March 29, 2024

A chronograph is a watch that has the ability to record time with great accuracy, often through the use of two push buttons to start, stop and restart the chronograph hand. For its functionality, and for the balance it gives the watch, the chronograph is one of the most popular complications on the market. And besides the date function, it has to be the most practical one as well. More importantly, it gives watch brands a little more creative space, since it introduces a great number of elements to the design of the watch, from the sub dials to the chronograph hand. Here are five of our favorite interpretations this year:

 The Patek Philippe Ref. 5370 Split-Seconds Chronograph

1 The Patek Philippe Ref. 5370 Split-Seconds Chronograph

With its stunning black enamel dial, the Patek Philippe Ref. 5370 Split-Seconds Chronograph combines the brand’s noblest qualities and fine-tunes the complication it created back in 1923, which has since become a pillar of the Patek Philippe narrative. For more, please see our full review…

The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual

2 The A. Lange & Söhne Datograph Perpetual

Put simply, it’s the most complicated chronograph of the year. The Datograph Perpetual combines a perpetual calendar to the chronograph, date, and power reserve complications. And while there’s a lot to love here, the dark grey hue of the dial clearly emphasizes the chronograph function, accurate to one-fifth of a second.

The Vacheron Constantin Harmony with pulsometer dial

3 The Vacheron Constantin Harmony with pulsometer dial

Vacheron Constantin celebrated its 26Oth anniversary in style, with the vintage-inspired Harmony Chronograph. The watch features a pulsometer dial – a function used by doctors to measure patients’ heart rates – that has since captured those of collectors fond of coloful and unique dials. For more, please see our full review…

The Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award

4 The Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award

Unveiled during Baselworld 2015, it pays tribute to the 45th anniversary of the aborted lunar mission, which nearly killed three NASA astronauts. This limited edition Omega Speedmaster features the Snoopy Award OMEGA received from NASA for their contribution to the safe return of the Apollo 13 crew. For more, please see our full review…

The Panerai Mare Nostrum Titanio

5 The Panerai Mare Nostrum Titanio

Panerai’s 52mm Mare Nostrum Titanio is the largest chronograph of the year. Introduced in 1943 for deck officers of the Royal Italian Navy the Mare Nostrum – meaning “Our Sea” in Italian – was introduced as a prototype and quickly disappeared from circulation. This time, the Mare Nostrum comes in a beautiful brushed Titanium case, making it deceptively light. For more, please see our full review…