The Best Chronograph Watches To Stop The Clock For

Whilst some men may enjoy more simple, time-only timepieces, others – like me – prefer complications. The more the better. And no complication is better, more practical (or more fun) than the chronograph.

First invented by French artist and watchmaker Louis Moinet in 1816, the chronograph is one of the most important complications in all of watchmaking. Chronographs are simply watches that can be used as a stopwatch as well as telling the time.

Unsurprisingly, chronographs found an eager audience among athletes, pilots and motorsports fanatics, who all found watches that were able to quickly and accurately time things on the fly totally essential. These days, chronographs might have mostly been superseded by our mobile phones or digital stopwatches, but their elegance and sporty character continue to captivate watch fans.

Time is of the essence: here are some of the best chronograph watches on the market.

In this best chronograph watches article...Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph GlassboxGrand Seiko TentagraphLongines Spirit FlybackRolex Cosmograph DaytonaIWC Schaffhausen Portofino ChronographA. Lange & Söhne Triple SplitPatek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph DateChopard Mille MigliaBulgari Octo Finissimo ChronoOMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 (ref. AB0138241K1P1)

The Breitling Navitimer isn't just one of the world's most well-known chronographs, it's probably the world's most famous pilot's watch, too. Boasting a circular slide rule that allows pilots to perform on-the-fly flight calculations, the latest incarnation of Breitling's iconic watch also features a subtly domed sapphire crystal and cool new dial colours in shades of blue, green and copper, such as the one above.

Retail Price: AU$12,290

Shop Now TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox (ref. CBS2212.FC6535)

Simply put, the TAG Heuer Carrera is one of the most important and iconic chronographs ever made. Named after the notoriously difficult Mexican road rally, the Carrera Panamericana, and designed for motorsport from the get-go, its clean, functional design continues to win hearts and minds. This 39mm retro-inspired take on the Carrera formula melds 70s design elements (like its eponymous, highly domed ‘glass box’ crystal) with modern finishing techniques and a thoroughly modern movement, TAG Heuer's new TH20-00 calibre.

Retail Price: AU$9,350

Shop Now Grand Seiko Tentagraph Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Tentagraph (ref. SLGC001)

Grand Seiko's first-ever mechanical chronograph is an absolute show-stopper. It's called the 'Tentagraph’ because it boasts a movement with a frequency of ten beats per second, a three-day (72-hour) power reserve, and it is an automatic chronograph. Get it? A titanium case, ceramic bezel and a deep blue dial with Grand Seiko’s signature “Mt. Iwate” pattern only add to its appeal, as does its exhibition caseback, which reveals its immaculate movement finished with Côtes de Genève and a unique Tentagraph rotor.

Retail Price: AU$20,500

Shop Now Longines Spirit Flyback Longines Spirit Flyback (ref. L3.821.4.53.9)

Longines has more credibility when it comes to chronographs than most watchmakers – for instance, they invented the first-ever flyback chronograph – which the new Spirit Flyback pays homage to. Extremely precise, and with a power reserve of 68 hours, this COSC-certified chrono looks particularly cool on a NATO strap.

Retail Price: AU$6,725

Shop Now Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (ref. 126500LN-0001)

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona hardly needs an introduction. Introduced in 1963, the Daytona was created to meet the singular demands of the professional race car driver. Today, it's one of the world's most coveted watches. In its current incarnation, the watch features a patented in-house chronograph mechanism and a bezel with a tachymetric scale – perfect for recording your lap times, or how long someone stares at your Rolex.

Retail Price: AU$21,350

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WATCH our guide to the most expensive watches of all time below.

IWC Schaffhausen Portofino Chronograph IWC Schaffhausen Portofino Chronogrpah (ref. IW391030)

Do you like Italian sports cars? So does IWC Schaffhausen, who took the inspiration for the sleek push-buttons on the Portofino Chronograph from the cockpit of 1960s Italian sports cars. In keeping with the sporty aesthetic, the watch features a minimalist dial with appliquéd Roman numerals and a convex sapphire glass. A Milanese mesh bracelet is available in addition to the classic alligator leather strap.

Retail Price: AU$11,500

Shop Now A. Lange & Söhne Triple Split A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus Chronograph (ref. 463.178)

A. Lange & Söhne is a highly prestigious firm that has a long history of producing some of the most refined, complicated and stylish timepieces in horological history. The Odysseus Chronograph is the brand's first-ever automatic chronograph, and its new L156.1 Datomatic calibre also has quite a novel way of recording elapsed time: like a double chronograph (a type of watch Lange is famous for), it’s got two chronograph hands: a red one to track seconds and a lozenge-tipped silver one to track minutes.

Retail Price: AU$200,000

Shop Now Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph Date Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph Date (ref. 5980/1R-001)

The ultimate baller watch, the Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph Date in rose gold takes the already highly desirable Nautilus and adds a novel chronograph complication to boot. A 60-minute and 12-hour mono-counter at 6 o'clock maintains dial symmetry, while elegantly integrated chrono pushers maintain the Nautilus' famous form. If you're going to buy one Patek Philippe watch, make it this one.

Retail Price: AU$159,000

Shop Now Chopard Mille Miglia Chopard Mille Miglia (ref. 168589-3002)

Named after one of the world's most famous races, the Chopard Mille Miglia is a chronograph for real revheads. Classically styled and highly legible, it's filled with cool little motifs, such as a subtle red Mille Miglia direction arrow below the Chopard logo at 12 o’clock and a steering wheel design on the crown. Its strap features a tread pattern based on that of a 1960s Dunlop racing tyre. It's the perfect watch for the vintage car enthusiast.

Retail Price: AU$8,600

Shop Now Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chrono Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chrono (ref. 103068)

First introduced in 2014, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo has quickly become one of the most exciting and in-demand watches on the planet, and the focus of many record-breaking feats of horology. Take this: the Octo Finissimo Chrono, which has the world’s thinnest mechanical chronograph movement. Elegant and avant-garde, this is a chronograph like no other.

Retail Price: AU$28,800

Shop Now OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional (ref. 310.30.42.50.01.001)

Of course, we couldn't have a serious discussion about chronographs without mentioning the most famous chrono of all: the OMEGA Speedmaster, better known as the 'Moonwatch'. The first watch on the moon is one of the world's most popular watches, yet modern incarnations remain faithful to those enterprising originals. For instance, this reference – definitely one for dedicated OMEGA fans – still boasts a Hesalite crystal and hand-wound movement. No watch collection is complete without a 'Speedy'.

Retail Price: AU$10,400

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