Just a little question,
I’m not here to stir. Or provoke. I’m just wondering
Is it right to call a digital watch or a digital-Ana a chronograph if it has a stopwatch? Even as I’m writing this, I think I know the answer, but a handmade mechanical chronograph is different to a programmed chip. Or is it?
I love all kinds of watches, so I’m not claiming one is better. Im just wondering about nomenclature.
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David Lewis
First watch was bought for me by my father when I was 8. An Oris which I passed onto my daughter. Own 7 casios (5 gshocks). a seiko, my grandfathers rado Conway, a Wenger, and a few others. Love all w...
Sydney
Member since
Last active: 2 months ago
19.05 cm
It can be any device with those functions. I think chronograph just means “time recorder” whether it’s achieved through quartz, mechanical etc
It can be any device with those functions. I think chronograph just means “time recorder” whether it’s achieved through quartz, mechanical etc
True enough. I am, as usual, overthinking.
I always say a digital has a chronograph function, but wouldn't be so pedantic as to tell you calling a digital a chronograph was wrong.
🧐 it does seem to be the convention that a mechanical stopwatch is called a "chronograph" whereas a digital one is simply called a "stopwatch" .... No idea why, hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come along and give us a proper answer.
All I've got is "chronograph" sounds more sophisticated and expensive 🤔🤣
Being as they are usually more accurate than a high end mechanical movement, why don't we claim COSC or METAS accuracy?
(Rhetorical question)
Being as they are usually more accurate than a high end mechanical movement, why don't we claim COSC or METAS accuracy?
(Rhetorical question)
Yes, you can call it a chronograph whether quartz or mechanical, digital or analog. That certain folks call it a stopwatch versus a chronograph mostly seems to be matter of convention.
But the manufacturers have almost always called them chronographs.
Seiko historically has referred to almost all of its watches with a stopwatch function (digital, quartz, mechanical, analog whatever) as "chronographs."
Same with Omega and the X-33 Skywalker
And the big daddy, Casio, has it printed on the dial of many of its watches. Witness the f-91w
So I think there's not many ways you can truly be wrong here. I personally tend to refer to all wristwatches with a stopwatch function as chronographs.
Being as they are usually more accurate than a high end mechanical movement, why don't we claim COSC or METAS accuracy?
(Rhetorical question)
I get the joke but I'm going to be a pedant and note that COSC and METAS are accuracy designations from external Swiss agencies (the external Swiss Chronometer testing institute and the Swiss federal meteorology institute respectively) not just notations that it's an accurate watch. One of those things you have to pay for (which is why so many brands brag about it).
There are actually cosc certified Quartz movements (such as the one powering the old Rolex oysterquartz).