Carrying on the sport-luxe concept introduced by Audemars Piguet in 1972 when it launched the Royal Oak, chronographs with a steel case and a steel bracelet are one of the most versatile watches there are. Whether at the gym, for a business lunch or a black tie dinner, a full-steel chrono will always look the part, making it an essential piece of wrist-wear for the modern man.
Frederique Constant: CHF 3,195
This elegant chronograph is also excellent value. The comfortable steel bracelet can be swapped out for a strap in rubber or leather with a nubuck finish, all in the wink of an eye.
Highlife in steel, 41mm diameter, automatic movement with date in an aperture, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, small seconds, steel bracelet.
Bell & Ross: CHF 6,500
A new addition to the Bell & Ross family of watches with integrated bracelets. Functional, legible, reliable and precise, this BR 05 ticks all the boxes with the added appeal of a modern square case; a shape repeated in the two chrono counters.
BR 05 White Hawk in steel, 42 x 42mm, automatic movement with date in an aperture, 30-minute counter, small seconds, steel bracelet. 250-piece limited series.
Breitling: CHF 8,850
A legend revisited. Introduced in 1952 with its now famous circular slide rule, the Navitimer is the ultimate pilot’s watch and the undisputed core of a sports watch collection.
Navitimer B01 in steel, 46mm diameter, automatic movement with date in an aperture, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, small seconds, steel bracelet.
IWC: CHF 8,900
An impeccable tri-counter chrono, powered by an in-house calibre and sporting a fabulous forest-green dial. If that wasn’t enough, IWC has added the day-date function invented by Rolex in 1956, with separate apertures for the two indications.
Pilot’s Watch in steel, 41mm diameter, automatic movement with day and date in apertures, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, small seconds, steel bracelet.
Rolex: CHF 13,800
The grail watch. The only chronograph currently in the Rolex catalogue. Pairing a steel case with a ceramic bezel, its movement is the in-house chronometer-certified 4130 calibre. Its desirability and relative affordability have made it a victim of its own success, with prices skyrocketing on the collector’s market.
Daytona in steel, ceramic bezel, 40mm diameter, automatic movement with 30-minute and 12-hour counters, small seconds, steel bracelet.
Omega: CHF 14,000
The only chrono in this selection to be powered by a manual-winding movement: a requirement of NASA which selected the Speedmaster for the first manned Moon landing in 1969… hence the Moonwatch moniker. A legend alongside the Rolex Daytona.
Speedmaster in steel, 40mm diameter, manual-wind movement, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, small seconds, steel bracelet.
Girard Perregeaux: CHF 17,700
A Clous de Paris dial pattern underscores the elegant nature of this chronograph. Despite its in-house movement, the Laureato lacks the backstory and legendary status of a Speedmaster or a Daytona, hence its higher price isn’t entirely justified.
Laureato in steel, 42mm diameter, automatic movement with date in an aperture, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, small seconds, steel bracelet.
Audemars Piguet: CHF 44,400
A chronograph whose 100-metre water-resistance meets the standard for dive watches. And of course there is the big, bold design of the Royal Oak, the watch that kickstarted the sport-luxe trend back in 1972. This model is actually one of the releases celebrating that 50th anniversary. A collector’s watch in the making…
Royal Oak Offshore in steel, rubber pushers and crown, 42mm diameter, automatic movement with date in an aperture, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, small seconds, steel bracelet.
