THM Recommends: Top 10 Chronographs You Wish Santa Gifts You

We’ve all heard about writers. Penning down thoughts, weaving words to create something worth reading. But, have you ever heard about a ‘time writer’? Well, a chronograph is known to be a time writer. There is a lot of competition in the market for high-end watches, so any newcomer to the field had better have impeccable quality control, stunning aesthetics, and top-notch components. The chronograph is one of the earliest technologies used in auto racing, allowing drivers to keep track of their lap timings at legendary endurance races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

But, it goes beyond this. They also make great gifts for this holiday season. As the holidays dawn upon us, here are our top 10 chronographs for the season.

1. Louis Moinet Time To Race

We all want to enter the predestined world of chronographs. But imagine having your very own personalised chronograph? The distinctive spirit of TIME TO RACE, which expresses the union of man and machine, propels it into the realm of gentleman drivers. A strong chevé sapphire dome takes up over half of the case's lateral surface, showcasing the chronograph function despite the watch's compact 40.7 mm dimensions.

This innovative form of inner bezel ring is separated from the crystal and sits flush with the raised chronograph mechanism, providing a breathtaking panoramic view of the column-wheel mechanism and the movement. Makes the perfect gift, isn’t it?

Price: INR 2699504 approximately

2. Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph

Blancpain's two new iterations of the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph offer a fresh take on the brand's signature design cues. The red gold version, with its striking blue dial, commands attention on the wrist, while the grade 23 titanium version, with its subdued anthracite face, prefers anonymity. Recently, Blancpain began using the purest form of titanium, known as grade 23 titanium, in several of its collections. It's utilised in watchmaking because it has significantly less oxygen than "normal" titanium. If you remove some of the oxygen from a metal, it becomes stronger and less prone to corrosion. Grade 23 titanium is favoured in
medicine due to its unrivalled strength, anti-allergenic properties, and biocompatibility.

Price: INR 12,54,000

3. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona

Are you looking to gift a timepiece to someone who has a passion for speed and driving? This is it. For those with a penchant for speed and driving, the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is the watch of choice.

When it was first released in 1963, the Cosmograph Daytona was tailored specifically suit the needs of top-tier race car drivers. It is an indelible symbol of the high-powered auto racing industry. For more than half a century after its introduction, the Cosmograph Daytona has been and always will be the gold standard for sport chronographs.

Price: INR 11,04,000

4. A Lange & Sohne Datograph Perpetual

The DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL is the first timepiece to feature both a chronograph and a perpetual calendar, a feat accomplished by Lange for the first time. This perpetual calendar displays the current day, weekday, month, and leap year with such precision that it won't need to be adjusted again until the year 2100, when a single day will need to be added for the leap year. With the chronograph feature, you can measure times down to the fifth of a second.

5. Omega Speedmaster '57 Co-axial Master Chronometer Chronograph 40.5 MM

One of OMEGA's most recognisable watches is the Speedmaster. The watch's participation in all six lunar missions is a testament to the brand's commitment to innovation and exploration.

This 40.50 mm replica of the iconic 1957 original is crafted from stainless steel and has a blue dial with rhodium-plated hour markings and "Broad Arrow" hands that are coated in white Super-LumiNova. The subdial at 3 o'clock displays the chronograph's 12-hour and 60-minute recorders, while the date window sits at 6 o'clock.

Price: INR 783,500

6. Oris Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph

The Divers 65 Chronograph is well-balanced and features a sizable handset, luminescent hour and minute hands, and subsidiary seconds and minutes hands that also have lume on the tips (not common). It's true that the Divers Sixty-Five Chronograph's 43mm case size is a significant departure from the standard Divers Sixty-36mm Five's case size, but the extra room on the dial for the chronograph makes up for the increase in bulk, and on the wrist, the watch looks and feels sporty without being garish thanks to the bubble effect of the domed crystal.

Price: INR 330417 approximately

7. Seiko Chronograph: Presage & Prospex Collection

In 1969, Seiko released Caliber 6139, which is widely regarded as the first automated chronograph with a column wheel and vertical clutch, solidifying the company's place in chronograph history. However, a pocket watch chronograph produced by Seiko in the early 1940s marks the beginning of the company's history of producing chronographs. Two new automatic chronographs honour two historic watches from 1964 and 1969, continuing a long and illustrious history of timekeeping. Both can be found in different collections; one is Prospex and the other is Presage.

In the Prospex collection, the watch's design is based on a popular style from the era known as the "Panda" among Seiko's followers because of the two black sub-dials that stand out on the white dial. The hour markers and tachymeter markings on the bezel are also spot-on, as are the orange chronograph second hand and the original's hairline dial finish.

In the Presage Collection, the new chronograph stays true to the 1964 Crown Chronograph's form with its boxy crystal, clearly defined numerals on the narrow bezel, and inwardly slanted case shape that keeps the watch snug on the wrist.

Price: INR 297375 approximately (Prospex Collection)

8. Tissot Heritage 1973

Collectors will be transported back in time as soon as they lay eyes on the new Tissot Heritage 1973, which pays homage to a time when daredevil racecar racers put their lives on the line. The newcomer is a lot livelier than its predecessor. The dial of the watch, which features a symmetrical tricompax layout with three subdials and a sporty blend of matte black and silver-plated surfaces, and orange elapsed-time hands, is equally as attractive as the rest of the watch.

Although the new 43 mm x 46.5 mm case size is in keeping with the spirit of the times, it may not be comfortable for thinner wrists. The surfaces of the sturdy steel case are finished to a high standard. Especially noteworthy are the sunburst on the satin-finished face, the finished facets on the strap lugs, and the narrow refined strip at the lower edge of the central part of the case. The only thing that detracts from the case's overall high-quality impression are the harsh edges on the undersides of the strap lugs. The sharpness of these edges is not seen when the watch is on the wrist, but becomes immediately apparent when touched.

Price: INR 181,000

9. Hamilton Khaki Field Auto Chrono

Haven’t you heard, there’s a new sheriff in town? Although Hamilton has released a "Khaki Field Auto Chrono," the newest model appears to be based on a design that has been far more popular with consumers. This Khaki Field Mechanical-inspired dial features raised markings and numerals in addition to its utilitarian style. This watch elevates the new Khaki line to new heights with its sleek 7750 chrono layout, dazzling Super-LumiNova, and chrono capabilities, and may attract enthusiasts who were searching for something a little more sophisticated.

Price: INR 123906 approximately

10. Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope Day-Date

The mechanical Max Bill Chronoscope, like the other items in this line, is stunning in its design since it pares down to the fundamentals. The dial's spare appearance is indicative of this. A stunning symmetry is achieved when the little seconds are hidden from view.

Price: INR 162562 approximately