Chronograph under $5000

[kmwrestle]

Looking to add a chronograph. Need suggestions/opinions. I am currently looking at these 3 but open to other suggestions. Looking to be sub $5000.

1. Omega speedmaster professional


2. Tudor black bay Chronograph


3. Zenith El Primero 36'000 black dial

[OmegaJJH]

Of those 3...

Got to be the icon, the Speedmaster.


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[kmwrestle]

Originally Posted by OmegaJJH

Of those 3...

Got to be the icon, the Speedmaster.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am open to other suggestions

[mps354]

Speedmaster for sure

[ocean2059]

I have both the Speedmaster Professional and El Primero (42mm). I wear my Zenith more ofter the Omega.

[ELITEVIDEOGAMES]

You can get a speedy and a seamaster for under 5k total if you look around and have yourself a nice combo

[kmwrestle]

I currently have a submariner I just bought and an IWC portofino dress watch

[nick c]

I'll go with the zenith.

[TSD]

If you're drawn to vintage compax layouts, and want a modern column wheel/vertical clutch movement, take a serious look at the Heuer Autavia. It's within budget on the leather strap. I moved a Moon watch for it with no regrets.

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by TSD

If you're drawn to vintage compax layouts, and want a modern column wheel/vertical clutch movement, take a serious look at the Heuer Autavia. It's within budget on the leather strap. I moved a Moon watch for it with no regrets.

This, particularly if you like a date. If vintage is your thing then a Tudor Big Block. Best bang for buck

[PJ S]

Go spend time looking at Chrono24, and instead of just going for the standard stuff that everyone and his dog has heard of or owns, look at the likes of the following brands for something different from all that dross.

Ebel
Chopard (inc. Jacky Ickx)
Glashutte Original (Senator Navigator/Sport Evoultion)
Bvlgari Diagono Magnesium
Girard–Perregaux Classic Elegance/Laureato Olimpico/others
Ulysse Nardin Marine (inc. AC)
Blancpain Leman Flyback

[PJ S]

….

[DCheeta]

There is a veritable sh!tload of chronos using the 7750 that can be had for under $5000. To name a few: IWC Pilot Chrono, Sinn 103, Fortis Classic Cosmonaut, etc.

Take a look at that Autavia mentioned above. It's a really great watch, and the price is great for what you're getting.

[regnant]

Zenith

[Andrés G]

Speedy Pro without a doubt.

[beshannon]

Speedmaster

[capote]

Speedmaster is a safe bet. Check out the Zenith El Primero with registers in different colors for a more fun chronograph

[Peterandwatches]

Had the Zenith and the Speedy, but would go Speedy.

However, that black dial Zenith solved alot of issues I had - the overlap of the subdials is no longer an issue, and the date is so much more readable.

[stockae92]

I can't tell you which one to get, but I can tell you which one not to get.

I still have issue with chronograph that only counts 30, 45, or 60 min only. I hate to see the chronograph ran out of time before the parking meter does.

[McLovin]

I'd get the Zenith or used Breguet Type XX

[offrdmania]

I am not a fan of chronographs with a date function. It cheapens a chrono dial IMHO

[rolehex]

Man tough call between 1 and 3. Probably the speedy.

[asiparks]

Personally, of those 3, Speedmaster, but then it’s not my $5k to spend...
Do what Dcheeta stated above, go spend some time looking at the billion options out there. Or look at more vintage pre owned :
I picked up a Lemania 5100 powered Sinn 142/ Bell&Ross Space 1 for a little over $1300, solid and striking.

[ADB85]

I've always been drawn to Chopard for some reason but never bought one. Pretty sure you can pick up one like the pic for less than your target price.

[KBM]

Originally Posted by TSD

If you're drawn to vintage compax layouts, and want a modern column wheel/vertical clutch movement, take a serious look at the Heuer Autavia. It's within budget on the leather strap. I moved a Moon watch for it with no regrets.

This is a great looking option, with an in-house caliber, 100m wr and gmt bezel to boot. Under 4k after discounts bnib. Tough to beat!

[DCheeta]

Originally Posted by kauebm

This is a great looking option, with an in-house caliber, 100m wr and gmt bezel to boot. Under 4k after discounts bnib. Tough to beat!

Very true. An increasing number of brands are making their own in-house modern chronos these days, with all of the features that consumers demand now: column wheel, vertical clutch actuation, anti-magnetic components, etc. But the Heuer 02 stands out because it has all of that at a very affordable price.

Can you tell that I'm a big fan?

[KBM]

Originally Posted by DCheeta

Very true. An increasing number of brands are making their own in-house modern chronos these days, with all of the features that consumers demand now: column wheel, vertical clutch actuation, anti-magnetic components, etc. But the Heuer 02 stands out because it has all of that at a very affordable price.

Can you tell that I'm a big fan?

Big fan here too. Great design.

[TG3N]

All good watches.

I've been wearing my Speedmaster all day, so I may be biased a little, but there's just so much to like about the Moonwatch, it's very rewarding. From a purely technical standpoint, it's the eldest & least spectacular movement (though it doesn't really suffer much from comparison in normal, everyday usage), and has deeply average water resistance, but against that the design is so perfectly executed, it's rarely been bettered. And that's before you even factor in the NASA stuff, which is just the cherry on the cake. One to buy with your heart.

The Tudor Black Bay is an odd one. I love the Black Bay line generally (owning a Red ETA as I do), and the movement is excellently specced, plus chuck in the 200m water resistance, and you have a heck of an all-rounder that punches above its weight and is great value. However... I just can't get with the design. Sub-dials spread too far apart, hands which block the sub-dials, a date that's distractingly too massive, awkward screw-down pushers & a rivet bracelet I just can't love. That said, I liked it much more in the flesh. One to buy as a daily sports model.

Though I wouldn't necessarily pick that style of El Primero, the Zenith is, for me, the daddy of all chronograph movements. They really nailed it from the very outset. Presumably it also has a gorgeous display back and is a sensible size. Also, wearing a Zenith makes you just a little cooler than the average cat. If I were after another Chronographs, it would be that one.

The modern Heuer Autavia is generally a very nice watch, with a great, modern movement. And they've done a superb job in sympathetically adding a date display. But, it's very shiny indeed. And the bezel is just too thick. However, the head shot for me is that minute chrono register split into ludicrous 2.5 minute intervals - what were they thinking?! I appreciate not everyone uses their chrono, but I do, regularly. Ok, it's rarely time critical, but why oh why mess up the register like that?! If I wanted to only approximately measure something, then I'd just use a dive bezel. It's a disaster on a chronograph - imagine Jack Swigert had had to use it on Apollo 13 for the time-critical engine burn (and needed minutes rather than seconds) - "Aye lads, I think that's 14 minutes burned ok, but it's a bit hard to tell. Oh well. On the bright side though, if I've made a mess of the timing, I do definitely have the date upon which we're all probably going to perish?"

[Maiden]

Zenith for me and love the Autavia

[RicZen]

Take a look at the Zenith El Primero Captain Chronograph 03.2110.400/22.C493 . They currently have one at Govberg. Black face no overlapping counters and a date at 6 o clock. I have one in 18k and love in in the flesh. I also have a speedmaster for the last 18 years.