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What is the difference between a chronometer and a conventional movement. Chronograph or chronometer? Choosing a men's watch How to use a chronograph in a wristwatch

Due to the similarity in sound, the words “chronograph” and “chronometer” are often confused, although in fact these are two completely different words. different concepts. Both devices have general purpose- to determine the time, but they do it in different ways. Any chronometer can be a chronograph, but not any chronograph can be a chronometer. We understand why.

Chronograph - a mechanism built into the watch that allows you to fix short periods of time. Unlike a conventional stopwatch, the chronograph performs such functions as: starting, stopping and resetting the results, without affecting the operation of the movement itself. Buttons are used to control the mechanism.

Chronograph literally means "recording time" - a combination of the Greek words chronos - "time" and grapho - "to write". Today, such a name is often confusing, it can hardly be called successful, because modern chronographs are able to fix time intervals, but not record them. The explanation for this confusion lies in history. The very first chronographs were equipped with ink needles, which, fixing time readings, put a dot on the dial.

The inventor of the chronograph cannot be called with certainty one person. The first modern chronograph was invented in 1816 by Louis Monet, it was intended for the study of astronomical objects. A few years after that, the watchmaker Nicolas Riessec made modifications to the invention necessary for mass production, thus fulfilling the order of the French king Louis XVIII, a big fan of horse racing. The king's desire to know the exact time it took a horse to travel the distance from start to finish led to the first commercial chronograph, which soon went on sale. The first one wrist chronograph appeared only at the beginning of the twentieth century thanks to the efforts of Gaston Breitling. The chronograph was equipped with a stopwatch and a single control button, allowing you to perform actions only in sequence.

Today, simple one-button chronograph watches have become almost rare, replaced by more complex movements. Summation Chronographs have two buttons: with the help of one, the stopwatch is started or stopped, with the help of the other, the results are reset to zero. Split Chronographs equipped with an additional module that drives the second hand, they are able to simultaneously record the time of two different events. Usually, there are three buttons in the control of split chronographs: the first two, as in the case of totalizing chronographs, are responsible for starting, stopping and resetting, and the third one is responsible for stopping one of the hands. There are also fly-back chronographs, they allow you to reset the readings of the countdown and at the same time start a new one by pressing the button just once.

Chronometer is a watch with a particularly accurate course, which has passed the mandatory certification carried out by the official Swiss chronometry institute COSC (Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres). Each chronometer is tested individually and, having passed all the tests, receives a certificate of conformity "Bulletin du marche".

Initially, the chronometer was created for ship navigation. In 1761, inventor John Garrison announced the completion of a device in a large wooden box. It, according to Garrison, was able to give sailors a long-awaited opportunity exact definition longitude during long sea voyages. The first tests confirmed the words of the Englishman - the chronometer worked, and a new era began in the watch industry.

Harrison did what no one else had done before him. The oscillation of the ship during movement did not affect the functioning of its chronometer, it was resistant to temperature changes and high humidity. Harrison's accurate chronometer allowed the ship's crew to calculate longitude - for every 15 degrees of the ship's movement to the East, local time moves forward by an hour. For every 15 degrees to the West time is running an hour ago. Thus, knowing the local time at the ship's location, the sailors calculated the remoteness of places, both in the East and in the West.

The tragedy brought the chronometer to new level development - in 1891 in Ohio, USA, there was a railroad accident. The local authorities learned their lesson and decided to as soon as possible develop a chronometer for use on railway. Among the technical requirements for the device, its compactness was especially emphasized - Harrison's chronometer was the size of a small cabinet, which did not suit the railroad workers.

The man whose name is immortalized in the name of the famous watch manufactory Ball undertook to create a new chronometer. American Webster Clay Ball created the first chronometer in pocket watch format, his innovation later migrated to wristwatches.

Wristwatches with a chronometer can be either mechanical or quartz. A quartz chronometer is slightly less susceptible to temperature changes, but this common property all quartz watches. However, let's not forget that in cold weather quartz watch slightly lag behind, in the warm they can rush a little. Moreover, an aging quartz crystal will become less and less accurate over time - all these circumstances must be taken into account. A quartz chronometer, as a rule, is bought in order to purchase a new one in a few years. Mechanical, subject to the rules of maintenance, only once and is transferred to descendants.

Wristwatches have been around for over 100 years. During this period of time they have undergone many improvements. Often, wrist "walkers" are not just a device for measuring time, but a multifunctional mechanism. Chronograph and Chronometer- concepts that are often encountered and due to the consonance of names they are sometimes confused. Especially novice watch lovers.

The chronograph is a useful and sought-after instrument.

The word "chronograph" consists of two Greek terms - "time" and "write". This is a time recording device. The inventor of it is called George Graham - a lover of horse racing, who needed to mark short periods of time. The device is always an integral part of the watch, in contrast to the stopwatch, which is sold in a separate case.

To control the chronograph, there are separate buttons on the case. Their use does not affect the course of the main arrows. The mechanism can be simple or complex (with the possibility of summation). The first involves the countdown of one period of time. Complex - allows you to sum up time periods without resetting previous indicators.

There are also split-chronographs with two hands, they make it possible to follow two events at the same time. And controlled by three buttons. Even the simplest variations will be useful:

  • in sports (measure the duration of a race or race);
  • in medicine (for example, measure the pulse);
  • in science and laboratories;
  • in navigation and military affairs.

Chronometer is a title bestowed only on highly accurate clocks.

This term refers to a very precise wrist watch. They are affixed with the Certified Chronometer inscription, but only after the product has passed a series of tests and received a certificate.

The document is issued by COSC, the Swiss Institute of Timekeeping. The manufacturer must send the sample to laboratory researchers who will different tests, check the effect of temperatures and see how the mechanism works in different positions.

Research is quite expensive, so chronometers are usually a couple of hundred euros more expensive than their counterparts without a certificate. The document is the pride of the manufacturer, but in practice it does not have much significance. Indeed, the habits of the owner of the watch and even how often he winds the spring influence the accuracy of the movement. Therefore, in fact, the actual accuracy does not coincide with the nominal one.

What is the main difference?

In a nutshell, chronograph in hours- This is a stopwatch in an analog (hand) clock. It is placed on the main dial in the form of a small additional one. And the chronometer is ordinary mechanical watches On the hand. But with greater accuracy, which is confirmed by a special certificate.

Is a chronograph a useful feature or an unnecessary complication in the design of wristwatches?

A wrist watch is an important and necessary accessory that helps to complete the image of a man and emphasize his status and position in society. A modern wrist watch is not just a device for measuring time, but also a multifunctional device that can be very useful. Indeed, in such accessories there can be a calendar, chronograph, alarm clock and many others. useful features. And if an alarm clock with a calendar does not raise questions about their use, then they appear with a chronograph.

You need to start with what wrist watch A chronograph is a kind of counter that allows you to very accurately measure small periods of time: minutes, seconds, hours. Its name comes from a combination of two words, translated from Greek meaning "record time". And due to the fact that the counter is not connected with the mechanism of the watch itself, with its help the measurements will be very accurate and of high quality.

What is a chronograph in watches?

The chronograph on the watch is turned on with the help of a button located on the case. At the same time, the operation of the chronograph does not interfere with the operation of the main dial. How to use the chronograph on the watch? Very simple - control is carried out using the buttons built into the case. This undoubted advantage is also complemented by the fact that the power button can be multifunctional, it can switch the working dial, complete measurements, reset the values ​​of the current measurement, reset them. It is also possible to use the chronograph as a stopwatch by pressing the buttons. It is also possible not only to measure and measure individual periods of time, but also to record them and store data. We hope you now understand what a chronograph is in a watch and how important it is!

Features and Benefits

Modern chronograph watches not only allow you to measure certain periods of time, but can also do this for several processes at the same time. So there can be chronographs that are equipped with one, two or even three control buttons and the possibility of parallel measurement of several different periods of time. This explains how to use the chronograph on the watch.
But this is not the limit of the capabilities of a modern chronograph - not only can they calculate the length of different segments, they can also summarize these measurements among themselves. The length of the segments that can be measured by such a mechanism also grows - from several minutes, at the dawn of the appearance of chronographs, to 12 hours in modern models. Wristwatches equipped with a chronograph bring a touch of elegance to the image of their owner.

Who needs a chronograph?

Who needs a chronograph in a watch? This function is most popular among people involved in sports and fans. various kinds active rest. All of them need to constantly monitor certain periods of time, which allows you to make a high-quality chronograph. Also, chronographs are constantly “hunted” by the military, who understand what a chronograph is in watches and all its importance.

What is this function for?

What is a chronograph for? It is useful for those who need to control the time spent on work or need a stopwatch. After all, if you need to calculate how much time passes between any operations or under some conditions, then there is simply no more necessary function than a chronograph.

What are the disadvantages of a chronograph?

Its main disadvantage can be called its complex design, which leads to an increase in the size of watches. Watches with a chronograph are much larger and heavier in weight than their brothers without additional features and such useful accessories. It also leads to an increase in the final cost of the model. That is why it is necessary to think right away whether the chronograph function will be used and whether it is really necessary. In fact, the chronograph is rarely used for its intended purpose. The very presence of a chronograph in watches is more often considered, which emphasizes the position and status of its owner.

Unfortunately, another disadvantage of the chronograph is its expensive repair. The chronograph works almost forever, but it will not be easy to repair a broken mechanism by picking up a broken part to replace it. So, in a disassembled state, this is a lot of springs and buttons that are interconnected through wheels and gears. Only a master can figure out this chaos, but by putting all the details together, a watch with a chronograph will again work like new!

Throughout the long history of watchmaking, craftsmen have tirelessly improved the mechanisms of their products, trying to make them more accurate and endow additional features. One of these functions is chronograph. This concept is often confused with a chronometer due to similar names, but their meanings are completely different. Let's try to figure out what a chronograph and a chronometer are in a wristwatch.

What is a chronograph in a watch

A chronograph in watches is (ancient Greek chronos “time” + grapho “I write”) a mechanism that allows you to measure short periods of time, like a stopwatch. However, unlike a stopwatch, a modern chronograph is an addition to the main function of the watch, without affecting the operation of the mechanism as a whole. The first chronographs were separate devices capable of recording readings by making ink dots with needles. This is where the second part of the name comes from, somewhat confusing when it comes to wristwatches with a chronograph.

How to use a chronograph in a wristwatch

The chronograph mechanism is controlled by pressing buttons - they allow you to start the countdown, stop it and reset the results. Single pusher chronographs are now being superseded by more complex versions, such as the split chronograph with two hands. It allows you to watch two events with different duration and start time. Three buttons are usually involved in the control, which allows you to stop one of the arrows. Flyback chronographs allow you to reset and start a new countdown at the push of a button.

The chronograph is most useful for people associated with sports, but it can also be useful for representatives of other fields of activity, such as science, navigation and military affairs. For example, a tachymeter scale can be used both to measure the running speed of an athlete, and to measure the pressure or pulse of a patient.

How to use a chronometer in a wristwatch

A chronometer is also called a special accurate clock certified by the Swiss Institute of Chronometry COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres). There, the mechanism of each watch is individually tested and, upon successful completion, receives a certificate. Such a check is an expensive procedure, therefore certified swiss watches chronometers usually significantly more expensive than their "unverified" counterparts. Currently only 3% swiss watches chronometers boast COSC certification.

Chronometers can be not only mechanical, but also quartz, but do not forget that the quartz crystal is subject to aging and gradually becomes less accurate. If you want a chronometer to serve for many years, it is worth considering a mechanical version. In the end, such a wrist watch with a chronometer can be passed on to posterity, who will certainly appreciate such a gesture.

Liana Raymanova August 27, 2018

For several centuries, watchmakers have tried to improve their design as much as possible so that they show the exact time. To do this, they began to use additional mechanisms. Today in the domestic market you can buy watches with a chronograph. Many confuse chronograph With chronometer They are fundamentally different devices.

What is it?

The chronograph is a special mechanism, thanks to which it becomes possible to measure a short period of time. It might seem that this concept also covers the stopwatch. But chronographs, unlike the same stopwatch, measure segmentstime with an accuracy of 1/6 second, some models - up to 1/8 second.

How is a chronograph used in watches?

To use chronograph watch, just press the special buttons on the case. One of them is responsible for starting the countdown, the other stops it and resets the results. Models are becoming popular on the market that allow use the chronograph on the watch with just one button.

IN Lately sports watches, the chronograph in which has two hands at once, are in great demand. The main task is to simultaneously monitor several events that have different time start and duration. Here it is already necessary to use three buttons at once, thanks to which you can stop one of the arrows. There are also models that support function flyback. For what is she needed? With its help, you can reset the previous indicator with just one click and restart the countdown again.

The photo shows Men's Watch with a chronograph, the model is good because it looks stylish and beautiful both in the office and in an informal setting:

Men's watch with a chronograph on a leather strap, OKAMI(price link)

This feature is most demanded among those who go in for sports, because sports chronograph characterized by high accuracy. On the other side, wrist mechanical watches equipped with this feature will also be useful to sailors and the military. For example, thanks to the tachymeter scale, it is possible to measure the speed of movement of athletes, while simultaneously checking the pulse or pressure.

How to use this feature?

Please note that the chronometer is also a high-precision watch that has been officially certified by the COSC institute. There, each model is subject to testing, which will later be released to the market. As needed, experts provide advice on how to how to set up certain models whether adjustment is required in principle.

So, we figured out what a chronograph is in a wristwatch. We realized that A chronograph differs from a watch in functions measurement of a short period of time without interfering with the operation of the main mechanism. But how to work with her what is required for this?

Watches with a chronometer work on the same principle. If the design provides for the presence of one button, control will be carried out in strict sequence:

  1. The first press is start.
  2. Second press - stop.
  3. Third press - reset.

In multi-shooter models the user chooses desired chronograph , which he needs to use, through a separate button for each of the arrows. The principle of operation remains the same.

The photo shows Ladies Watch with a chronograph, they look no less interesting and stylish than men's, a weighty metal bracelet only emphasizes the fragility and femininity of the owner of the accessory:

Women's watch with chronograph on a metal bracelet, SL(price link)

What varieties exist?

All men's and women's watches with a chronograph differ from each other by the type of design. So, for example, depending on the type of mechanism, the following types are released on the market:

  • quartz chronograph;
  • mechanical chronograph.

Good quartz the chronograph is characterized by increased accuracy. There are also varieties depending on the type of scale:

  1. The most simple model It has a scale that can be used to measure a period of time.
  2. The tachymeter allows you to know the speed of movement of the object. Moreover, the clock setting provides for the possibility of checking the speed in miles or meters, depending on the features of a particular model.
  3. How female, and men's The watch can be equipped with a telemeter. The most popular are Japanese brands that produce products with this function. Japanese watches with a chronograph are an order of magnitude cheaper compared to those models that provide for the presence of a telemeter. The distance is determined by sound wave. The user can find out how much time is spent from the moment the lightning appeared to the sound of thunder.
  4. Eat Japanese, Swiss and other watches where the chronograph allows you to control production processes. It provides for the presence of a special scale that resembles a tachymeter, while using numbers you can determine the number of manufactured products or operations performed over the past 60 minutes.

Swiss watch with chronograph

How much?

Perhaps one of the most popular questions is how much can a model with a chronograph cost. The best Swiss gold chronograph watch can cost several thousand euros, and here it is applied gold alloy the highest standard. The cost of more mass models starts from 500 rubles (we are talking about really high-quality watches for their price). When making a choice in favor of a particular model, we recommend that you pay attention to the degree of protection of the case (waterproof or ordinary watches), the type of scale, and the number of control buttons on the case. By these parameters, you can understand exactly where you can use the chronograph in the watch. Naturally, do not forget to focus on models from popular manufacturers that provide an official guarantee for their products.

The video details how to use chronograph watch.