The trouble with chronos
The problem with chronographs is that objectively speaking, they are not very good watches.
The additional registers are cluttering the dial and create a legibility problem that is compounded by moving the second's hand away and replacing it with the chrono's hand which is seldom used.
The extra gears required for the chronograph are not only adding complexity and potential service costs, they also add to the thickness of the movement and this gets worse when a rotor and more gears for an automatic rewind is placed on top. They also tend to be on the larger side of the scale.
Thick, heavy, cluttered and big, to which I can also add that a mechanical chrono that can rival the time tracking accuracy of a 15$ quartz watch has yet to be invented, which kind of makes the whole purpose for the existence of mechanical chronographs a bit superfluous.
So why bother at all?
Well, it's for the same reason that we bother with any other mechanical watch. Because they are cool, and because we managed to convince ourselves that we can form some kind of a spiritual connection with these small machines.
Considering the wide range of strange ideas and beliefs common to humans this is a rather harmless delusion in comparison, and we should be happy that it's still allowed and that we live in a world where we can indulge in owning things that we like instead of being restricted to the bare necessities.
And this is why I own a Mathey-Tissot Type XX. It's obsolete, I don't use the chrono, the SW510 can't even hope to match the accuracy of my quartz SNA411 and I had to compromise on date and automatic rewind to get it slim enough.
But come on, look how cool the M&T entwined logo looks on the crown! And it has all these cute buttons!
The Mathey-Tissot Type XX is a close reproduction of the original watch supplied by Breguet to the French ministry of defense, but it's not a clone or a homage. The manual SW510 is a traditional manual chrono and not a flyback, and it's not a homage since Mathey-Tissot was the original manufacturer for Breguet first batch of Type XX.
I also like the way it looks and how it wear on my wrist, and I know that it will me make me irresistible to women.
I'm a big fan of watches that are interesting because they are either unique, have interesting features, well designed or simply offer a great value for their price.
Did not realize chronographs were an aphrodisiac😜
Did not realize chronographs were an aphrodisiac😜
You didn't know that big watches with plenty of hands and buttons are chick's magnets?
You didn't know that big watches with plenty of hands and buttons are chick's magnets?
I got all the hands the chicks need 🖐️🖐️🖐️🖐️
"The problem with chronographs is that objectively speaking, they are not very good watches." It has to be true because I read it on the internet.
"The problem with chronographs is that objectively speaking, they are not very good watches." It has to be true because I read it on the internet.
I gave my reasons and you are free to disagree, or claim that none of it applies in your case.
While you wrote all those complaints about mechanical chronos my eyes just melted for the type XX LOL.
A military styled watch with a CND symbol on the crown by accident, how avant garde!
While you wrote all those complaints about mechanical chronos my eyes just melted for the type XX LOL.
It just proved that you are human. Purchasing a watch is an emotional decision first and foremost.
"The problem with chronographs is that objectively speaking, they are not very good watches." It has to be true because I read it on the internet.
I hear you however if what you wrote was influenced by your "...personal feelings, tastes or opinions" you really mean subjectively.
I hear you however if what you wrote was influenced by your "...personal feelings, tastes or opinions" you really mean subjectively.
No, I don't believe so. The reasons I gave were not subjective. Chronos in general are larger, thicker, heavier and less legible than standard 3 hands watch. There is nothing subjective about it.
This never prevented me from buying them, and this is a matter of personal feelings, tastes or opinions, wealth, etcetera. Which is a good thing because life would be very boring if we only bought things on a purely functional and necessary level.
Full ack. Only drawbacks.
Thicker, Less Water resistant, more expensive servicing.
the big Seconds Hand is always at 12, blocking the view on the Logo/Text.
That's why my only Chrono is the Speedmaster Pro. And i use the Seconds Hand as a Pointer Date instead. ;)
I got all the hands the chicks need 🖐️🖐️🖐️🖐️
I'd rather not use my hand in this context, but if it works for you then whatever float your boat I guess.
I guess it's nice that such things exist for people that are into that. I'm too rational for that. I do appreciate that case back though. That is manly and purposeful.
Servicing costs are a good point (Jewlers in my area want around $600 USD to service one, hence why I only have one chronograph in my collection). Not sure about everything else.