The Best Chronographs of 2024, From Rolex to Audemars Piguet
A chronograph is really just a stop-watch right? Well, yes, but the art of watchmaking has pushed the form into the realm of mechanical wonderment, and 2024 has actually been a heck of year for the chronograph. From the wonderful TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Second model with its open dial to the ultra-fancy Rolex Daytona in mother-of-pearl to our favorite, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Chronograph with dual faces, the chronos this year have truly stood out.
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Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Openworked Tribute Chronograph
In our opinion, this is easily the best looking chronography released in 2024. The Reverso is the original sports watch, arguably, designed for polo players (why they needed to wear a watch remains a mystery, however). It’s come a long way since, and this Reverso makes use of both sides of the watch body, with time only on one side and the openworked chronograph on the other. Stunning, versatile, classic. $66,000
TAG Heuer Split-Second Chronograph
The Moaco is a classic from the 20th century, and while we love an updated model, it’s hard to even recognize the Monaco in this stunning, high-end iteration. A split-second chronograph is also called a rattrapante, which means “to catch up.” That’s what the second chrono hand does after you stop it to time a lap. Incredibly complicated, this one shows it all off right from the skeletonized dial. Price upon request (it’s a lot).
Hublot Big Bang Unico Ice Bang
Hublot dropped some variations on the 42 mm Big Bang Unico chronographs this year, but this monochromatic iteration is the one to get. It’s hard to ever call an Hublot classic, but if there’s a classic Hublot this is it. Stealthy, skeletonized, and equipped with a cutting edge Unico movement.
Sylvain Pinaud x Massena LAB Chronograph Monopoussoir
This wonderfully proportioned monopusher chrono from Massena LAB and Syvain Pineaud just won the GPHG price for best chronograph, which is saying a lot given that many of the other watches in this round-up were also nominated. Pineaud did an amazing job opening the movement up here, and still maintaining classic lines and proportions. It would have cost you $150,000, but it sold out, so keep an eye on the auction block for this one.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona With Mother-of-Pearl Dials
The Daytona was once a really simple, unpopular model that didn’t even use a Rolex movement. Clearly this chronograph has ascended more than a few rungs on the horological ladder, and this new mother-of-pearl and diamond model is probably as fancy as it gets, barring a Rainbow model. While undoubtedly a little more refined than some other variations, the Cosmograph Daytona With Diamond Bezel and Mother-of-Pearl Dials keeps the sporty essence of the chronograph with the option of a classic Oyster bracelet or a more modern Oysterflex strap.
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Sport
Parmigiani Fleurier debuted its Tonda PF collection in 2021 and established a now familiar visage that captures quiet luxury to a tee. At the end of May this year, Parmigiani unveiled three new takes on the chrono in an even more pale and subdued color palette: Milano Blue, Arctic Grey and London Grey.
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph With Panda Dial
The panda dial is a quintessential combination that never gets old. Vacheron isn’t exactly known for modern chronographs, but back in the 1940s VC was cranking out what remain some of the most beautiful chronos ever produced. Vacheron first introduced the chronograph complication to its Overseas collection back in 1999. Nearly a decade later, the brand launched the first reverse panda variation to the collection with the Ref. 5500V/110A-B481. Then last year, we finally got a classic panda dial Overseas chronograph with a silver-toned, sunburst satin finish and snailed black counters.
Zenith Defy Skyline
When it comes to automatic chronographs, Zenith has quite literally been at the forefront with its legendary El Primero being the first of its kind when it debuted in 1969. Fast forward to the brand’s modern era, and the Defy collection has become the brand’s premier sport line. It was only a matter of time before the two came together in perfect harmony. At Watches & Wonders 2024, Zenith introduced its El Primero 3600- a 1/10th of a second high frequency chronograph movement into the beloved Defy collection for the first time. The Defy Skyline Chronograph seamlessly marries the bold proportions of the Defy and the technical prowess of the ultra-precise, in-house chronograph caliber.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Ceramic
Last year marked the 30th anniversary of AP’s Royal Oak Offshore, and in celebration, we saw a bevy of commemorative additions honoring the iconic model. This ceramic version reinterprets the Ref. 26405CE launched in 2020 and plays with an array of materials. Of course inside, you get the caliber 4401, AP’s latest self-winding integrated chronograph movement, offering a flyback function.
IWC Portugieser
For IWC, this is the year of the Portugieser. At Watches & Wonders 2024, the brand unveiled a bevy of iterations, from an eternal calendar to a perpetual calendar, but my among my personal favorites was the classic chrono rendered in three absolutely stunning new colorways. Achieving the handsome new hues—Horizon Blue, Obsidian, and Dune—required some serious research and development. The manpower was well worth it. These are sure to become timeless additions to IWC’s catalog.
A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus Chronograph
It may be hard to believe, but tin 2023, A. Lange & Söhne debuted its first-ever automatic chronograph. The model uses the brand’s Odysseus as the base and maintains a clean dial layout thanks to a unique configuration of the chronograph. Instead of traditional registers, the chronograph scales are both indicated by central hands. The pushers especially sleek, making this model a highly refined and minimalist chronograph.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Titanium
Girard-Perregaux first debuted the Laureato in 1975—sneaking in just ahead of integrated bracelet watches like IWCs Ingeneur and Patek Philippe’s Nautilus. The Laureato did resemble the Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet, however, with its octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet—but therein lies its charm. In the past four decades, we’ve seen GP adapt the model in countless iterations, from ones with tinted sapphire crystal cases to a green ceramic version designed in collaboration with the luxury sports car manufacturer Aston Martin. For 2024, GP launched the first titanium version of the Laureato chrono. The choice of the metal perfectly lends itself to the curvature of the Laureato with a juxtaposition of contrasting brushed and polished finishes. It’s also lightweight, which is often prefereable when there’s this much metal involved.
