The advantages of a chronograph watch

A chronograph watch, we have many of them in our webshop. But what exactly is a chronograph? What can you do with a chronograph watch, what are its advantages compared to a 'normal' watch? Time to tell you in detail!

Bulova chronograph watch

What is a chronograph?

A chronograph watch, like all watches, obviously has hands that show you the normal time measurement. But a chronograph also has hands that do more than that: in fact, this type of watch also has a stopwatch. For this purpose, you will find additional movements on the dial, each with its own function. Thus, most chronographs have a movement that can time hundredths or tenths of a second, a stopwatch that tracks the minutes and often a stopwatch that tracks the hours. It depends a bit on the type of chronograph movement what exactly the watch can do. The manual of the watch will often tell you what it can do. A chronograph watch must of course be able to be started, paused and reset, which is why these types of watches have several buttons on the side of the case.

Also read: 'How does a tachymeter work?'

Chronograph 'eyes' on a TW Steel watch

What can you use a chronograph watch for?

So the main difference between a chronograph and a watch without a chronograph is that you can accurately measure time. Whether this is useful for you, whether it is of any use to you, is of course something you have to judge for yourself. However, a chornograph watch is beautiful to look at. But this is also a matter of taste, of course. Are you planning to keep track of your sporting achievements such as running or swimming? Then a chronograph can be quite handy. But of course, you can also use the stopwatch as a cooking timer or to time a recipe. A chronograph with alarm is then completely ideal, but note that not every chrono watch has an alarm. Many of our Citizen watches have a chronograph with alarm (sometimes as many as 2).

Also read: '5 cool men's watches with no battery!'

We list 5 advantages of a chronograph watch:

1. Time measurement: This is what a chronograph is really for. You can use this kind of watch as a stopwatch. You can accurately measure the time of, say, sporting achievements or other things.

2. A chronograph is beautiful to look at: Chronograph watches look attractive and stylish, at least we think so. They have extra dials and that is pretty cool to see anyway.

3. Prestige: Some brands of chronograph watches, such as Rolex and Omega, have a high status in the watch world. So wearing these kinds of branded watches certainly does add to one's look.

4. Versatility: Chronograph watches are more versatile than watches with only 3 hands because you can use them as a stopwatch, but they also have all the functions of a regular watch, such as displaying the time and date.

5. Handiness: Using a chronograph watch can be handy in everyday life. It is a watch with a handy tool. Timing a phone call, cooking an egg or timing a round of running: with a chronograph timepiece, you can do it all.

Swiss Alpine Military watch with chronograph

Chronograph a nice watch?

So a chronograph watch is a versatile and functional timepiece. If you find this kind of wristwatch beautiful and convenient, they are definitely worth considering. It complements the collection of watch lovers who love technical precision and functionality. And with that, there is quite a lot of choice in designs, brands and styles available. Have you decided to go for a chronograph? Then you can always find an excellent chronograph timepiece at WatchXL too, a watch that suits you and meets your taste.

Whether you like a chronograph watch obviously depends on your own taste. What one person likes, another hates. But: what the farmer doesn't know, he doesn't eat! So feel free to take a look at our chronograph watches, who knows, maybe there is something to your taste!