Home >> Collecting >> Other Collecting

Automatic Chronograph Movements

A chronograph is a watch that is capable of keeping time, as well as act as recording discrete elapsed time like a stopwatch. The movements are the compilation of minute actions inside the watch that allow it to accurately keep time.

Automatic vs Manual
- Manual-wind chronographs were the standard until 1969, when automatic-winding chronographs were introduced. In January 1969, Zenith was the first major watch-maker to announce it had developed an automatic chronograph. However, this watch, called "El Primero," wasn't available to the public until October 1969, by which point two other watch manufacturers had already released competing versions.
How It Works
- Automatic-winding watches work by having a weight inside the case of the watch that spins as the wrist of the person wearing the watch moves. The movement of this weight winds the spring that makes all the other gears within the watch move.
The Most Successful Chronograph
- Many high-end watch manufacturers design their own movements for their watches, but there is one that is more well-known and widely implemented than others. Unveiled on July 1, 1974, the Valjoux 7750 movement is the most successful chronograph caliber ever. Intended for the general market, it featured cost-cutting measures like exchanging screws with wedge connections.

Other Collecting