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Chronograph

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(kron-uh-graf)

QUICK ANSWER

A chronograph is a type of watch that includes a stopwatch function, allowing the user to measure elapsed time in addition to displaying the time.

What does

Chronograph

mean?

A chronograph is a type of watch that functions as both a display watch and a stopwatch. It typically features hour and minute hands on the main dial, a small seconds hand to indicate the watch is running, and a seconds hand with a sweeping movement for precision. This is often accompanied by a minutes sub-dial for the stopwatch function. Some chronographs also include an additional sub-dial to measure the hours of the stopwatch. The stopwatch can be started, stopped, and reset to zero using pushers located near the crown. More complex chronographs may include additional complications, such as multiple sub-dials for measuring fractions of a second, moon phases, and local 24-hour time. Many modern chronographs also feature tachymeters on the bezels for quick calculations of speed or distance. The chronograph was invented by Louis Moinet in 1816 for tracking astronomical objects and has since been used in various fields, including aviation, auto racing, diving, and submarine maneuvering.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a chronograph and a chronometer?

A chronograph is a stopwatch function built into a watch, allowing you to measure elapsed time. A chronometer is a precision timepiece certified by COSC for exceptional accuracy, meeting strict standards of +6/-4 seconds per day. A watch can be both.

How do you use a chronograph watch?

Press the top pusher to start timing, press it again to stop, and press the bottom pusher to reset. The chronograph seconds hand sweeps around the main dial, while subdials track elapsed minutes and hours. The watch continues keeping regular time independently.

Does using a chronograph drain the watch battery faster?

In quartz chronographs, running the stopwatch function does consume more battery power. However, in mechanical (automatic or manual-wind) chronographs, using the chronograph draws from the mainspring's power reserve but doesn't drain anything permanently—simply wind as needed.

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