What is a chronograph in watches and how to use it?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

People have been trying to organize their time for quite some time now. But, oddly enough, not everyone knows what a chronograph is in a watch. Watchmakers came up with it not so long ago. Many do not even know how to use it and do not know how it came about.

A bit of history

It wasn't until 1821 that the first device appeared that made it possible to keep track of time. It was introduced by Nicholas-Mathew Rjossack. It was invented in order to keep track of time at the races. At the tip of the hand that counted the seconds was an inkwell. When the mechanism stopped, the needle touched the dial, thereby leaving a speck on it. Previously, they also tried to create a device that would help measure time intervals, but it did not look like a chronograph at all. Georg Graham, a watchmaker from England, was the first to introduce watches with such capabilities. So it was thanks to him that we learned what a chronograph is in a watch. After that, mechanisms appeared, the second hand of which had an independent wheel system, just once every second it made a jump. Quartz works in a similar way today.watch. And the first to describe such a mechanism was Jean Moise Pouzet, a Geneva watchmaker, in 1776.

Some interesting facts

First of all, it is necessary to indicate how a chronograph differs from a watch. In fact, these are the same watches that have the ability to fix a certain period of time. The operation of the hand mechanism is completely unrelated to the chronograph. Buttons are required to control them. There are devices with one, two and three buttons. The first ones are not convenient enough, because start, reset and stop are carried out with one button.

Such models cannot be started after stopping. This is where a device with two buttons comes to the rescue. After stopping, the second hand can be started.

Varieties of chronographs

After we figured out what a chronograph is in watches, we need to find out what they are. There are simple models with one or two buttons. With the help of them, you can measure one period of time or several consecutive ones at once. Split is a more complex device. It has two second hands, which are located in the middle of the dial, one above the other. Such a chronograph allows you to measure the duration of various events that began at the same time and ended at different times. Such devices are equipped with three buttons. Fly-back is used to take measurements that have zero gaps between values. Moreover, a new measurement can be started by pressing one button.

Scope of application

Such devices are widely used. It is very important to know how to use the chronograph on your watch. For convenience, different scales are applied to it. The main one is used to make readings more convenient. Often it is divided into fractions of seconds. Today there are models that can measure 1/10th of a second. This is Zenith El Primero. This chronograph is unique. Its balance is 36,000 vibrations per second. With such a device, a very clear measurement can be taken.

Varieties by type of scales

• Having found out what a chronograph is in watches, it should be noted that the devices differ from each other in the type of scales.
• The simplest one has a regular scale for measuring a period of time.
• A tachymeter is needed to determine how fast an object is moving. Moreover, the distance can be measured not only in meters, but also in miles.
• The telemeter helps to measure the distance by sound. So, for example, you can determine how much time passed from lightning to thunder.



• Using a heart rate monitor, you can measure your heart rate. The scale can be divided into several indicators, the more there are, the more accurate the readings.
• Asthmometer is used to measure breathing rate. With this device, you can find out how many times a person inhaled and exhaled in one second.
• Chronograph for control of production processes. Its scale is similar to a tachymeter, but in this case, the numbers indicate the number of operations orproducts that were completed within an hour. The arrow indicates how many operations were performed during this period of time.
• A device for registering tides. Here you need to know how to set the chronograph on the watch so that it accurately reports the time when the tide will come in the area.
• A device that helps determine the direction and navigate the sun.
• Chronograph that has a logarithmic scale.
• A complex device that includes various scales.

There are models that are color-coded for an interval of three minutes to control a telephone conversation. Some are able to determine the parking time or the duration of a football match. Quartz models even beep when the time is up. In a word, everyone can choose for himself the device that he needs.