Building the Perfect Collection: Chronograph Watches
Chronograph watches—timepieces with a built-in stopwatch function in addition to standard timekeeping—have a rich history tied to aviation, motorsports, and space exploration. Their ability to measure elapsed time makes them highly useful for activities requiring precise timing, such as calculating speed, distance, or heart rate, and this functionality has made chronograph watches essential tools for professionals and enthusiasts alike, from pilots navigating the skies to drivers on the racetrack. Beyond their practical applications, chronographs are celebrated for their mechanical complexity, functionality, aesthetic appeal, and investment potential.
Beyond functionality, chronographs are visually enticing! With their arrangements of subdials, they appear dynamic and interesting — an outer reflection of the mechanical wizardry inside. So whether you’re shopping for your first or fiftieth chronograph, here are some of our favorite that are worthy members of any collection:
Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph
The Defy Skyline Chronograph is a thrilling contemporary take on Defy’s earliest octagonal case with a multi sided bezel, now with an edgier, more modern aesthetic. Robustly durable, with a 42mm stainless steel case, the new Defy Skyline Chronograph features stop-second precision, powered by the El Primero 3600 high-frequency automatic manufacture movement, with the very first 1/10th of a second indicator. The striking blue sunray patterned dial revisits the emblematic Zenith four-pointed star. Comes with interchangeable steel bracelet and blue patterned rubber strap.
Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph
Elevate your style to new heights with the Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph, where brilliant design meets a vibrant new color. With a striking smokey purple sunray brushed dial, this watch blends precision with elegance, creating a bold, unisex timepiece that’s ready for any occasion. The fine-brushed/polished 39mm stainless steel case has a bezel-free design thanks to the “glassbox” crystal that slopes fully downwards at the edges. It also ensures durability while maintaining a sleek, modern look, and has a transparent case back of sapphire crystal. The dial features contrasting black subdials that further elevate the design. Built with a precision manufacture Calibre TH20-00 automatic movement. The black perforated, purple-lined calfskin leather strap complements the dial while offering unisex versatility.
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional
There are out-of-this-world watches, and then there’s the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch…NASA astronauts have worn and trusted the Moonwatch during every moon landing in history, including Apollo 11 in 1969. This Moonwatch Professional edition remains a true icon among watch enthusiasts—the legendary chronograph has been inspired by its own historical design, with a Master Chronometer certification that provides maximum reliability and excellence. And now, it’s available in white! The 42mm stainless steel case features an aluminum bezel, screw-in transparent case back, and domed, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment. With diamond-polished black PVD hands and hour markers, red tip on the seconds hand, and Super-LumiNova (green emission). Finished with a black calf leather strap.
Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 42 Night Mission
While the Breitling Avenger was designed and built for jet pilots, you don’t need a type rating to strap one on your wrist. Instead, all you need is an appreciation for bold design, exceptional resilience, performance, and unbeatable functionality. The sophisticated, modern aviation style of the Chronograph 42 Night Mission features a ceramic case with unidirectional bezel, open case back, and cambered sapphire crystal with glare proof treatment. Patterned carbon fiber dial, and chronograph complications that include 1/4th second, 30 minutes, and 12 hours. The military style sand colored calfskin leather strap has a titanium folding-pin buckle.
Tudor Black Bay Chrono
An exciting blend of world-class design and cutting-edge technology, this Black Bay Chrono model starts with a 41mm 316L stainless steel case, with polished and satin-brushed finishes, coupled with a rivet steel bracelet that’s updated for 2025 with a new clasp. Fixed 316L stainless steel bezel with matt black anodised aluminum disc with tachymetric scale, 60 minute scale, screw-down crown, and silver markings. The opaline dial features black chronograph counters, domed date at 6 o’clock, and luminescent hands and hour markers. Powered by a Manufacture Calibre MT5813 self-winding mechanical chronograph movement with bidirectional rotor system.
Montblanc 1858 The Unveiled Timekeeper Minerva
The Montblanc 1858 Unveiled Timekeeper Minerva is presented in a limited edition of just 100 pieces. It introduces a brand new chronograph function that’s activated via the fluted bezel rather than using traditional pushers. Just one click of the 18K white gold fluted bezel starts the chronograph, a second click stops it, and a third click resets it. The 42.5mm stainless steel case has a crown fluted in stainless steel, with the Montblanc emblem in relief, a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, and a blue dial. Powered by a hand-finished, manually wound Caliber MB M13.21 movement. A blue alligator leather strap completes the look.
Bulgari Octo Finissimo
A true statement watch, the Octo Finissimo is a perfect blend of technical sophistication and aesthetic refinement, the world’s slimmest self-winding timepiece featuring a chronograph and GMT function. It features a refined monochromatic look with satin-polished stainless steel case and stainless steel crown with black ceramic insert. The silvered dial with vertical brushed finishing has chronograph counters, rhodium plated hands and hour markers with Super-LumiNova and second time zone indication. Powered by the BVL318 caliber movement. With a satin-polished stainless steel bracelet and folding clasp.
Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer Auto Chrono 42mm
What do you get when you take an everyday sports watch and elevate it with innovative craftsmanship and bold, modern design? The Hamilton Jazzmaster Performer Auto Chrono. The 42mm black PVD-plated stainless steel case exudes sleek confidence, with vibrant blue highlights and brushed silver details that add a sophisticated edge. An anthracite colored dial features three striking subdials in black, silver, and steel blue, bringing dynamic energy while tracking hours, minutes, and running seconds with precision. Experience the technical brilliance of a chronograph that does more than just measure time—the tachymeter bezel works in harmony with the chronograph hand to calculate average speeds, making every second an adventure, and this timepiece the perfect companion for your active lifestyle.
Norqain Freedom 60 Chrono 40mm
The Norqain Freedom collection is strongly tied to an appreciation of the great outdoors, with a design aesthetic that evokes the 60s. The 40mm 316L stainless steel case has a double anti-reflective, scratch-proof, box type sapphire glass on tip, open case back with scratch-proof flat sapphire glass, screw-down crown with Norqain logo, and engraved 316L stainless steel Norqain plate on the left side of the case. A sky blue dial with sunray finish features a white tachymeter scale on the dark blue outer ring, diamond-cut flat indexes and faceted hour and minute hands with white printing and white Super-LumiNova, a date window between 4 o’clock and 5 o’clock, and anthracite Norqain logo. Powered by a Norqain calibre N19 mechanical automatic chronograph movement.
Oris Aquis Chronograph
Nicknamed “the smiling chronograph,” the Aquis Chronograph is a versatile toolwatch with 3, 6, and 9 sub counters that give it its distinctive smile. It’s based on the new Aquis, and shares the same refinements to the case, bracelet, and dial, delivering the same heady mix of performance and comfort. The Aquis Chronograph features a slimline stainless steel case with ceramic bezel insert, open sapphire case back, ceramic minutes scale top ring, and sapphire crystal. The gradient blue dial has faceted hour markers and sword hands. Water resistance to 300 meters. Finished with an elegantly tapered stainless steel bracelet.
Discover these and other chronograph watches from Feldmar. Browse our online store or stop into our flagship location.
About The Author: Tom Roth
Born in Washington state, Tom developed an interest in photography during college at University of San Diego. There, he got started in music journalism, interviewing artists and taking photos at concerts. A life-long tinkerer and collector, it wasn’t long before Tom became fascinated with fountain pens and watches.
Those interests collided in November 2020 when Tom started at Feldmar Watch Company where he lives out every watch geek’s dream: photographing and writing about timepieces. When he’s not tinkering with his watch collection, Tom can be found traveling, biting his nails while watching PNW sports teams, and taking flying lessons.
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