We’re back with another edition of The Cultivated Wrist, and this time we’re bringing you some dope chronographs. Not sure what a chronograph is? We got you covered with this primer. Even if you’re not in need of their timing capabilities, let’s face it, chronographs just look cool. Whether you’re kicking around the office or timing your kids laps around the go-kart track, every collector should have a chronograph. Without further hesitation, let’s dive into the good stuff.
Breitling Transocean Chronograph A4131012/BC06
This throwback from Breitling is an outlier to their usual timepieces, clocking in at an astonishingly reasonable 38mm, and rocking a svelte milanese bracelet. The dial is symmetrical thanks to dual registers placed on opposite sides of the dial, the running seconds hand at 3 o’clock, and the minute totalizer at 9 o’clock, and a date window sitting happily between them at 6 o’clock. It’s handsome, wearable, and best of all, there’s a current bid listed at just $3,740.
IWC Ingenieur Rudolf Caracciola IW380702
When IWC re-designed their iconic Ingeniuer line of watches last year it ruffled more than a few feathers. Gone was the famous angular porthole shape, replaced by a round, smooth bezel. Gone was the over-engineered anti-magnetism, now featuring a display caseback. When you peel back expectations for what an Inge should be, and look at the new watch for what it is, you’ll find a perfectly handsome, well executed chronograph. Distinctive hour markers in creamy yellow, sunburst grey dial, and a quilted leather strap; yep, there’s a lot to love here. There’s a current low Ask just under $6,000 right here.
Breguet Transatlantique 3810ST/92/9ZU
If you need your chronograph to keep you looking classy, this Breguet should fit the bill. There’s plenty of ornate detail to find in this dial, such as diamond shaped hour makers, sarif’d Arabic numerals, and extra long tips on those broadsword hands. The ratcheted bezel adds a touch of “leather jacket” personality the ties the whole thing together. Did we mention this is a flyback chronograph? That makes the current Ask even better at $8,350.
This solid platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116506 caused a huge stir and ruffled a lot of Rolex enthusiasts and well-respected journalists when it debuted at the Baselworld Fair in 2013. It was the 50th Anniversary of the Daytona and everyone anticipated, nay, expected Rolex to release an updated version in steel – perhaps fingers crossed, with vintage attributes. Instead, Rolex redefined the luxury tool watch category in a single piece. With a heavy, 40mm case and bracelet made entirely of 950 platinum, an “ice blue” dial and a “chestnut brown” Rolex patented Cerachrom ceramic bezel this was then and remains an unexpected choice, which is why you should buy it for its current listed Ask of $57,500.
