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. After all, such accessories can have a calendar, chronograph, alarm clock and many other useful functions. 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 the fact that in a wristwatch, 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 is also growing - from a few 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 of various outdoor activities. 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. Chronograph watches are significantly larger and heavier in weight than their brothers without additional functions 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!

People have been trying to organize their time for a long time. But, oddly enough, not everyone knows what a chronograph is in a watch. Watchmakers came up with it not so long ago. Many do not even know how to use it and do not know how it arose.

A bit of history

Only in 1821 did the first device appear that allowed time to be recorded. It was introduced by Nicholas-Mathew Rjossack. It was invented in order to keep track of time at the races. At the tip of the hand that counted the seconds was an inkwell. When the mechanism stopped, the needle touched the dial, thereby leaving a speck on it. Previously, they also tried to create a device that would help measure time intervals, but it did not look like a chronograph at all. Georg Graham, a watchmaker from England, was the first to introduce watches with such capabilities. So it was thanks to him that we learned what a chronograph is in a watch. After that, mechanisms appeared, the second hand of which had an independent wheel system, just once every second it made a jump. This is how they work today. And the first to describe such a mechanism was Jean Moise Pouzet, a Geneva watchmaker, in 1776.

Some interesting facts

To begin with, it is necessary to indicate how a chronograph differs from a watch. In fact, these are the same watches that have the ability to fix a certain period of time. The operation of the hand mechanism is completely unrelated to the chronograph. Buttons are required to control them. There are devices with one, two and three buttons. The first ones are not convenient enough, because start, reset and stop are carried out with one button.

Such models cannot be started after a stop. This is where a device with two buttons comes to the rescue. After stopping, it is possible to start the second hand.

Varieties of chronographs

After we figured out the hours, you need to find out what they are. There are simple models with one or two buttons. With the help of them, you can measure one period of time or several consecutive ones at once. Split is a more complex device. It has two second hands, which are located in the middle of the dial, one above the other. Such a chronograph allows you to measure the duration of various events that began at the same time and ended at the same time. different times. Such devices are equipped with three buttons. Fly-back is used to take measurements that have zero gaps between values. Moreover, a new measurement can be started by pressing one button.

Scope of application

Such devices are widely used. It is very important to know how to use the chronograph on your watch. For convenience, different scales are applied to it. The main one is used to make readings more convenient. Often it is divided into fractions of seconds. Today there are models that can measure 1/10th of a second. This is Zenith El Primero. This chronograph is unique. Its balance is 36,000 vibrations per second. With such a device, a very clear measurement can be taken.

Varieties by type of scales

There are models that are color-coded for an interval of three minutes to control phone conversation. Some are able to determine the parking time or the duration of a football match. Quartz models even beep when the time is up. In a word, everyone can choose for himself such a device that he needs.

Chronograph in watches - what is it? Together we will find the answer to this question and first turn to history.

Time jump

The competition of equestrians became the reason for the invention of the chronograph. Of the watch complications, he was one of the last to be born, in 1821. Tried Nikolos Mathieu. This is a French master. His invention in a pocket watch was approved by Louis 18th himself. The king, like Matthew, passionately loved horse racing and complained that there was no way to determine exactly who came to the start first. The problem has been removed, and the word "chronograph" remains a mystery to many. There is a similar concept of "chronometer" on hearing. It, as they say, knocks down pantalik. Let's understand the essence of the terms. Let's start with the chronograph.

Chronograph - what is it?

The words chronometer and chronograph are united by involvement in the word "chronos", that is, "time". Otherwise, things are different. A chronograph is essentially a stopwatch. The device records time intervals. In the first models, a container with ink was built into the watch, which could be added. There was a container at the tip of the second hand. When the notch button was pressed, a drop fell on the glass of the dial next to the time marks. That is why in the concept of a chronograph, the root is supplemented by the Greek grapho, that is, “to write”. The mechanism records the time.

The chronograph is included, both in, and in women's. Quartz models are also equipped with a stopwatch. However, the electronic version of the chronograph is just a program that displays data on the screen. This makes the stopwatch cheaper. At the same time, electronics provides greater accuracy. The chronograph is mechanical watch- mechanism. The "Stop-reset" and "Reset" keys launch a complex structure. It makes the caliber heavier, takes up space. Therefore, making an attractive and miniature chronograph mechanism is an art that requires a substantial surcharge. Fly-back watches are especially prestigious. The function was created for the convenience of the pilots, it allowed to reset the data with a single keystroke. In high esteem and "Split". This type of chronograph is equipped with a 2 second hand. The mechanism discards the problem of measuring a pair of events that started at the same time.

The difference between a chronograph and a chronometer

Chronometers are called watches with minimal failures in readings. The title is awarded by the Swiss Institute of Chronometry, giving a corresponding certificate for products. The clock has a built-in unit that levels the effect of gravity and other factors that "loosen" the mechanism. Therefore, the stopwatch in chronometer watches is more accurate than the chronograph in conventional accessories. At important starts, time is recorded exclusively by stopwatches of watches approved by the Institute of Chronometry. However, 2 complications in one case - the work is doubly precious and expensive.

Chronometer - special status hours!!!

Today, more and more often in various texts in which all the delights of certain watches (whether classic, sports or vintage) are described in pompous words, one can come across such a serious word as “chronometer”. However, few people thought about whether this term is correctly interpreted and whether it fits into this context. More often, the term "chronometer" is used as a synonym for the word watch, but in fact, a chronometer is not an ordinary watch, but a watch that is distinguished by maximum accuracy, the error of which is ± 5 seconds per day, while ordinary watches have a deviation equals ±20 seconds. Often the concept of chronometer is confused with a chronograph, although they can be complementary concepts, but a chronometer - a chronograph or a chronograph - a chronometer can rarely be found among the collections of watch companies. However, if you delve into the essence, then any high-quality chronograph must necessarily be a chronometer. In order to understand all the confusion of the above expressions, it is necessary to understand where the term chronometer came from and what it means in general.

The problem of determining longitude - the impetus for the creation of a chronometer!

In the history and further development of watchmaking, the creation of a marine chronometer occupies a special place, because a chronometer is an instrument that stores the exact time, which is so necessary to determine geographic longitude on the high seas. Over the centuries, several generations of watchmakers - inventors have designed and improved various chronometric devices, so indispensable for sailors. The creation of an accurate chronometer was so topical issue that both state and the best scientific minds were involved in its solution. Up to the XVIII problem exact definition longitude was considered unsolvable and was among such complex mathematical problems as the squaring of a circle or Fermat's theorem.
Back in 1510, the Spaniard Santo Cruz proposed a rather simple method for solving the problem of longitude, which was called the “clock transportation method”. For about three centuries, the best minds of mankind worked on the creation, and then on the improvement of chronometers for use on the high seas. Apparently, a lot of efforts aimed at creating a chronometer served to ensure that modern watchmaking has reached almost perfection. However, everything is in order.
In the 16th century, accurate clocks did not exist, and scientists tested
all sorts of ways definition of longitude. Many methods were based on astronomical observations, and more precisely on calculations of the Moon, stars, Jupiter's satellites, solar and lunar eclipses. For example, in 1514 Johann Werner of Nuremberg presented his development of the lunar distance method. For lunar observations, he used a special tool of his own invention - a transverse rod. Werner's method was based on the position that the distance of the Moon from one of the reference stars, which is located near the ecliptic, will be different in different parts the globe at the same time. At that time, various astronomical tables and almanacs of stellar and lunar positions already existed for points with already known geographic longitude. The method consisted in determining the lunar distance of an unknown point and comparing it with a known one, after which it was already possible to determine the difference in longitude between the observation point and the place for which the almanac was compiled.
The great genius of his time, Galileo Galilei, proposed another method for determining longitude. The four moons of Jupiter were discovered by Galileo. When observed from the Earth, satellites appeared and disappeared at the same moment at any point on the earth's surface. Galileo realized that satellites are the most reliable and perfect clocks that can be used to determine longitude on the high seas (if, of course, future eclipses are calculated in advance). Galileo presented his method to the Spaniards, but his discovery did not make the expected impression on them. In Russia, this method was widely used already in the XVIII - XIX centuries, but already to determine longitude in the vast expanses of land. Prior to this, astronomers had to transport huge telescopes, achromatic tubes and other special equipment across the Russian vast expanses. This was the reason why a growing number of scientists leaned towards a simple method of transporting watches, trying to create time instruments suitable for navigation. The essence of the method of transporting watches, quite simple at first glance, is that our Earth, which rotates in vast outer space, is a kind of astronomical system of uniform time and longitude. Each meridian of our planet has its own astronomical time. One hour of time difference equals a longitude difference of 15 degrees. If, before going out to sea, Usually, as a result of observing the Sun, it is established that noon has come (the Sun at highest point firmament), and the ship's on-board clock indicates Greenwich Mean Time, for example, 14 hours. The difference in two hours is 30 degrees.

At the beginning of the 16th century, in addition to sun, hourglass and water clocks, there were already various mechanical instruments that, in addition to time, indicated the phases of the moon, the position of planets and stars, as well as the clock beat various melodies and controlled the synchronous movements of complex figures. However, the accuracy of such clocks, which was ± 1 hour per day, was not sufficient to determine the longitude, for the exact determination of which an error of no more than a tenth of a second per day was required. It was this that was the main reason that the method of transporting watches was not used.
In the history of the creation of the chronometer, the most significant and famous project is the "public award", which was provided for by a bill (law) from the House of Lords in 1714. According to this bill, that person or group of persons who will be able to determine the longitude on the high seas will receive a huge amount for those times, equal to a fortune - 10, 15 or 20 thousand pounds sterling. The amount depended on the accuracy of the proposed method.

First precise clock can rightly be called
creations of two great scientists - Galileo Galilei and Christian Huygens. However, they were completely unsuitable for work on a ship, since they were stationary pendulum clocks. In 1674, Huygens proposed an oscillatory balance-spiral system as a marine clock regulator. This idea has become very relevant and effective. Soon Huygens designed the first portable watch, in which the balance system was used as a regulator - a spiral with its own oscillation period, which was further widely used for pocket watches, chronometers and other portable time devices. It was the works of Galileo Galilei and Christian Huygens that became the basis for creating accurate watches. They showed scientists the way to achieve accuracy, which consisted in ensuring the freedom of oscillation of a pendulum or balance system - a spiral and limiting this device from any external influences, such as changes in temperature, humidity, pressure, etc. At that time, this was extremely difficult to achieve, but understanding the problems made this task somewhat easier. The designers of that time needed to solve these problems for the accurate and reliable operation of ship time meters. The designers first needed to achieve the stability of the oscillatory system with changes in temperature, pressure, humidity and other external influences. Secondly, the designers needed to ensure the freedom of oscillation of the balance or the pendulum, as well as a constant influx of external energy for non-stop operation. The designers tried to minimize the interaction of the descent (stroke) with the oscillatory system, based on simple physical considerations. This is how the non-free movement of watches, such as spindle, cylinder, was replaced by free - anchor and chronometer.

Already by the beginning of the 19th century, designers managed to select all the best from numerous inventions, and the marine chronometer acquired almost modern look, which included the following main nodes:
- oscillatory balance-spiral system with thermal compensation device;
- free chronometer movement;
- a spring motor with a fusee (snail) - a mechanism that reduces the effect of the spring torque on the clock;
- pointer indication of hours, minutes, seconds; indication of the winding time of the spring

It was Harrison who managed to create watches in which these problems were practically absent. Subsequently, the solution of these problems became the subject of such scientific design developments as isochronization and stabilization of the oscillation of the balance-spring system, reduction of friction in the kinematic scheme of the watch mechanism, and temperature compensation of the oscillatory device. Only after Garrison's followers - Pierre Leroy, Thomas Myuge, Ferdinand Bert, Thomas Earnshaw, John Arnold managed to solve these problems of the chronometer, did it become possible to create a modern chronometer. The chronometer mechanism was enclosed in a glass case made of brass, naturally water resistant, and placed in a wooden case on a cardan suspension. Therefore, when rolling, the clock face remained horizontal relative to the ground.

Difficulties of the first chronometer!

The word "chronometer" comes from the Greek words "chronos" - time and "meter" - to measure. The first attempts to create chronometers date back to the 15th century. The term "chronometer" was coined by Jeremy Tucker in 1714, which he named his invention: a clock in a vacuum chamber. The emergence of the most accurate instrument for measuring time was dictated by the constant difficulties of navigation: ships setting off on distant expeditions simply needed an ultra-precise instrument to accurately determine their location. On this tool Greenwich Mean Time (or another observatory) was set and longitude was calculated from the time difference. The slightest inaccuracy or failure in the operation of this complex vital device could lead to the crash of the ship and the death of people. All the maritime powers of that time gave fortunes to scientists who came up with more accurate and reliable mechanisms for ship chronometers. Until the 18th century, sailors navigated the vast expanses of the sea with approximate calculations and their sixth sense (I wonder how they understood who had it better developed?). Unfortunately, there were no other methods at that time, so the sailors were content with approximation and the development of feelings. So those sailors who sailed on their ships to their destination can be safely considered lucky. Already in 1675, the “useful” Greenwich Observatory was created, which was designed to solve problems precisely with determining the exact coordinates. As mentioned above, states offered fortunes to those who could create the most accurate mechanism for determining their location in the sea or ocean. In 1714, the Parliament of England announced that a watchmaker who made a watch capable of determining longitude at sea would be paid 20,000 pounds sterling (almost 150 kilograms of gold!) over 30 miles. Immediately, many watchmakers, perked up, began a serious struggle for the accuracy and reliability of ships' clocks. Soon the Board of Longitude (Board of Longitude, a branch of the Scientific Royal Society) was inundated with various projects. Among them were even those who proposed launching rockets at a certain time GMT, which could be seen by sailors from their ships or stationary barges (a kind of strategic objects on the high seas). However, this project was not implemented due to its huge costs - 6,000 barges.
However, the financing was received by a carpenter and watchmaker - self-taught from the English outbackJohn Harrison. Harrison's free time was devoted to the creation of ultra-precise wooden chronometers that did not need to be cleaned and lubricated. This feature of the chronometers created by Harrison consisted in the species of trees used, which emit oils, which lubricated the mechanisms of the chronometers he created. Harrison, who at that time was twenty-one years old, stubbornly comprehended the laws of physics and mechanics, as well as the properties of various metals. And in 1725, Harrison was lucky: a pendulum was invented, the length of which remains constant, regardless of temperature. This was followed by a painstaking five-year work on the creation of the first chronometer (1730-1735). Harrison's main task was to improve conventional chronometer of that time to ensure its continuous running even with strong pitching. Harrison's first chronometer was equipped with many different springs and compensating mechanisms that continued to work with the vibrations that are an integral part of any sea voyage. Testing of the 35-kilogram chronometer was carried out on a ship bound for Lisbon. This massive chronometer was placed in a protective box, which was hoisted onto the ship with the help of six people. The box was placed in the cabin, hung on hooks from the ceiling beams. During the entire journey, the chronometer had an error of 4 minutes (111 km in equatorial latitudes). Harrison was able to identify the problem, which was the sharp turns of the ship. Harrison decided to continue his developments, determined to eliminate the deficiencies wherever possible and significantly reduce the size of his invention.
It took Harrison three years (1737-1740) to create the second model. The second model became a reduced and improved copy of the first chronometer. However, the promised bonus was late. When Harrison presented his updated version to the strict judgment of academicians, at that time the leadership of the Royal Society had already changed. The new leadership was committed to the astronomical method of determining longitude using observations of the moons of Jupiter and actively promoted this method. Even Galileo resorted to this complex method. However, at sea, under conditions of poor visibility and strong pitching, this method proved to be ineffective. In turn, Harrison decided not to retreat: he began to change the design of his chronometer, which took him 20 years (1740-1759). As a result, a strict court appeared a new version chronometer, the weight of which this time did not exceed a kilogram. Harrison was already 66 years old when the work on the chronograph was completed. In 1761, the ship "Deptford" set off from England to Jamaica, on board of which was Harrison's test chronometer. Accompanying the precious instrument was old John's son, William. The master himself was already sixty-eight years old, and he did not dare to go to sea. At sea, a conflict arose with the navigator, who claimed that the ship's longitude was 13 degrees 50 minutes. The chronometer readings showed 15 degrees 19 minutes. A difference of one and a half degrees is about ninety miles, which, you see, is not a little. However, when, at the exact time appointed by young Harrison, the island of Madeira opened up, the sailors unconditionally believed in the chronometer. After 161 days of sailing in the vast expanses of the sea, upon the arrival of the ship in Portsmouth, the chronometer error was only a few seconds! Thus, the problem of determining the geographical longitude in the open sea was solved. And since then, the chronometer has been an indispensable accessory for every ship.
However, Harrison had to win back the promised bonus. The Board of Longitude refused to accept Harrison's invention, despite the fact that Harrison's chronometer was copied by everyone. On his second voyage, Cook took one of Harrison's replica chronometers. At the end of the voyage, Harrison spoke very highly of this useful device; for three years of sailing from the tropics to the Antarctic, the chronometer error did not exceed 8 seconds per day (i.e. 2 nautical miles at the equator). After a long red tape, Harrison received - the same 8,750 pounds of bonus. For 40 years of work from various sources the master received about 23 thousand pounds. How much the master spent on the development of his precise chronometers remained unknown.

Russia's contribution to the creation of the chronometer!

Despite the fact that the creation of an accurate chronometer is entirely belongs to the masters Western Europe, Russia - the largest maritime power - also made a significant contribution to the improvement of both the mechanism and the methodology for using chronometers to accurately determine the longitude of the area both on land and at sea. In one of the documents, the Russian Emperor Peter I wrote: “I do not in the least blaspheme the alchemist, looking for a way to turn metals into gold, a mechanic trying to find perpetual motion, and a mathematician trying to find out the longitude of a place in order that, looking for the extraordinary, they suddenly acquire many side useful things.
M.V. Lomonosov was engaged in the development of various instruments specifically for the Russian fleet, which were so necessary for navigation and practical astronomy, and most importantly, for determining longitude. Among the extensive works of M.V. Lomonosov great place occupied the creation of an accurate marine chronometer. M.V. Lomonosov is credited with creating a chronometer with an original engine, which he created independently of the English watchmaker Harrison. Lomonosov proposed a mechanism project in which four springs (instead of one) through snails (fuzei) unwind on one drive axis, which served to reduce the effect of spring elasticity on the clock. In this case, the springs are wound up in turn at different times of the day.

Today, among the exhibits of the Polytechnic Museum, one can find a unique astronomical clock created by the Russian craftsman F. Karas, who cleverly applied the ideas of M.V. Lomonosov with their further development. In this watch, the master has already applied eight springs through eight volutes, which are untwisted on one drive axle. Russian watchmakers were puzzled by the same problems of improving watches as their well-known Western European counterparts. The well-known mechanic and master of the Academy of Sciences of Russia I. P. Kulibin was developing a special design for temperature compensation of the system balance - spiral - continuous monometallic balance with small bimetallic plates. Among the archival documents of the Academy of Sciences, drawings and notes have been preserved, through which Kulibin enters into a dispute with the English watchmaker and inventor Arnold, obviously knowing well about his work on the creation of a chronometer. The design of the Kulibin compensation device was more streamlined and less prone to vibration than the similar Arnold system. Kulibin himself wrote about this: “And since all my devices are soldered, turned and polished, then they should not be false from an equal and smooth course in the air. For Arnold's devices, screwed to the circle of the pendulum, with their movement cutting through the air from the unevenness of the screwed devices, there should be a large shaking, although insensitive, but vertical and horizontal.

Kulibin's idea did not sink into oblivion, but found its own worthy use in the 20th century. In 1921, the Swiss designer Paul Ditisheim designed a monometallic balance with small bimetallic plates - "affixes" for the chronometer.

Russia did not remain in the shadows during the development of the global watch industry. Already since 1829 in such major Russian cities as Moscow, St. Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod, All-Russian exhibitions of manufactory products were held, among which the best watches of the best Russian masters were presented. Based on the descriptions of those exhibitions, a huge place on the part of experts was given to the creation of the most accurate instruments for measuring time - pendulum astronomical clocks and chronometers. Activities aimed at creating such tools were strongly encouraged. At the first exhibition, which was held in St. Petersburg in 1829, the most famous and talented Moscow watchmaker Ivan Tolstoy presented his "brainchild" - a chronometer with a rare tourbillon at that time, which, as the report indicated, "judging by the finish, does not inferior to the French. The chronometer created by Tolstoy was subjected to the most stringent tests for accuracy and reliability at the Observatory. Thanks to the petition of the Manufactory Council and on the proposal of the Minister of Finance, Ivan Tolstoy was awarded a medal for the creation of a pocket chronometer - a tourbillon in a gold case.
At the same exhibition, the St. Petersburg master Gauta, who later worked at the Pulkovo Observatory, presented a marine chronometer. The exhibition experts were imbued with special respect for Gaut's chronometer, writing the following: “The marine chronometer, exhibited by Mr. Gaut, is a very excellent work, serving as the first convincing proof that watchmaking art exists in Russia in such great perfection, which England, France and France have been famous for until now. Denmark". Gaut's chronometers were tested at the Hydrographic Depot of the Naval Staff. "The test showed that the course of these chronometers in cold and warm weather is very uniform, so that these honors should be of absolutely equal dignity."
At the beginning of the 19th century in Russia, chronometers began to be used not only at sea, but also on land. Russian academician V.K. Vishnevsky applied the method of determining the longitude of the main points by the occultation of stars by the Moon. The longitude of about 200 waypoints was determined by means of two carried pocket chronometers. Knowing the longitude of the main points made it possible to calculate the error of the chronometer used before and after transportation and to check the accuracy of the longitude coordinates made. This method was widely used by the Pulkovo Observatory, founded in 1835. The opening of this observatory global importance. For example, the director of the Greenwich Observatory, J. Erie, noted in 1847: “I have no doubt that one Pulkovo observation is worth at least two made anywhere else.” In turn, in 1848, the famous French physicist J. B. Biot wrote: “Now Russia has a scientific monument, higher than which there is no other in the world.”
In 1843 and 1844, the Pulkovo Observatory was able to determine its longitude relative to Greenwich thanks to two chronometric expeditions. In 1843, during the expedition led by V. Struve, Altona and Pulkovo were connected. For observations, 81 chronometers were used, of which only 7 chronometers directly belonged to Pulkovo. The rest of the chronometers were borrowed from various Russian and foreign institutions, as well as from private individuals, such as Admiral I.F. Kruzenshtern, Grand Duke Konstantin, the famous English watchmaker E. Dent, the legendary French watchmaker A.-L. Breguet. To carry out the calculations, 9 trips from Pulkovo to Altona and 8 trips in the opposite direction were made. In 1844, a chronometric expedition was carried out between Alton and Greenwich under the leadership of O. Struve. During the expedition, this time only 44 chronometers were used. In total, about two years were spent on determining the longitude of Pulkovo relative to Greenwich.
The scope of Russia's chronometric expeditions is truly great. This is evidenced by the fact that back in 1843 there were only 508 points with the exact location on the map of Russia, and after only 20 years their number increased to 17240.
It is the urgent need to equip marine
and land expeditions with a sufficient number of chronometers became the main reason for the production of domestic time meters to begin in Russia. Soon, extensive scientific activity began throughout the country to improve the accuracy of the chronometer. Under the roof of the Pulkovo Observatory, with a common effort, both watchmakers and scientists who were actively researching chronometers worked. In 1832, an error in the movement of chronometers with a compensation balance was discovered thanks to the efforts of the famous English watchmaker and designer E. Dent. This phenomenon is called "Dent's anomaly" or "secondary compensation error". To solve this problem caused by the temperature factor, E. Dent, as well as various craftsmen, including the Russian master Ivan Viren, proposed a huge number of balance designs with additional compensation.
In the period 1878 - 1879. astronomer of the Pulkovo Observatory V.K. Dellin and the watchmaker of the same observatory, I. Viren, have developed and manufactured a balance that can significantly reduce the secondary compensation error. In 1887, the astronomer of the Kronstadt Observatory V.E. Fusu, together with the master from the Pulkovo Observatory A. Erikson, managed to obtain in this area important results. A number of studies have been carried out with chronometers that have ground secondary compensation, during which it has been found that chronometers with additional compensation are subject to the influence of importance, which is reflected in sudden jumps in the movement. Guided by these studies, V.E. Fusa, the Maritime Department of Russia issued a decree on the replacement of balance sheets with additional compensation for ordinary balance sheets with traditional compensation. In 1897 the firm "A. Ericsson received a silver medal from the Ministry of Finance for the high dignity of table chronometers and for inventing a way to reduce the effect of humidity on the running of chronometers. The difficult problem of determining longitude was greatly facilitated by the use of radiotelegraphy. In Russia, the first radiotelegraphic determination of longitude was carried out by captains Matusevich and Dietz in 1910, who studied at the famous Pulkovo Observatory.
Today, despite the many different modern ways transmitting time signals over a distance, each ship has a marine chronometer on board, which is a true standard of time and differs little from similar instruments of the distant 19th century.

A modern chronometer is the pride of watch manufacturers!

Today, the term chronometer has moved away from its usual marine theme, despite the fact that for more than centuries it has been a reliable companion of fearless sailors in the vast expanses of the sea. Modern possibilities of wireless Internet, satellite communications of global positioning systems GPS (Global Positioning System) have significantly reduced the need for a chronometer on board modern ships. That is why the term chronometer successfully migrated to wristwatches, becoming a kind of synonym for these time meters.
Today, any watch can be called a chronometer, but in the professional environment of the watch industry, it is customary to call the most accurate watch a chronometer. Accuracy is the main advantage of any time meter, and not only, because in the case of constant haste or lagging of the clock, the mechanism of which is enclosed even in the most luxurious case, makes this status attribute simply unnecessary and unusable. Modern watches are equipped with many different complex functions, the number of which is sometimes simply frightening. That is why the clock must be as accurate as possible to ensure that all other functions are accurate. As mentioned at the beginning, very often the concept of a chronometer is confused with the concept of a chronograph. Today, however, a watch with maximum precision is called a chronometer, which has been tested for accuracy and received the appropriate COSC (Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres) certificate.
So let's figure out what is called a chronometer, according to what criteria this “title” is awarded, and what is COSC (Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres) ?! It is known that everything on Earth, be it a living being or an ordinary object, is affected by the gravitational force. Wristwatches are no exception. This can be verified on good example done by hand: you need to put the clock on a flat surface with the dial up for a day, then also put the clock with the dial down for one day. Comparison of average daily readings will show different result. The readings will also differ at different positions of the dial. In addition to the gravitational force, the accuracy of the watch is influenced by such external factors, as the temperature, the material of clockwork parts, which has a different coefficient of expansion. Chronometers are usually called watches, the error of which is - 4 / + 6 seconds per day at a temperature of + 8, + 23 and + 38 and at 5 different positions of the dial. Also taken into account are the indicators of all positions of the clock, which must also be within - 6 / + 8 seconds per day. A mechanism with a fully wound spring and a practically “discharged” spring should run with a difference not exceeding 10 seconds, and respond to temperature environment The watch should be within +/- 0.6 seconds per day. All these numerous actions with watches are the main conditions of the accuracy standard for mechanical watches - ISO 3159-1976. More stringent requirements are imposed on quartz movements: the movement error is not more than 0.07 seconds per day.
All this, of course, is not enough for the watch to receive the status of reliable and very accurate attributes - the status of a chronometer. It should be noted the most important fact in testing watches, namely, that it is not watches that are tested, but mechanisms !! Mechanisms are tested separately from general design, the master (in some cases, the client) will decide for himself what material and what form the mechanism should be enclosed in. Each movement that claims to be a chronometer is subjected to individual testing by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres or COSC). If the mechanism has successfully withstood all the "harsh" tests, it is provided with a certificate of conformity "Bulletin du marche". All COSC-certified timepieces are engraved with a serial number, as well as a certification number assigned to them by the chronometry institute.
However, before the questions of chronometry passed into the walls of the Official Swiss Institute for Testing Chronometers, the mechanisms were tested at the Observatory of the Swiss town of Neuchâtel (1866-1975) and at the Geneva Observatory (1873-1967). Each of these observatories had its own standards. From 1877 to 1956, the number of chronometers submitted for testing increased significantly, and official testing agencies Bureaux officiels de controle de la marche des montres took over the responsibility for testing. Each of this multitude of agencies operated independently of each other. However, this state of affairs came to an end on June 23, 1973, when all the official testing agencies merged into a single organization called the Official Swiss Institute for Chronometer Testing. The head office of this newly created organization was located in the Swiss town of La Chaux-de-Fonds (La Chaux-de-Fonds), after which branches appeared in Biel / Bienne / (Bienne, since 1877), in Geneva (1886) and Le Locle ( Le Locle, 1901), which are still active today.
The process of testing the mechanism itself is quite
interesting spectacle. At the very beginning, the mechanism is placed in its temporary case, it is also equipped with hands and a dial. Then the mechanisms are placed in special cells of ten pieces each. These cells are presented in a special frame of 10 floors, which makes it possible to test a batch of a good hundred mechanisms at once. The movements are then wound up by a special motor (rather than an automatic module), which is attached to the crown. The mechanism testing process is 15 days at 5 different positions and at three different temperatures ah (+8 °С, +23 °С and +38 °С). The error of the daily course is fixed for each position and temperature, while taking into account the readings of separately conducted tests. The ISO 3159-1976 standard describes the minimum requirements necessary to qualify as a chronometer. The indications of each mechanism are read using a scanning laser and automatically entered as a file into a computer. It is these data that are the basis of the COSC certificate. In addition to these indicators, the certificate contains data regarding the category of the mechanism, its functionality and dimensions. The type of anchor escapement, the properties of the balance spiral and the rim can also be specified. For example, movements with a diameter greater than 20 mm, with a hairspring and a spring engine, fall under category I.1. The area of ​​such a mechanism exceeds 314 mm.
It should also be noted that there are two types of certificates - regular and extended. Ordinary certificates contain only the final results of the test, while extended certificates, which are much more expensive and rare, contain all daily measurements for 15 days. Opposite the line of each day, the daily error of the mechanism is displayed (comparing with the standard), as well as the measurement error between two days. The date of the test must be indicated in the certificate. At the bottom of the certificate, 7 total values ​​\u200b\u200bare indicated, if even one of them does not comply with the standards during the testing period, the coveted certificate is not provided to the mechanism. Some manufacturers subject their movements to more severe tests than required by the COSC standard. The process of certifying movements is quite expensive, which is why the cost of a watch with a tested movement increases by 200 - 250 dollars.
And here are the cherished 7 parameters by which the mechanisms are tested:
1. Average daily clock rate. The data of the first 10 days are recorded at 5 different positions of the chronometer. If the average travel error is from -4 to +6 seconds, then the test can be considered successfully passed.
2. The average deviation of the daily course (deviation) at 5 different positions. For 10 days, the daily rate of the clock is measured in 5 positions, which in the end is 50 measurements. The allowable error of the daily chronometer movements should not exceed 2 seconds per day.
3. Maximum deviation of the daily course. The greatest difference between the indicators during two-day tests in one position is recorded. The error is no more than 5 seconds.
4. The difference in diurnal variations between the vertical and horizontal positions mechanism. The allowable difference is -6 to +8 seconds.
5. The maximum difference between the average daily and daily clock rate should not exceed 10 seconds.
6. Deviation of the daily course in case of temperature change by 1 degree Celsius. From the daily course at 38 °C, the course at 8 °C is subtracted, then the result obtained is divided by 30. The permissible error is ± 0.6 seconds per day.
7. Change in the daily course between the first two days of testing and the last day. The allowable change is ± 5 seconds.
Note: the daily course is the deviation of the clock readings from the exact time for one day, which is the difference between the clock corrections at the end and beginning of the day.

Flawless Timepieces Outside COSC and Geneva Seal

Fleurier Quality Foundation (FQF) chronometer certification is a separate page in the history of chronometer development. Despite the fact that the COSC Chronometer Certification Institute is quite an authoritative organization in the watch world, some watch companies such as Chopard, Parmigiani Fleurier and Bovet Fleurier, as well as Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier decided to define new standards and criteria for certification of finished watches, considering COSC standards to be imperfect. . The Fleurier Quality Certification fully complies with market and end-user regulatory requirements for better definition high-quality watchmaking, adapted to modern requirements and technological innovations.
The Fleurier Quality organization was established on June 5, 2001 by the joint efforts of the above watch companies, which established new aesthetic and technical criteria for finished watch products. The Watch Quality Assurance Association was founded in the Swiss town of Fleurier in the canton of Neuchâtel. Before proceeding directly to the FQF, perhaps it is worth briefly mentioning the traditions of high watchmaking in Neuchâtel and Fleurier. The basis for the development of watchmaking in the town was the workshop of David-Jean-Jacques-Henri Vaucher, opened in 1730, and just a century later a quarter of the population was involved in watchmaking. In the 19th century in Switzerland, only two centers were engaged in checking the quality of watches - Geneva and Neuchâtel. Chronometers were tested in observatories
centers, however, not all mechanisms were tested, but those that were intended for special purposes, and not on the wrist of an ordinary consumer. Today, one of the most famous quality certificates is the Hallmark of Geneva. However, the “activities” of this certification are limited by geographic boundaries: the Hallmark of Geneva is placed only on those watches that are assembled within the Canton of Geneva. The Hallmark of Geneva is placed on watches based on aesthetic criteria rather than quality criteria. Modern fine watch makers were extremely dissatisfied with the set of certification criteria, which eventually led to more stringent and complex criteria for checking the quality of watches. The standards of the COSC Chronometer Certification Institute also did not suit watch manufacturers, since only mechanisms without cases, hands and complications are tested for this certificate. As a result, on the initiative of Parmigiani, whose partners in this business were Chopard, Bovet and the Vauche manufactory, they founded their own quality assurance association, which, perhaps, is a complicated combination of the Hallmark of Geneva and COSC.

As an independent and autonomous entity, Fleurier Quality is legitimized by the active participation of public authorities, including the Swiss Federal Government, the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Municipality of Fleurier, the Val-de-Travers Regional Association and the Philippe Jéquier Foundation. Fleurier Quality certification includes requirements that must satisfy the end user: reliability and durability testing, as well as exclusive aesthetic quality finishes. The aim of the Fleurier Quality Foundation is to set the benchmark for the technical and aesthetic design of watches. Watch quality certification is issued in the form of a written certificate and the certification logo is placed on the watch. The certificate also promotes training in fine watchmaking.
The procedure for obtaining this certification is carried out on an objective basis by a technical committee that is independent of the participating brands. Specific conditions are required for certification: the mechanism must be certified by the COSC, the mechanism must have an exclusive and quality finish, the movement must pass the Chronofiable test, the final look of the watch must be tested by the Fleuritest machine. Before we continue talking about Fleurier Quality, let's understand what Chronofiable is and consider all the criteria individually in more detail.

Stage one - COSC certificate
To be tested for FQF certification, a movement must first be tested by the Swiss Chronometer Certification Institute and have the appropriate COSC certificate. To obtain COSC, the mechanism is tested for 15 days in five different positions and at three different temperatures. For each position, the daily deviation of the course is fixed. Only the mechanism that has shown positive results receives the COSC accuracy certificate.

Stage two - technical and aesthetic implementation
Since wrist watches are not only a time meter, but also an attribute of self-expression, then, you must admit that aesthetics also play important role. Today, high watchmaking is on a par with art, and since all the smallest details are important in art, wristwatches are an exception. Even the most invisible minute details of the internal mechanism of the watch must be skillfully decorated and look flawless. All details of the model must be decorated with a pattern, which must be applied to the platinum or visible parts of the bridge. Details should not have sharp and uneven corners, as well as perfectly polished. The ends of the screws should be flat, perfectly polished, and also have thin circular lines and bevelled edges. These are not all criteria from a long list. To pass this stage of the test, the mechanism is completely disassembled. Each detail undergoes a thorough visual assessment from a distance of 30 cm and under a microscope of a certain magnification.

Chronofiable is a system introduced by a consortium of watch manufacturers in order to speed up the aging process of watches by 8 times, in other words, this system allows you to get the effect of six months of use in three weeks. Most major watch manufacturers use these tests to obtain the Chronofiable certification. Tests include a series of pull and push measurements on the stem, on the buttons and, if necessary, on the rotating bezel, along with tests for the effects of magnetic fields, a pendulum impact test, excluding complications, and several water resistance tests. Watch manufactories must submit next quantity hours: 5 units if the model is released in a series of 1 to 100 pieces, 10 units if the model is released from 101 to 200 copies and 20 units if the model is released in a series of 200 or more. Chronofiable's accelerated aging procedure is commonly used to test the durability of watch industry products. Nowadays, this procedure is more often used to obtain approval for new products, as well as to identify any defects that may occur during the operation of the watch. In general, the number of tested units is from 5 to 40 enclosed movements, including the dial and hands.
The aging cycle of a Chronofiable watch consists of the following steps (mechanical and quartz movements):
Initial testing of functions, speed, amplitude, temperature test (0°C, 50°C), power reserve, winding speed (self-winding movement)
. Aging cycle considering linear and angular accelerations, impacts, temperature and humidity
. Acceleration factor: 8
. Duration: 21 days (corresponding to 6 months of operation)
. Impacts: 20.000 impacts between 250 and 5500 m/s2 (1 m/s2 = 1 gr)
. Angular acceleration approx. 8 rad/s2
. Temperature tests: 17°C, 30°C and 57°C with humidity
. Final test of functions, speed, amplitude, temperature test (0°C, 50°C), power reserve, winding speed (self-winding movement)

Stage four - Fleuritest machine

It may seem that all of the above steps of rigorous testing are quite sufficient to obtain FQF certification. However, the fund did not stop there. A car specially designed for the Association leaves an impression. The basic principle of this machine is to simulate the conditions in which wristwatches are usually used. The machine is set to the standard and most typical actions of a man and a woman: activity during the working day, sports activities, walking, driving and more. A fully manufactured watch is placed in a special device, which is subjected to machine-reproducible factors such as vibration frequency, hand position, and others that have a direct effect on the watch. The watch is subjected to this test for 24 hours non-stop. Permissible daily deviation in accuracy - from 0 to +5 seconds.
After positive results upon completion of the test, the case and movement are branded in the form of a stylized image of the letters “F” and “Q”, and the case back is decorated with the inscription “Qualite Fleurier”.
Adapted to modern standards of efficiency and cost-effectiveness, trials are conducted in Fleurier, on the foundation's premises, but may be relocated elsewhere with prior approval from the foundation, as geography is not part of the certification criteria. In order to participate in the tests and receive a certificate of new watch companies or manufactories, they need to pay a fee of 10,000 Swiss francs or 45 Swiss francs for each watch unit. Each watch company or manufactory has the possibility of delegating a maintenance technician among other experts from the technical committee. FQF also does not exclude the possibility of certification of watches with quartz movement. Since after testing the mechanism, the finished watch is also tested, then FQF, by right, falls under the concept of global quality.
It is safe to say that the wristwatch with the FQF brand is an impeccable mechanism and a true work of art. Despite the fact that the principles of the foundation, which have been clearly defined since its inception, were mentioned above, in the end I would like to summarize them: “the foundation is open to all Swiss and European manufacturers of mechanical watches, certification combines a number of requirements that guarantee the accuracy of the final product under all circumstances, proof of strength and durability, as well as an exclusive quality finish. Since its inception, the main goal of the Fleurier Quality Foundation has been to create the technical and aesthetic requirements for watch construction, with which it is possible to obtain a certificate of quality and to promote education and training in fine watchmaking.”

Finally, I would like to note that the exact course of the clock directly depends on the preferences of its owner, and the more sophisticated they are, the more likely the clock error increases. If a watch is used in hot or cold weather, with a strong or weak spring winding, in a horizontal or vertical position, whether the happy owner of an accurate chronometer leads an active or passive lifestyle - all this undoubtedly affects the measured and accurate course of a modern chronometer!

The Oyster Perpetual Rolex Deepsea watch is the standard of perfect technology!

The legendary watch company Rolex, whose watches have long become synonymous with luxury and the high status of its owner, today has the largest number of certified chronometers in its watch range. Founded in 1910 by Hans Wilsdorf, the Rolex watch manufactory unshakably occupies one of the leading positions in the watch market in all respects.
One of Rolex's most famous chronometers is the legendary Oyster Perpetual Rolex Deepsea (ref. 116660), which has gained popularity due to its water resistance of 3,900 meters (12,800 feet). This model, developed in 2008, has become the benchmark for divers - professionals around the world, as well as for those who seek risky undertakings. This model has found its worthy application innovative technologies, patented by Rolex, such as the Ringlock System, which is a unique case design that can withstand the pressure of water at sea depths thanks to three load-bearing elements: high-quality stainless steel, which is able to withstand such huge water pressure, located inside the middle case and glass , as well as the back cover; thick synthetic domed sapphire crystal; case back made of titanium alloy, mounted on a steel ring. The 44 mm case is made of high quality 904L steel (the case back is made of titanium alloy). The case features a unidirectional rotating 60-minute bezel with a black Cerachrom ceramic insert. The model is equipped with a helium valve made of high quality of stainless steel and adjusted to the body size. The helium valve is one of the main features of a professional diver's watch, which, during a decrease in pressure, begins to work, releasing gases and sealing the watch. The crown has three Triplock rubber inserts that make it water resistant. The numerals and markers on the black dial are made of platinum with patented PVD technology. All indicators are covered with Chromalight luminescent coating. The current date aperture is located at the 3 o'clock position. The 48-hour movement of the watch is provided by the automatic movement caliber 3135, equipped with a Parachrom hairspring, which is resistant to magnetic fields. The frequency of balance oscillations is 28,800 PCs/hour (4 Hz). The main feature of this model is, of course, the certificate of the Swiss Institute (COSC), which guarantees the most accurate running of the chronometer. The watch is also equipped with a special device developed by the French underwater engineering and hyperbaric technology firm COMEX. The sturdy bracelet of the Oyster Perpetual Rolex Deepsea (ref. 116660) is also made from high-quality 904L stainless steel and features a Rolex Glidelock fine adjustment system and a Fliplock bracelet extension that allows the watch to be worn over a diving suit.
The Oyster Perpetual Rolex Deepsea is a kind of tribute to the legendary Deep Sea Special, which was the first experimental prototype submerged in the deepest place on our planet - the Mariana Trench, which is 11,034 meters deep. After such a risky dive, the Deep Sea Special watch attached to the Trieste bathyscaphe continued to show the exact time. All the achievements of the Rolex watch company testify that their watches have been tested by time and by the most risky undertakings.

The Navitimer 01 Limited is a symbol of reliability and impeccable accuracy!

The legendary Swiss watch company Breitling, founded in 1884 by Leon Breitling in the town of Saint-Imier, has been a symbol of reliability and maximum precision for more than a century. Pilots of the world aviation give their preference to Breitling wristwatches due to their impeccable characteristics. It is quite obvious that the “symbol of accuracy and reliability” in a wide range of time meters is dominated by chronometers, because they are able to provide the pilot with the most accurate current indicators.
One of Breitling's most famous models is the Navitimer 01 Limited from the Navitimer collection of the same name, whose history dates back to 1940. It was then that the engineers of the legendary company came up with the idea to add a logarithmic scale to the chronograph bezel, thereby making it a convenient attribute for pilots. These watches immediately gained immense popularity, united in collections called Navitimer. The collection was under scrutiny, and already in 1961, one of the leading astronauts of The Mercury space program, Scott Carpenter, threw interesting idea Breitling management: the essence of the idea was to replace 12-hour disks with 24-hour ones. This replacement, according to Carpenter, would help astronauts in determining the time of day, since during space flights they experience some kind of disorientation in time. This is how the legendary Navitimer collection was born - a kind of fruitful cooperation between the watch company and the astronaut. During a space flight in 1962, Scott wore wristwatches from this collection. The Navitimer 01 Limited is a kind of tribute to the first modern chronometer. The perfectly round watch case with a diameter of 43 mm is made of high quality stainless steel. On the black dial there are chronograph counters: at the 3 o'clock position there is a 30-minute counter, at the 6 o'clock position - the 12-hour counter, and at the 9 o'clock position there is a 60-second counter. The aperture of the current date is located at the position between "4" and "5 o'clock". The dial, as well as the screw-in caseback, are covered with durable sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides. The watch's 70-hour running time is provided by the in-house self-winding Breitling caliber 01 movement with 47 COSC-certified jewels. The frequency of balance fluctuations is 28.800 PCs/hour. The black strap is made of leather. The watch is water resistant up to 30 meters. The model is presented in a limited edition of only 2000 copies. There is also a version in 18K red gold, also produced in a limited edition of only 200 pieces.

The Omega HB-SIA Co-Axial GMT Chronograph is a watch for a good purpose!

One of the most famous Swiss watch manufactories - Omega, founded in 1848 in the town of La Chaux - de - Font Louis Brandt, did not remain in the shadow of watch companies, which offer a variety of chronometers. For many years, astronauts around the world have preferred Omega timepieces. It was Omega watches that became the first time meters to land on the moon. The impeccable accuracy of Omega watches saved the lives of astronauts. Today, Omega has gained immense popularity for its impeccable chronometers.
A prime example The HB-SIA Co-Axial GMT Chronograph, a worthy addition to the legendary Speedmaster collection, can rightly be considered an impeccable chronometer. At first glance, this chronometer certainly inspires confidence. A rather massive round case with a diameter of 44.25 mm is made of durable titanium, which provides extremely long term use of this attribute. The black carbon dial houses the chronograph counters: at the 9 o'clock position there is a 60-second counter, at the 3 o'clock position there is a 30-minute counter, and at the 6 o'clock position there is a 12-hour counter. The aperture of the current date is located at the position between "4" and "5" hours. The watch is equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel, on which is located a tachymeter scale designed to calculate speed in km/h. Another feature of the model is the 24-hour GMT indication. The essence of this function is that the watch is equipped with an additional hand, which makes one complete revolution in 24 hours. This function is designed to calculate the time of the second time zone. The dial is protected by a durable sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating. The 55-hour movement of the watch is provided by a self-winding movement with a chronograph function. The movement is equipped with a column wheel, a freely oscillating balance-spring adjuster and a co-axial escapement that ensures maximum precision and durability of the internal movement. The mechanism is rhodium-plated and decorated with gilded engraving. However main feature of this movement is the COSC accuracy certificate. The water resistance of the HB-SIA Co-Axial GMT Chronograph is up to 100 meters.
Finally, I would like to note that the HB-SIA Co-Axial GMT Chronograph model is a tribute to the Solar Impulse project and the HB-SIA aircraft, which became the main "protagonist" of the project. The main goal of this project is to travel around the world on an aircraft that is set in motion using only the energy of the sun. In the important Solar Impulse project, Omega became a financial sponsor as well as a supplier of technological developments. The project aims to convey to the world's population that it is necessary to start developing environmentally friendly alternative sources energy. And it was Omega that was one of the first to start pursuing such a good and useful goal for the whole planet.

The history of watchmaking goes back over a hundred years. During this time, manufacturing companies have more than once introduced innovations into various mechanisms, trying every now and then to make their brainchild more accurate, then to attract the attention of picky buyers. But if you are an ordinary buyer, not very well versed in the calibers of watches and the nuances of their production, you are likely to have a lot of questions. Among them: what is a chronograph and how does it differ from a chronometer? Why do some watches have three dials, but only one hand?

The concepts of chronograph and chronometer are often found in descriptions of watches, and a little digression into history will help you understand the definitions.

Confusion occurs precisely around the concepts of chronometer and chronograph because of their similarity, but they mean completely different things.

Let's start with the term "chronograph". This word came from the ancient Greek “time” and “I write”. In other words, a chronograph is an instrument that records time.

The inventor of the chronograph is George Graham. Among his hobbies was not only watchmaking, but also horse racing. To measure short periods of time in races, a special clock mechanism was needed, and Graham solved this problem - his mechanism performed the necessary actions with great accuracy for that time.

At its core, a chronograph is the same stopwatch, but its destiny is to be an addition to a watch, and not a separate mechanism in a separate case. This is its advantage, because the chronograph is successfully "friends" with the clockwork, which means that starting, stopping and resetting the results does not affect the course of the watch, and even more so its accuracy.

Inside, the chronograph is a system of wheel mechanism with levers for control. Each time we press "start" or "stop", we use the knee wheel, and in rare cases, a special cam system.

Depending on the complexity of the chronograph mechanism, they are divided into ordinary or simple and complex or summing. If in a conventional chronograph all functions are limited to the ability to start the countdown, stop it and reset the results by returning the hand to its original position, then in summaries there are much more opportunities for calculations. A complex chronograph is controlled by at least two buttons - one of them stops the stopwatch, and the second - zeroing. The main advantage of the complex chronograph is that you can automatically sum up the time intervals, starting the countdown at any time, without resetting the result. Some of the chronographs also offer the option to start the measurement along with the reset.

By the way, there are also different chronographs depending on the number of hands. A chronograph with two hands is called a split chronograph and is needed in order to monitor two events of different duration and different moment start. In such watches, the hand of one of the stopwatches is stopped by the third button. The other arrow at this time continues its measurements.

The chronograph in watches is more useful for those who are involved in sports. There are also certain professions, whose representatives really need a chronograph. In each area, the chronograph performs its duties. This is not only science, but also navigation and military affairs. There are chronographs with their own scales for determining the distance in artillery troops. Many mechanical watches also have a scale with the name of the tachymeter. Its purpose is to measure the speed of movement, for example, of an athlete.

For doctors, the tichimeter also turned out to be useful - with the right markup, you can measure the pulse and pressure of the patient. Mathematicians did not think long either, having created their own scale, which is now actively used by engineers. The use of chronographs at this stage will not stop, and therefore in wristwatches, at least in certain models, such an improvement will always be

Thus, we can conclude that the chronograph is not just a watch improvement, but also a very useful tool in various fields of human activity. Well, do you really need a chronograph in your watch, it's up to you to choose.

As for the chronometer, this term is used to refer to particularly accurate watches. Such movements undergo special testing and are sold with the Certified Chronometer inscription. To obtain such an inscription on a watch model, the manufacturer needs to send a sample to the COSC Chronometry Institute, which is located in Switzerland. There, the mechanism is tested in various ways, succumbing to the influence of temperatures and checking the movement of the watch in different positions.

Testing is an expensive pleasure, and therefore chronometer watches are most often more expensive by several hundred euros than analogues. By the way, the accuracy of the chronometer does not always correspond to the test results, because the course of the watch often depends on the habits of the owner, the activity of his life, even the frequency of the spring winding.

It is fair to say that the chronometer certificate gives more opportunity to brag to fellow owners of expensive watch brands.

Finally, a few words about watch-regulators.

Such watches are more reminiscent of the dashboard of a ship or aircraft, because they have three dials instead of the usual one. The main one most often shows minutes in such watches, and two small hours and seconds. You need to get used to such a watch, because reading data from such a watch is not so easy at first.

Regulators also have their own history of origin. It is believed that the first such clocks were used in observatories. There, for the accuracy of calculations, it was important that the hands did not cover each other, which is why they were smashed into different dials. Today, regulators are more of a fancy design than a practical value.