Flyback Chronos, Three Into One

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Flyback Chronos, Three Into One - Comparison
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The flyback function stops, resets and restarts chronograph timing instantly, with a single press of a pusher

There are chronographs and chronographs. There are chronographs that require a sequence of three presses of a pusher: one to begin timing, a second to stop timing and a third to reset the hand to zero, plus another press to start timing again.

Chronos Flyback, une au lieu de trois

And there are flyback chronographs which are instantaneously stopped, reset and restarted with a single press, recording successive times at lightning speed - the chronograph hand “flies back” to its starting point, hence its name (this cosmopolitan function also goes by its French name, retour en vol).

Chronos Flyback, une au lieu de trois

With so many timing apps downloadable to our phones, the flyback has become somewhat redundant but the owners of this “super chrono” will confirm the pleasure of pressing that pusher and seeing the hand whirl around the dial.

Chronos Flyback, une au lieu de trois

The horological history books tell us that the patent for this mechanism was filed on June 12 1935 with the following description: “The flyback offers pilots a practical and rapid device with which to successively time different flight stages and facilitate navigation.”

Chronos Flyback, une au lieu de trois

The brand filing this patent was Longines, which in 1936 became the first manufacturer to add a flyback function to its chronograph base movement, making pilots’ lives considerably easier in the process.

Chronos Flyback, une au lieu de trois

By doing away with the three manoeuvres required by a classic chronograph, the flyback saved valuable time when making flight calculations. This advantage became even more apparent during the Second World War, when cockpits weren’t bristling with electronics.

Chronos Flyback, une au lieu de trois

Flyback chronographs are something of a rarity in current collections, being more complex to build, hence more costly, than their standard counterpart. The flyback is, consequently, one of the more exclusive complications and sought-after among collectors looking for a high-end sports watch with a vintage feel.

Chronos Flyback, une au lieu de trois

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