Key takeaways
- A chronograph is a watch with a built-in stopwatch function.
- The top pusher usually starts and stops; the bottom pusher resets.
- Subdials count seconds, minutes and sometimes hours.
- A chronograph is not the same as a chronometer.
Subdials, pushers and a sporty look: the chronograph is one of the most popular watch styles in the world. But what does it actually do? Here is a simple explanation.
In this guide
What is a chronograph?
A chronograph is a watch with a stopwatch built in. As well as telling the time, it can measure how long something takes: a lap, a run, or how long the pasta has been boiling. The name comes from the Greek words for "time" and "writing".
How to use a chronograph
- Start: press the top pusher (usually at 2 o'clock). The large chronograph seconds hand starts moving.
- Stop: press the top pusher again.
- Reset: press the bottom pusher (usually at 4 o'clock). The hands jump back to zero.
Always stop the chronograph before you reset it.
How to time something step by step
Say you want to time a 5 km run. This is how it works on a typical chronograph:
- Check that everything is at zero. The large chronograph seconds hand points to 12 and the counter subdials are at zero. If not, press the reset pusher first.
- Press start as you set off. Use the top pusher. The chronograph seconds hand starts sweeping round the main dial.
- Let it run. Every time the seconds hand completes a lap, the minute counter moves on by one.
- Press stop when you finish. Use the top pusher again. The hands freeze, so you can read your time at your own pace.
- Read the result, then reset. Read the minutes on the counter and the seconds on the main dial, then press the bottom pusher to return everything to zero.
Pressing start again after a stop, without resetting, lets the timing carry on from where it paused. Handy if you want to leave out a break.
What do the subdials mean?
A chronograph typically has two or three small subdials:
- Running seconds: shows that the watch is running.
- Minute counter: counts the elapsed minutes of the stopwatch.
- Hour counter: counts the elapsed hours on some models.
The exact layout differs per watch, so check the description of your model. Many watches, including our chronograph-style designs, use subdials mainly for their look: the product description tells you what each model offers.
How to read a chronograph
Reading the elapsed time is a matter of adding up the hands, from the largest unit to the smallest:
| Hand | What it shows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hour counter (if present) | Elapsed hours | 0 |
| Minute counter | Elapsed minutes | 24 |
| Chronograph seconds hand (large, on the main dial) | Elapsed seconds | 37 |
In this example the elapsed time is 24 minutes and 37 seconds. Do not confuse the chronograph seconds hand with the small running seconds subdial: that one simply shows the watch is running and keeps going whether the stopwatch is on or not.
What is a tachymeter?
Some chronographs have a scale printed on the bezel or the outer edge of the dial, called a tachymeter. It turns elapsed time into speed over a fixed distance. Start the chronograph at a marker, stop it after exactly one kilometre or one mile, and the number the seconds hand points to on the scale is your average speed per hour. Want to know more about bezels? Read Types of watch bezels.
Chronograph vs chronometer
They sound alike but are different things. A chronograph is a stopwatch function. A chronometer is a term for a watch movement that has been tested and certified for high precision. Model names can use either word for style, so always check the product description. Want to learn more watch words? Read Parts of a watch explained.
Shop the look
Wearing the chronograph look
Chronograph-style watches have a sporty, technical character. They look great with a leather jacket, a knit or a casual blazer. Designs with subdials, like the Prague, Chronometer, Eclipse and the colourful Chronograph, bring that look to everyday wear. See more styles in Different types of watches.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a chronograph and a regular watch?
A chronograph adds a stopwatch function, operated with pushers and shown on subdials.
Does using the chronograph drain the battery faster?
On a quartz chronograph, running the stopwatch uses some extra energy, so it is best not to leave it running all the time.
Is a chronograph the same as a chronometer?
No. A chronograph is a stopwatch function; a chronometer refers to a certified high-precision movement.
How do you use a chronograph on a watch?
Press the top pusher to start, press it again to stop, then press the bottom pusher to reset. Always stop before you reset.
How do you read the time on a chronograph?
Add up the counters: hours (if present), then minutes on the minute counter, then seconds on the large chronograph seconds hand.
