Best Chronograph watches for men to buy in 2023
Chronograph watches were made with race car drivers in mind. These timepieces come with an additional complication that allows you to use your watch as a stopwatch. These watches can measure elapsed time independently from regular timekeeping. These watches typically feature push buttons to start, stop, and reset the timer.
There are plenty of chronograph watches available out there. But if you have to get the best of the best, there are really only a few options available. Here’s a list of the best 5 chronograph watches you can buy today.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
When jotting down a list of chronograph watches, the list is incomplete if there is no mention of the Rolex Daytona. The Daytona is among the best luxury chronographs that you can buy. The new Daytona models launched in 2023 feature the Calibre 4131 in-house automatic movement.
In terms of the chronograph functionality, the watch features a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and the 12-hour counter at 9 o’clock. It also features another sub-dial at 6 o’clock used as a regular seconds counter.
The Cosmograph Daytona is available in a variety of material options and dial variants. The most popular of them being the full steel variant with either a black or a white dial. Known as the Panda, the white dial model fetches more value in the secondary market when compared to the black dial.
It is also available in two-tone that uses yellow gold and steel. Rolex Daytona is even available in full rose gold, yellow gold or white gold options. Lastly, the more expensive option in the range is the Platinum version.
In terms of the bracelet options, steel, two tone and platinum models only come with the Oyster bracelet. But if you are picking up the rose gold, white gold or yellow gold variant, you can choose between the Oysterflex bracelet options.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph Ref. 26240 is another popular option when looking for luxury chronograph watches for men. It features an in-house Calibre 4401 self-winding movement that offers a power reserve of up to 70 hours. The flyback chronograph timepiece is available in a variety of material and dial options.
The full steel version of the watch comes with black, blue, white and green dial color options. The watch is also available in rose gold, white gold and black ceramic options. Rose gold variant gets the same dial color options as the steel model. However, with the rose gold variant, you can pick between a full rose gold bracelet or an alligator leather strap that matches the color of the dial.
The reason behind picking up the AP Chronograph over the other chronograph watches for men is that it features the iconic Royal Oak design. Originally designed in 1972 by legendary Gerald Genta, this design played a major role in saving the brand during the Quartz crisis. Hence, it has a rich history attached to it.
Vacheron Constantin Chronograph
Vacheron Constantin is one of the oldest Swiss watchmaking brands, with its rich history dating back to 1755. With over 260 years of watchmaking experience, this brand knows what it is doing. While it has a huge collection of watches on offer, one of its most impressive timepieces is its Chronograph collection.
The brand offers a wide range of Chronograph watches with collections ranging from the Overseas series to the Historiques collection. Vacheron’s Chronograph collection uses the in-house Calibre 5200 movement that offers great accuracy. Sub-dials for the chronograph functions are thoughtfully placed, ensuring both functionality and balance within the design.
The watch itself is available in multiple material options along with various dial options to choose from. If you want to keep it simple and classic, you can opt for the stainless steel option with the black or white dial. However, if you would like to spice things up a notch, you can pick one of the gold options paired with a blue dial.
Omega Speedmaster
Omega Speedmaster has gained massive popularity since it was selected by NASA to accompany astronauts on their space missions. This alone tells that if NASA is vouching for the watch’s reliability, you cannot go wrong with it.
The Speedmaster Chronograph is characterized by its classic and timeless aesthetics. It features a black dial with three sub-dials arranged in a symmetrical layout. Just like other premium chronograph watches for men, this one also comes with a tachymeter scale on the bezel that allows for quick calculations of speed.
TAG Heuer Carrera
If you are on a tight budget yet want a premium Chronograph timepiece, you can explore the TAG Heuer Carrera. The all-new Carrera reference CBS2212.FC6535 comes crafted in a stainless steel case. The watch features a striking blue dial and the watch sits on a matching blue leather strap.
Powered by the Calibre TH20-00 automatic movement, the watch offers a power reserve of up to 80 hours. Overall, this is one of the best Chronograph watches you can get for a budget of under $7,000.
Which chronograph watch you should buy in 2023?
At the end of the day, all boils down to your personal preference. If you like something sporty that will hold its value and can potentially be a great investment, you cannot go wrong with the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. The AP Royal Oak Chronograph is also a great pick for people who are a fan of the Royal Oak design. For someone, who cares more about watchmaking history, you should look at the Vacheron Constantin Chronograph.
However, if you are on a tight budget, you should grab a Omega Speedmaster or the TAG Carrera.
