Make a Stunning Fashion Statement with an Elegant Chronograph Watch on Your Wrist. Everything You Need to Know About Chronograph Watches and the Best Chronograph Watches Under 5000 (2021)

The growing popularity of smartphones has undoubtedly impacted the wristwatch market as wristwatches are no longer an important accessory for keeping track of time. However, if you are a watch lover you would still love to wear, flaunt and add different stylish wrist watches to your collection. Chronograph watches have always found a fan following due to their unique design and distinct features which make them stand apart from other wristwatches. The best part about chronograph watches is that there is one to suit everyone, be it a corporate professional, a mechanic, sportsperson or an adventure enthusiast; various models of chronograph watches are designed with few modifications to suit the needs and style of different people.

“Chronos” is a word derived from the Greek word for ‘time’ and “graph” in Greek means ‘writing’, thus a ‘time writer’ which was taken from the idea of marks on the dials of Sun-based watches in ancient times. Chronograph watches were introduced by 3 companies in the modern era, which are – Breitling, Hamilton, and Heuer. These were automatic watches powered by the kinetic energy produced by normal arm motion, walking and other physical movement. The more advanced versions which are available today use a battery and have three or more inbuilt sub-dials other than the main dial. These sub-dials are for second, minute, and hours respectively and most of the watches have a stopwatch as well. Some advanced models even have alarms, inbuilt dial lights, a telemeter to measure the distance and a tachymeter to gauge the speed. Moreover, there are chronograph watches which can tell you the time of different time zones, the world time, day of the week and date as well. In simple and modern terms, a chronograph is a wristwatch with a mechanical stopwatch and different sub-dials to display various modes, fractions, or zones of time.

Chronograph watches are made from different materials and while the strap may be crafted from stainless steel, leather, nylon, synthetic, rubber or mixed materials; the case is generally made from stainless steel; while titanium and gold are also used in high-end chronograph watches. However, what truly defines the accuracy and quality of a chronograph watch is the quartz used inside the case. Further, the crystal material which is the protecting cover fitted over the face of the watch decides the sturdiness of your chronograph watch. The four common forms of material used for the crystal are – mineral, plastic, synthetic sapphire and sapphire, with sapphire being the most expensive of them.

Chronograph watches can be categorised in two different ways – 1) Based on the movement and 2) Based on the operation.

If you have read this far, then chances are that you have already made up your mind to buy a chronograph or will do so in the near future. But only knowing about a chronograph or the different types won’t be sufficient to make an informed decision. There are a few more points which you should know and consider before you order a chronograph for your watch collection.

The chronograph is not just a style statement, but the stopwatch in it can be used for various purposes. Apart from tracking a race time, you can measure the timing of your walk, bike rides, exercise, cooking times, routines tasks, meetings, etc. Durability and quality are other important factors that would decide the usability and longevity of your chronograph. For office use, a strap made of leather or stainless steel would give a professional look while for adventure enthusiasts and sportspersons, a more flexible and light option like a rubber or a synthetic strap would be more feasible.

Some more important points you should check while choosing a chronograph watch are – calendar options, band-width, case material, case thickness, case diameter (ensure that it doesn’t look too big or small on your wrist), clasp (buckle type or lock type), water-resistance and weight of the watch. Moreover, try to purchase a chronograph from a renowned brand as most of them would provide a warranty with the watch and a brand also reflects your taste and status.

Now let’s explore a few chronograph watches under 5000 which you can consider for your watch collection and pair them with different outfits to enhance your style.

This black dial men’s watch by Casio has a band made from stainless steel which makes it a sturdy watch. The black colour balanced with the shiny steel case and strap gives a professional look and the watch is water-resistant up to 50 meters depth. The case is ion-plated hence it wouldn’t lose the sheen for a long time, and a battery backs up the quartz movement. The case diameter is 35 mm, the thickness is 10 mm and the dial glass is made from mineral material. You also get a 2-year warranty with this chronograph watch, and it can be ordered from Amazon for ₹ 4,995.00.

Fossil is an American brand that started in 1984 and is famous for its pocket-friendly, yet stylish range of watches, wallets, bags and other fashion accessories. This white dial men’s watch is a sober and sturdy chronograph watch that comes with a brown colour leather strap and a round steel case which has a diameter of 44 mm. The bandwidth is 22 mm and the case has a thickness of 13 mm. This Fossil watch is from their Decker collection and can withstand water up to a depth of 100 meters. You can own this masterpiece for ₹ 5,095.00 from Amazon and it comes with a 2-year warranty.

Fastrack is famous for its stylish watches, especially among the youngsters as their modern, suave and cool designs appeal to the youth. This attractive blue dial chronograph watch with a blue colour synthetic strap that has a tang clasp and a stainless steel back is water-resistant up to 50 meters. The watch has three sub-dials, a screw to reset the time, and two push-buttons located on both sides of the screw to reset the features. The dial width is 50 mm and the strap width is 24 mm, and this watch comes in a beautiful can-shaped container. You can order it from Myntra for ₹ 3,955.00 and a 2-year warranty is included with the purchase.

Another trendy chronograph watch from Fossil, the Flynn model is a chronograph with a brown colour leather strap and a sturdy steel case. You get three distinct sub-dials on the main dial while two push-buttons help to operate the features. A screw on the side of the case is provided to reset the time and a standard 2-year brand warranty is provided by Fossil on this watch that can be purchased from Flipkart for ₹ 5,047.00.

Maxima is a homegrown company that was founded in the year 1962 and specialises in wristwatches that are quality watches on a budget. This chronograph watch is from their Attivo model and sports a white dial on a stainless steel case complemented by a stainless steel band. The shiny silver colour display gives a sober and distinctive look to the watch and is great for wearing to offices, meetings, etc. The water resistance depth is 30 meters and you get a 1-year warranty with this chronograph watch that is available for ₹ 3,096.00 on Amazon.

Lee Cooper is a British company founded in 1908 that specialises in denim products, clothing, footwear and fashion accessories. The blue dial with a matching blue colour oyster style stainless steel strap makes this chronograph watch unique and the golden colour dial-band adds a distinctive charm to it. It has three sub-dials that display dual time and the day respectively. The main dial also has a date aperture and the glass material is mineral glass. The water resistance limit is 30 meters and a 2-year warranty is included with this product which can be purchased from Titan for ₹ 4,305.00.

Slazenger Men’s Chronograph Leather Watch is a trendy watch that would look great with a casual attire and is perfect for an outing, office or party. The leather strap matches with the blue colour dial which is 49 mm in size. The main dial has three sub-dials for the day, second and hours respectively, and two pushbuttons are provided to operate the stopwatch functions. This watch comes with a 2-year warranty and you can order it from Shoppers Stop for ₹ 4,830.00.

Giordano is a Hong Kong based company which was established in 1981 and is an international fashion brand. This chronograph watch with a leather strap reflects style and beauty in the craftsmanship and looks every bit stylish from every angle. This water-resistant watch has a leather strap of width 25 mm, is water-resistant up to 30 meters, and has a mechanical movement. You can own the Giordano Chronograph Watch with Leather Strap for ₹ 4,898.00 from Ajio.

French Connection is a UK-based fashion brand which is popularly known as FCUK, they have a global presence in clothing, accessories and homeware segments. The French Connection Chronograph Wrist Watch has a white display attached to a camel colour leather strap which looks quite elegant, sober and is ideal for office wear or an outing in jeans and tees. The strap width is 15mm, the dial width is 30 mm and the watch is water-resistant up to 50 meters. This watch is available on Ajio for ₹ 4,770.00 with a 1-year warranty.

The last chronograph watch on our list is a watch that stands apart from the crowd as it’s crafted from wood. Yes, you read it right, wood! It’s a handcrafted watch made from walnut wood and the dial as well as the strap is handcrafted from wood while the back is made of stainless steel. It’s a hypoallergenic watch with quartz movement and the three sub-dials display day, date, 24-hour time and act as a stopwatch as well with the help of the two push buttons included. You can purchase this environment-friendly watch from Ubuy.