This is the first in a series of posts explaining the technical terms used by watchmakers.

A chronograph is a watch with features for short to medium interval timing. Basically, this means that a chronograph is a device that, in addition to telling the time, functions as a stop watch.

Chronographs may have either one or two pushers (buttons). In a one-button chronograph, the sole button (which could be the crown, or a specially designated button) performs the start, stop and reset functions. In a two-button chronograph, one button performs the start and stop functions, while the other resets the device.

The word ‘chronograph’ has its roots in the Ancient Greek, ‘χρονογράφος‘ (chronografos) which can be broken down thus: ‘χρόνος‘ ie chronos (time) and ‘γράφω‘ ie grafo (write), so capturing the idea of describing, or writing, time.