Here’s a selection of chronographs from three reputable chronograph makers, namely IWC Schaffhausen, Tudor and TAG Heuer.
There was a common narrative amongst the watch releases of late, with chronographs hogging a fair bit of the headlines. So, why not assemble three speedster chronographs to take you through September? Without further ado, here are the three chronographs from IWC Schaffhausen, Tudor and TAG Heuer.
Tudor
Blue has been one of Tudor’s emblematic colours, transcending the decades with several important watch references outfitted in the same colour. Its significance to the watchmaker led to the term Tudor Blue being coined as a nod to the colour’s permanence within Tudor’s watches. After previous homages to the legendary shade in Tudor’s other watch families, the Tudor Black Bay Chrono is the latest honourable recipient of the colour treatment. Unlike its time-only counterparts, the chronograph straddles between Tudor’s dive and motorsport universes as design cues from both are distilled into the Tudor Black Bay Chrono. With a 200m water resistance rated case and column wheel chronograph, the watch handles the rigours of ocean diving and the precision needed to record a car race effortlessly. Tudor’s Manufacture MT5813 Chronograph Calibre is in charge of handling the timekeeping and chronograph functions. Certification by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) and an antimagnetic silicon balance spring ensure the watch operates without hiccups for its 70-hour power reserve. The boutique-exclusive Tudor Black Bay Chrono is the second ever in the line-up to be fitted with a five-link bracelet with a “T-Fit” clasp that previously debuted on its pink counterpart.
IWC Schaffhausen
IWC Schaffhausen’s Portofino Chronograph 39 received its long-awaited upgrade as the manufacture unveiled a steel bracelet for the watch at Watches & Wonders Shanghai. While previous iterations of the chronograph gave it a decidedly different look, the matching bracelet leans strongly into the watch’s sportier appeal. Much of the IWC Portofino Chronograph 39’s aesthetics from its original 1984 appeal — including its smooth and minimalist case, the purity of its silhouette and its Roman and baton hour indices — remain unchanged. The choice of the silver-plated dial and rhodium-plated hands further deepens the watch’s versatility as the watch’s polished case melds harmoniously with the brushed and satin-finished bracelet links. While a three-link bracelet would have given the watch a more masculine appearance, the five-link bracelet offers a touch of elegance, making it at home with different outfits or occasions. Should there be a need to switch the bracelet to another option, such as IWC’s traceable Swiss calf leather, the integrated quick-change system allows for an easy and fuss-free do-it-yourself option. Within the watch lies the IWC-manufactured 69355 automatic chronograph calibre with a column wheel and 46 hours of uninterrupted power reserve.
TAG Heuer
The ever-dynamic spirit of the TAG Heuer Carrera intensifies as the avant-garde watchmaker presents the next evolution of its quintessential chronograph with the TAG Heuer Carrera Extreme Sport. Of the various design updates to this year’s release, the watch’s distinctive skeleton dial sets itself apart from its fellow speedster brethren. The intricate dial patterns are met with bold black outlines, evoking the adrenal rush of the legendary Carrera Panamericana Road race that earned the collection its namesake. True to its Extreme name, an alternate case construction integrating a container and two barrels on the side improves the watch’s durability while elevating its aesthetic appeal with seamless material blending. Grade-2 titanium with hollowed black PVD sides and a ceramic bezel are used in this iteration. Other ergonomic considerations, such as reducing the watch’s diameter, thickness and lug-to-lug length, are incorporated into the watch for added wearing comfort during extreme sports activities. TAG Heuer’s soup-ed-up in-house Calibre TH20-00 bears all the necessities of modern-day watchmaking with a bidirectional winding system and 80 hours of power reserve.
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our September 2024 issue.