The Best Chronograph Watches of 2024

Towards the end of the year, the MONOCHROME editorial team gets into Santa Claus mode by “making a list and checking it twice, and gonna find out who’s naughty and nice”, referring to watches, of course, As we all have our individual preferences and don’t get our hands on every single watch, some get all the attention, whereas others are grossly overlooked. So, looking back at what’s what for the 12 months behind us is a good way to revisit some of them and determine which ones can claim a spot on the ‘Nice!’ list. And while there are some usual suspects, our selection does include a surprise or two! Here are what we have selected as the Best Chronograph Watches of 2024.

Angelus Instrument de Vitesse

With the Instrument de Vitesse, Angelus gave us a real winner of a watch. Presented under the brand’s La Fabrique collection, it is not to be mistaken for a simple three-hander. Despite the lack of sub-dials, the Instrument de Vitesse is a genuine chronograph, with one pusher to start, stop and reset the movement hidden in the crown. The compact 39mm diameter and lean height of 9.27mm are part of the reason we love it so much. Star of the show, though, is the calibre A5000 manually wound monopusher chronograph movement. Made by La Joux-Perret, it’s based on the famous THA design developed by François-Paul Journe, Denis Flageollet and Vianney Halter, three legends in their own right. So far, four dial colours (Ivory White, Ebony Black, Indianapolis Blue & Silverstone Grey) limited to 25 pieces each have been presented, for a price of CHF 17,200.

For more details about the Angelus Instrument de Vitesse, please check out our detailed hands-on review here.

Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Titanium

Next up is a personal favourite of mine, and one I am glad to see received some more votes from our team: the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Ti49. This takes GP’s already striking luxury sports watch and turns it into a lightweight timing instrument. The grade 5 titanium case is complemented by a slate grey dial with a Clous de Paris decoration and snailed sub-dials. Resulting in a somewhat muted monochromatic look, it made a lasting impression on us. Sadly, the calibre GP03300-0141 automatic in-house chronograph is hidden from view, but the upside is this keeps the height in check at a reasonable 12mm to the top of the crystal. Of course, it comes on an integrated titanium bracelet, completing one of the year’s best (luxury sports) chronograph watches. It’s part of the permanent collection and retails for EUR 20,500.

For more details about the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph titanium, please check out our hands-on video review here.

IWC Portugieser Chronograph Dune & Horizon Blue

Colour was all the rage again this year, and IWC embraced the trend to the fullest with the new Portugieser Chronograph. The Schaffhausen-based brand took the emblematic chronograph in two directions: the subtle yet effortlessly elegant Dune Beige on one end of the spectrum and the more outspoken but equally classy Horizon Blue on the other. Both rely on the tried-and-tested architecture that makes the Portugieser Chronograph such a great watch, with a 41mm wide by 13.1mm high case and very clean and refined dials. The Dune Beige comes in steel and is worn on a black alligator leather strap, while the Horizon Blue edition is crafted from white gold and has a gradient blue calfskin leather strap to match the dial. If neither of the two “float your boat”, there’s also one in red gold and Obsidian Black. Prices range from EUR 8,200 to EUR 19,000.

For more details about the IWC Portugieser Chronograph in Dune Beige and Horizon Blue, please check out our hands-on video review here.

Omega Speedmaster FOiS

No list of ‘best chronograph’ watches would be complete without the legendary Omega Speedmaster, and for 2024, you would be absolutely right. With a number of solid options to choose from, our team has picked the most recent iteration of the First Omega in Space due to its wonderful blue-grey dial. While it might not be a groundbreaking watch, it’s not just a new dial colour. The redesign is subtle yet striking, with a symmetrical case, a black aluminium bezel insert with a Base-500 tachymeter scale, metallic Alpha hands, etc. Pretty much everything has been retouched in the most fitting way imaginable. Underneath the solid caseback, the watch is powered by the calibre 3861, the latest evolution of Omega’s hand-wound chronograph. Priced between EUR 8,300 and EUR 8,700, you have a choice of leather straps or a steel flat-link bracelet.

For more details about the Omega Speedmaster FOiS, please check out our comprehensive in-depth review here.

Tissot PR 516 Chronograph

We round things off with a more sensible, more affordable option in the form of the Tissot PR 516 Chronograph Mechanical. It draws in more than 170 years of watchmaking by Tissot, and in particular, the aura of the 1960s that birthed the original PR 516 series. This modern-day equivalent looks the part and comes in a 41mm by 13.7mm stainless steel case. The profile of the case and elements such as the crown, pushers and bezel retain that vintage charm perfectly, backed up by a black dial with baton hour markers and hands and subtle touches of orange and blue. The see-through caseback reveals the manually wound Valjoux A05.291 cam-actuated chronograph movement. Part of the permanent collection, the Tissot PR 516 Chronograph Mechanical costs a very reasonable EUR 1,975.

For more details about the formidable Tissot PR 516 Chronograph, please check out our hands-on video review here.