Best 5 Chronograph Watches to Gift Your Father

Every year on the third Sunday of June, people across the world enthusiastically celebrate Father’s Day. Honoring fatherhood and parental bonds, this holiday is an ideal occasion to express your enduring love to your beloved father by offering him precious gifts. The Father’s Day 2022 falls on 19th June, and now it is the time to finalize various gift options available in the market.

Made in 1816, the compteur de tierces instrument by Louis Moinet is considered as the first modern chronograph. In 1821, Nicolas Mathieu Rieussec invented the Chronograph with Seconds Indicator. In the early 1910s, the first wrist-worn chronograph watches appeared in the market. In 1969, the first automatic chronograph watch was introduced.

The primary function of a chronograph is to record the elapsed time, with the help of dedicated push button (s). They are eminently useful in various activities like athletics, games, automobile racing, flying operations and etc. It offers a great number of functionalities. Along with a tachymeter scale, it can be utilized to measure the speed of a moving object (for example, a vehicle) over a know distance. Moreover, the stopwatch function can be pared with other features like a telemeter and pulsometer. Thanks to its convenient functional features, the chronograph undoubtedly remains a best-selling segment in the wristwatch market.

Further on, you will find our suggestions of five chronograph watches as this year’s Father’s Day gifts.    

(1) Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

The Royal Oak watch collection from the prestigious Swiss Manufacture Audemars Piguet represents the pinnacle of opulence. This iconic timepiece is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary. To mark the jubilee year, the brand has recently introduced the new generation Royal Oak chronograph models featuring a 41mm case with redesigned exteriors and the newly inducted self-winding caliber 4401.

A highly collectible timepiece, this self-winding chronograph comes in stainless steel and 18ct gold with brushed or frosted (hammered) finish versions. The dial highlighting the emblematic “Grande Tapisserie” pattern is available in colors like black, blue, brown, green, grey, purple, silver-toned and yellow gold-toned. The options also include diamond-set dials and bezels. These new Royal Oak timepieces also feature transparent sapphire crystal backs, graciously allowing the view of the mechanical automatic movement beating inside.

For smaller wrists, the AP Royal Oak chronograph also exists in a version featuring a 38mm case in stainless steel or 18K gold, the manufacture self-winding movement Cal. 2385 and “Grande Tapisserie” pattern dial.

Royal Oaks usually come with an integrated metal bracelet. Some variations are available with alligator leather straps, with color harmonizing with that of the dial.

It is one of the most expensive chronograph watches presently available in the market. Its retail price range in Hong Kong starts from HK$150,000. 

(2) IWC Pilot Chronograph

Based at Schaffhausen in Switzerland, IWC is a leading producer of premium-quality pilot watches. If your father is an aircrew or an aviation enthusiast, an IWC Pilot chronograph will be a perfect token of love for him. The brand is offering a wide range of choices in the chronograph segment, including various case sizes (41mm, 43mm, 44.5mm and 46mm), dial colors and materials.

The brand offers highly durable aviation timepieces in Stainless Steel, 18K Gold, 18K Armour Gold, Platinum, Bronze, Ceramic and Ceratanium. All of them are equipped with state-of-the-art mechanical self-winding movements, providing extended autonomy and remarkable precision. IWC watches are recognized for the exceptional readability of this dials. The dial is usually available in colors like black, blue, green and grey.

In addition to the regular production IWC Pilot chronographs, the brand is also offering special variants like AMG, Spitfire, Top Gun, Le Petit Prince and Antoine De Saint Exupéry as well as exclusive models named after combat squadrons such as Royal Maces, Top Hatters and Blue Angels. The extensive choice of high-quality aviator timepieces makes the collection well-suited for both civilian and military pilots.

In Hong Kong, the approximate retail price range of IWC Pilot Chronograph series is HK$45,000 to HK$300,000.

(3) Breitling Navitimer

Navitimer is one of the most recognizable wristwatches ever made. Worn by aviator, prominent celebrities, flying enthusiasts and space travelers, this iconic creation from Breitling enjoys a rich history of more than 70 years. A stand-out feature of this well-known Breitling watch is the circular side rule functionality, a useful utility preferred by aircrew. It was introduced in 1952 by Willy Breitling.

The Navitimer collection is presently comprised of various types of watches, including chronographs and three-hand variants with or without date display. Available in various case sizes, dial colors and material choices, they spotlight circular side rule scale and the emblematic bi-directional beaded bezel.

For this Father’s Day, we suggest the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41. This model merges the style and functionality of a high-precision aviation timekeeper with the compact size and elegance of a luxury dress watch. Measuring a 41mm diameter, its case houses the Cal. B-01 manufacture self-winding movement endowed with a “weekend-proof” power reserve of about 70 hours.

This Breitling chronograph watch is available in stainless steel and 18ct gold versions. Its approximate retail price range in Hong Kong is from HK$67,000 to HK$140,000.

(4) Tudor Black Bay Chrono

The Black Bay is a popular collection from Tudor. This series offers professional diving timepieces, chronographs, GMT watches and the minimalistic “Time Only” versions in various case sizes and material choices. Among them, Tudor Black Bay Chrono is a best-selling model. Boasting an eternal design and endowed with high-quality features, it is an ideal gift for this Father’s Day.

This watch is presently available in 41mm diameter case, in stainless steel or S&G (combination of steel and gold). Each of them is equipped with a COSC-certified self-winding chronometer movement (MT5813), which offer exceptional precision timekeeping with an extended power reserve of 72 hours. The tachymeter scale is a signature feature of Tudor Black Bay chronograph watches. Made of matt black anodised aluminium, the tachometric scale is useful for measuring speed.

Spotlighting the classic bi-compax layout with a date-widow at 6 o’clock, the dial is available in color schemes line Champagne, Black and White Opaline. The notable features include 200 meters water resistance, domed sapphire crystal and screw-down crown and pushers.

For the Black Bay Chrono, Tudor is proposing three types of bracelets: Riveted bracelet in steel (combination of steel and yellow gold in case of S&G models), Leather strap with removable bund and Jacquard fabric strap. The selling price range of this automatic chronograph is HK $38,000 to HK $60,000.

(5) Seiko Speedtimer Chronograph

Seiko is one of the largest watchmaking companies in the world. Mastered in almost all sectors in the watchmaking industry, it offers high-quality timepieces.

Seiko was in the forefront in the late 1960s in developing automatic chronograph watches. In that historic mission, the Japanese company succeeded brilliantly by developing an in-house self-winding movement Caliber 6139. The 1960s also witnessed the brand’s emergence as a leader in the international sports timing arena. To honor both of these outstanding achievements, Seiko launched the new Prospex Speedtimer Series in 2021.

For Father’s Day, we suggest the automatic Seiko chronograph model SRQ037 as the most affordable option of this list. Equipped with Caliber 8R46, this 42.5mm watch comes with super-hard coated stainless-steel case and bracelet. Its self-winding movement features the remarkably efficient column wheel and vertical clutch system. It has a power reserve of 45 hours. This superb timepiece is magnetic proof up to 4,800 A/m.

Fitted with dual-curved sapphire crystal glass and an exhibition case back, this superb Seiko watch has a water resistance of 100 meters. The retail price range is near about HK$23,500.