A chronograph is an amazingly complex watch that most laypeople have taken for granted in the 21st Century. At the time that it was invented in the early 1820s, people actually had to mark the dial using an attached pen. The name - which is loosely translated as “to write time” - is most likely a tongue-in-cheek reference to that feature. The modern chronograph would probably be unrecognizable to its creator, Louis Moinet, yet it has maintained the same basic function: to tell time and to function as a stopwatch, allowing you to measure time in elapsed intervals like seconds, minutes, or even hours.
With the advent of digital stopwatches on our phones, however, more and more people are wondering if the chronograph still has a purpose in 2026. Additionally, it begs the question: what kind of chronograph should you get? A quartz chronograph or a mechanical chronograph? Or perhaps something in-between? More on that later.
For now, let's dive into some of my favorite uses for a chronograph and see if these examples actually suit your needs.
Cooking
Considering the original chronographs were used to check the rate of fire for artillery, using it for cooking seems somewhat wrong at first. However, it really is a perfect watch for when you’re doing something as simple as boiling an egg for a minute (big fan of a runny yolk, personally), or using the tachymeter to time how long it takes for you to burn your bacon to a crisp. No matter the specific dish, the chronograph would be a welcome addition to any kitchen.
Sports & Fitness
Have you ever wanted to find out how far you can run in a minute? If the answer is no, well, now is the time to find out. Whether it’s doing laps in the pool or timing your thirty-second cooldowns between sets at the gym, a chronograph is one of the most useful watches you can have on your wrist.
Health Monitoring
Chronographs have been associated with pilots and the military for a hundred years now, but they are also a boon to have if you are in the healthcare industry, or if you simply want to monitor your health more closely. This integration of traditional timekeeping with health-focused technology makes chronographs a valuable asset for those who prioritize a healthy and active lifestyle in the 21st century.
Fashion
Beyond its functional uses, a chronograph is a stylish accessory that complements both formal and casual attire. Modern watchmakers have embraced innovative designs, blending classic aesthetics with contemporary materials and technology
. A chronograph can effortlessly transition from the boardroom to the weekend, making it a versatile and fashionable timepiece for any occasion.
Quartz vs. Mechanical
The answer is - it depends. As watch collectors, we sometimes deal in absolutes, and we follow these self-imposed rules about our collections. Everyone needs a mechanical chronograph. Everyone needs a Casio. the truth is, you don't actually need a chronograph, much less a mechanical one. If you have reached this point in the article, and you still don't see how a chronograph can be a boon for your daily life, then that's perfectly fine. But, if you are now wondering the merits of a quartz versus a mechanical chronograph, then that's something that we can discuss.
A quartz chronograph has the benefit of being superior in accuracy and overall reliability to a mechanical chronograph. Not only that, there are even solar quartz chronographs (thanks Seiko and Citizen!), which means you never even have to worry about changing the battery. They are also extremely competitive in terms of price. Perhaps the only downside is that some quartz chronographs can have a lower build-quality, and many people dislike seeing the ticking of a quartz seconds hand.
A mechanical chronograph, on the other hand, is a fantastic feat of horology, and many brands - particularly those with in-house movements - distinguish themselves from their competitors by showcasing their in-house chronograph movements. Take, for example, the Omega Speedmaster's manual wind chronograph movement, Zenith's special 1/10th of a second chronograph for the El Primero, or Patek Philippe's iconic split-seconds chronograph movement. The problem is that of all those examples, the Speedy is the cheapest... and that's more than 5,000 USD on the secondhand market.
Surprisingly, there are more affordable alternatives for mechanical chronographs. Thanks to the Seagull movement manufacturers who took over the manufacturing of the Venus chronograph movement, the Seagull ST19 has become the go-to affordable chronograph movement, which you can now find in the likes of Studio Underd0g's colorful chronos, or in our Wancher Chronograph and Fortitude Chronograph. The only potential issue is, of course, that the movement will not be as reliable as its more expensive Swiss cousins.
Read: Underdog Studio Reissues Gen 3 Watches from the Series 01 Collection Blog
So, does this mean you have to deal with the deadbeat seconds of a quartz chronograph for the sake of affordability and reliability? Not quite.
Seiko and Miyota (Citizen) have both created meca-quartz movements, which allows for a smooth sweeping seconds-hand as if the watch is automatic. You can find examples of this exact mecaquartz movement in Brew Watch, the vintage-inspired Furlan Marri, and of course, the Wancher Tenji Chronograph. With its Japanese design, smooth and accurate mecaquartz movement, and comfortable, 39mm case diameter, the Tenji is the perfect mix of the worlds of quartz and mechanical chronographs.
You can read more about this watch from independent reviewers Watch Dad and WatchDNA's Cagdas Onen.
