograph watch’s beautiful patterned silver-tone sunray dial are 1/10th of a second, 24-hour, and multi-function subdials.
This watch also comes with a date display at its four o’clock position, perpetual calendar, leap year, and alarm.
Moreover, with this watch, you can go for water activities like swimming and snorkeling but not scuba diving, as it’s water-resistant to 100 meters, and it’s made watertight with its screw-down crown and a screw-down case back.
Making up this stunning timepiece is a stainless steel case, scratch-resistant mineral crystal dial window, and brown Croco-embossed leather strap. It’s a solar-powered Japanese quartz watch powered by Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology with an EOL indicator.
3.Casio Men’s Edifice Tough Solar Chronograph Stainless Steel Watch
Typical of Casio’s analog-digital watches, the Casio Men’s Edifice Tough Solar Chronograph Stainless Steel Watch is an analog-digital watch packed with handy features. Of course, this cool, sleek timepiece designed with silver-tone stainless steel and a black dial with silver-tone details provides the chronograph function you’re looking for. But it also comes with other great features, which make it suitable for those who opt for more functionality.
Apart from timekeeping, this watch is capable of functions, such as 1/100-second stopwatch; countdown timer; five daily alarms; full auto-calendar till 2099; world time including 40 times zones (40 cities + UTC); daylight saving on/off; and home city and world time swapping. To add to that, it’s water-resistant to 100 meters, which allows you to enjoy water activities, such as swimming and snorkeling with this watch on.
For readability, it’s equipped with a hand shift feature, wherein hands move away from the digital display for an unobstructed view of its contents as well as a Super Illuminator LED light.
This is a Japanese quartz watch that can be linked to your phone with its Mobile link feature, a wireless linking via Bluetooth SMART. Through this feature, you can make time adjustments; easily adjust watch settings, and enable a phone finding signal.
Additional features in this watch worth noting are its airplane mode and power-saving mode.
It’s powered with Casio’s Tough Solar technology. Its power reserve can last for 8 months in normal use and up to 26 months when stored in total darkness with the power save on. You can be notified when it’s power is running low with its low battery alert.
4.Seiko “Flightmaster” Flight Alarm Chronograph Stainless Steel Watch
The Seiko “Flightmaster” Flight Alarm Chronograph Stainless Steel Watch is designed with pilots in mind, but it can make anyone look fly and provide the chronograph you need. And since it’s a pilot watch, it’s also handy for making pre-flight and in-flight calculations like measuring ground speed; distance; fuel burn; wind set; and etc. with its E6B navigational slide rule. Not all would be able to utilize this feature, but it sure does give an interesting look to it that adds a distinctive style to the watch.
This nifty timepiece runs with a Japanese quartz movement. For its chronograph function, it includes a yellow central hand and a 60-minute chronograph timer subdial at its 12 o’clock position. The seconds function of this watch is at the subdial at its nine o’clock position.
Also included in this watch are a 12-hour basis alarm located at its six o’clock position, tachymeter scale, and date display at its three o’clock position.
It looks rather sleek with its design of silver-tone and black with fine details in yellow, silver, and white.
As it’s built with stainless steel, black PVD bidirectional rotating bezel, and scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal, it has a pretty rugged construction. Plus, it’s watertight with its screw-down crown and screw-down case back, and especially as it’s water-resistant to 200 meters.
5.Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Chronograph Stainless Steel And Canvas Watch
Military-inspired, the Citizen Men’s Eco-Drive Chronograph Stainless Steel And Canvas Watch is a reliable and durable timepiece that’ll go well with casual attire with its simple good looks.
This is a solar-powered Japanese quartz watch that features a high-contrast, easily readable dial with three displays for its 60-minute chronograph timer subdial; 24-hour subdial; and 60-second subdial that serves as the seconds function of the watch. A date display is also provided at its four o’clock position.
Making up its durable composition is its stainless steel case, scratch-resistant mineral crystal dial window, and green canvas strap that comes reinforced with 100-meter water resistance.
6.Graf Zeppelin Chronograph And Alarm Stainless Steel And Leather Watch
Coming from the Graf Zeppelin series, a series brought forth in celebration of the 100 years of the Zeppelin airship, the Graf Zeppelin Chronograph And Alarm Stainless Steel And Leather Watch is a timepiece of equal excellence to Zeppelin, a company that made its name in the rigid airship industry and made historic flights in Germany in the 1900s. It’s a six-jewel Swiss quartz watch skillfully crafted with elegance, multi-functionality, and durability.
Additional features to this fine timepiece are a chronograph, 12-hour totalizer alarm at the six o’clock position, date display at the four o’clock position, tachymeter scale, and telemeter scale.
Going into the details of its chronograph function, it features a 30-minute chronograph timer subdial at its nine o’clock position along with its black central hand. Providing the seconds function is the 60-second subdial at the three o’clock position.
It has a timeless appeal with its restrained aesthetic in an antique style. It boasts a silver-white dial together with a stainless steel case and brown Croco-embossed leather, which also makes the watch pretty solid. Adding to its durability is its scratch-resistant mineral crystal dial window and 50-meter water resistance.
7.Junkers Bauhaus Chronograph Stainless Steel And Leather Watch
For a classy clean-looking chronograph, the Junkers Bauhaus Chronograph Stainless Steel And Leather Watch could fit the bill.
This timelessly chic watch features a light beige dial held by its stainless steel case that goes perfectly with its brown leather strap. The clean design of its dial makes it legible and easy on the eyes.
Its a Swiss quartz watch that features a chronograph function with a 30-minute chronograph timer subdial at its nine o’clock position and black central hand, seconds subdial at its three o’clock position, 12-hour totalizer subdial at the six o’clock position, and a date display at the four o’clock position.
Moreover, it’s equipped with 30-meter water resistance.
8.Alpina Startimer Pilot Chronograph Camouflage Dial Black PVD-Coated Stainless Steel And Leather Watch
The Alpina Startimer Pilot Chronograph is a chic timepiece with a distinctive style. It comes in all black and is designed with a camouflage dial and checkered-patterned leather strap.
As strong as its wrist presence are the tough materials composing this watch, such as the black PVD-coated stainless steel for its case; scratch-resistant sapphire crystal for its dial window; and leather for its strap, making it very much durable.
This is a 13-jewel Swiss quartz watch equipped with both a chronograph and a date display at its six o’clock position.
Together with its red and silver-tone central hand are 30-minute and 1/10th of a second chronograph timer subdials on the upper half of the dial for its chronograph function. And at the lower part of the dial is the seconds subdial.
It has a screw-down crown and screw-down case back to go with its 100-meter water resistance for water tightness.