Melissa A. Smith

All about Chronograph Watches

The chronograph watch, commonly referred to as a "stop watch" measures time in many ways.  Many popular Swiss watches are considered to be chronographs.

After the creation of waterproof wrist watches, the chronograph watches were next in line. The chronograph was first invented in the 1800s by a French gentleman named Rieussec. Its name was derived from two Greek words namely “chronos” which means time and “graph” which means writing. Technically the first chronograph watch has this kind of mechanism. It works when you push the button next to the crown. Through this the timer begins. The timer ceases when you press the button the second time. Lastly, pressing the button on the third time will reset the timer. Initially, only few people realized the value of this invention. It was not until 1822 when it gained popularity. In the 1990s, the Swatch Company fitted this in their wrist watch which made their company a big hit.

Presently, it is commonly called a “stop watch”. A chronograph timepiece is a type of wrist watch which measures time in lots of ways. Its function is not only restricted by the standard time keeping but also the distinctive capability of measuring time in a wide range of varieties. It was originally used in the military when measuring certain events such as exercises and trainings. Certain military routines and operations tend to be time bounded. Fire fighters, like the military, have to document their drills in such a way to make their task as efficient as possible. Additionally, it came in very helpful with sports which used it as a tool which will help measure the time elapsed by athletes, most commonly in racing such as track and field and swimming.

Chronograph timepieces possess a distinct feature. It is made up of a specific property that enables it to separate the hundredths of a second. This particular interval is crucial when facing the close call in the positioning between sports athletes. The medical teams employ this technology particularly in obtaining data such as the respiratory rate or the number of breaths per minute and the pulse rate. Divers in the deep seas include this in their scuba diving equipment to check when it is time to surface up for oxygen.

Recently, individuals consider chronograph timepieces as fashion based instead of profession. Generally males are the ones fascinated with this sort of watch. However, it remains a fact that chronograph watches continue to play a major role in our lives.  Many leading Swiss watch manufactures produce a remarkable chronograph.  From the sporty and steel of the Breitling Super Avenger to the silent sophistication of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, there is a chronograph for everyone.  It is evident that it comes in handy when we employ it in our everyday lives such as measuring how long it would take us to travel from house to work or timing how long a cake stays in the oven until it is ready to be served.

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