Chronographs, with their intricate designs and versatile functionality, have long been celebrated by watch enthusiasts and collectors alike. The current market is brimming with exceptional chronographs that cater to a wide array of tastes and budgets. Whether you’re seeking a luxurious timepiece with rich heritage or an affordable yet reliable watch for everyday use, there’s something for everyone. To help you find the perfect match for your wrist, and wallet, we have put together this guide which consists of our best chronographs of 2024 for every budget. So keep reading to discover more!
The Best Chronographs of 2024 for Every Budget
Under £200: Festina Men’s Chronograph | Black Dial | Brown Leather Strap F20542/6
Sleek and sophisticated, this Festina features a black dial with three sub-dials and a date aperture at the 4:30 position. As well as this, the dial exhibits silver-tone baton indices and hands; an Arabic numeral replaces the baton at 12 o’clock. Playfully contrasting the black dial, the second hand and chronograph hands are both red. Mineral glass protects the dial, so the watch is relatively scratch-resistant. This, alongside its 50 metres of water resistance, makes the watch a great choice for daily wear. Measuring 43.5mm in diameter, a stainless steel case frames the dial. And within this case lies the watch’s quartz movement; it ensures for both reliable and accurate timekeeping. A perforated brown leather strap, that fastens with a buckle clasp, concludes the design of this affordable chronograph.
With its trendy look, this Festina is a great option for those wanting to purchase their first chronograph. We all have to start somewhere, and this urban model is a fantastic one to do so with.
Under £500: Rotary Sport Regent Chronograph (41mm) Silver Sunray Dial / Stainless Steel Bracelet GB05450/59
While staying true to the sporty nature of a chronograph, this Rotary oozes contemporary flair. Its sunray silver dial, with three black sub-dials, follows the ever-popular ‘Panda’ dial style; the sub-dials representing a set of eyes and a mouth. The dial also features applied silver-tone baton indices and hands alongside a date aperture at the 4:30 position. For optimal legibility, the baton indices feature a high-grade luminescent coating. Ensuring the watch is perfect for everyday wear, scratch-resistant sapphire glass protects the dial. Measuring 41mm in diameter, a multi-faceted brushed stainless steel case frames the dial. Water-resistant to 100 metres, it houses the watch’s highly accurate quartz movement. A tapered h-link stainless steel bracelet secures the watch to the wrist; its integrated nature makes for an elegant appearance.
This Rotary stands out with its great precision and style. A premium sports chronograph with a wallet-friendly price, what more could you ask for?
Under £1000: Tissot Women’s PR 100 Sport Chic Chronograph T1019172211600
This ladies chronograph combines timeless design with sporty and feminine details for a bold and stylish look. Its beautiful white mother-of-pearl dial, with three matching sub-dials, features 12 diamond indices and rose gold-tone Super-LumiNova hands. As well as this, a date aperture features at the 4 o’clock position. A scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protects the dial, while a 38mm stainless steel case frames it. The carnation gold PVD-coated bezel, with 10-minute time increments, complements the dial perfectly. With an end-of-life indicator, a Swiss-made quartz movement powers the timepiece. The movement also features a range of chronograph functions : a central 60-seconds chronograph hand, 30-minutes and 1/10 of a second counters. A stainless steel bracelet, with rose gold-tone middle links, concludes the design of this Tissot. Its folding clasp, with push-buttons, ensures both great comfort and security on the wrist.
This Tissot chronograph impresses with its elegant design. Perfect for special occasions and everyday wear, it’s ideal for the modern woman of today.
Under £2000: Bulova Lunar Pilot Meteorite Limited Edition (43.5mm) Grey Meteorite Dial / Black Leather Strap 96A312
Reinforcing Bulova’s spacefaring history, this watch exhibits a six-hand chronograph dial crafted from a genuine Muonionalusta meteorite. The dial also features slim hands and applied baton indices with a luminescent coating. So even if you’re in complete darkness, the time is still visible. As well as this, the dial features three circular grooved sub-dials which highlight the impressive functionality of the timepiece. A high-quality flat sapphire crystal protects the dial. While it provides great clarity, it also showcases the great durability levels that the watch possesses. Measuring 43.5mm in diameter, a sandblasted silver-tone grade 5 titanium case, with polished accents, surrounds the dial. It houses Bulova’s proprietary high precision quartz movement which has unparalleled accuracy as well as a sweeping chronograph hand. Completing the design of this watch is a fitted black leather strap that fastens with a pin buckle. Moreover, the watch is water-resistant up to 50 metres.
Bringing the past to the present with a design from space exploration history, this chronograph is perfect for watch and space enthusiasts alike. And while it is on the pricier side, its rarity makes it worth every penny.
Under £4000: RADO Captain Cook Chronograph Automatic (43mm) Blue Dial / Stainless Steel Bracelet + 2 Extra Straps R32145208
Beautiful in blue, this Rado chronograph impresses with its stylish design. The thin, 43mm stainless steel case features a polished blue high-tech ceramic inlay on the bezel, complementing the silver-to-blue gradient dial. Scratch-resistant, lightweight and skin-friendly, high-tech ceramic is one of Rado’s incredibly innovative materials; it sets new standards and pushes the boundaries for watch design. The dial also features vintage-inspired indices and large bulky hands with a Super-LumiNova coating. Furthermore, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal protects the dial. Inside the case, lies the watch’s R801 automatic movement. With 37 jewels and 59 hours of power reserve, thanks to an antimagnetic Nivachron hairspring, the movement exceeds test requirements from 3 to 5 positions for higher accuracy. A polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet concludes the design of this Rado. However, if this is not to your taste, the watch also comes with a blue leather and a deep blue fabric strap.
Specialising in high-tech ceramic watches, Rado is considered the Master of Materials. Hence it makes total sense that this chronograph has the price tag it does.
What are your thoughts on our best chronographs of 2024 for every budget? Which price range has the most appealing chronograph for you? Let us know in the comments!
