Since this is the time of giving, we have chosen five of our favorite in-house chronographs for you to gift to that special someone in your life. Not only these five watches come from some of the best manufactures out there, but they are all reasonably priced under $15,000 USD. Furthermore, all of them are powered by in-house calibres with consistent reliable craftsmanship. While only a couple of these watches were released in 2015, these five chronographs are definitely worth taking a look at and definitely buying. Now, let's check all of them.
Zenith El Primero Sport
Launched earlier this year during Baselworld 2015, the new Zenith El Primero Sport became an excellent addition to the iconic chronograph collection from Zenith. This timepiece fueled by the DNA of the most iconic sports chronograph the 'El Primero' released in 1969, is a worthy heir to the grand tradition Zenith chronographs.
Its 45 mm diameter stainless steel case houses the famous El Primero 400 B automatic chronograph calibre beating at a frequency of 36,000 vph. Available with a slate grey-toned velvet finished dial or with a silver-toned velvet finished dial. For the price, it really doesn't get much better than this. Check our full hands-on review here.
Sticker Price $11,000 USD on strap under ref. 03.2280.400/01.C713 and $11,600 USD on stainless steel bracelet under ref. 03.2280.400/91.M2280. For more info on Zenith click here.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Chronograph
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Chronograph ref. 1538420 is another one of those classical timeless pieces from this manufacture. The Master Chronograph is perhaps the most well balanced and most classical looking chronograph in the market at this price point. This chronograph fitted with a highly polished stainless steel case measuring 40 mm in diameter, comes with perfectly balanced proportions and a timeless design.
The Master Chronograph ref. 1537420 is fitted with a convex silver sunray brushed dial with applied hour-markers, recessed chronograph registers and alpha hands —all chronograph hands are anodized blue. The JLC Master Chronograph is powered by the in-house automatic calibre Jaeger-LeCoultre 751A/1. The watch is also available in 18K rose gold. This watch right here, is the best in-house chronograph you can buy considering the price. Check our full hands-on review here.
Sticker Price $9,700 USD. For more info on Jaeger-LeCoultre click here.
Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date
The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date with in-house calibre 37-02 was launched last year at Baselworld 2014. Powered by the newly developed column wheel chronograph in-house movement Glashütte Original Calibre 37-02, it represents a perfect addition to their Seventies collection. This very retro-looking watch —as its name accurately states it— is fitted with a perfectly square stainless steel case measuring 40 mm x 40 mm x 13.5 mm and a practical 12-hour chronograph with a very unique display for the chronograph hours in an aperture at 12 o'clock.
The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date is available in three different dial options —blue, silver and anthracite— and with a stainless steel bracelet, a rubber strap or a Louisiana alligator strap. Check our full hands-on review here.
Sticker Price $14,900 on Rubber or Alligator Strap. For more info on Glashütte Original click here.
IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Racer
In 2013, IWC embarked on the Formula One season as the Official Engineering Partner of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team and to mark this cooperation, IWC rolled out the Ingenieur Chrono Racer with an engraving of a Formula One racing car on the case back. The IWC Ingenieur Chrono Racer ref. IW378509 comes with a robust 45 mm stainless steel case, two dial variants —ardoise and silver plated— and is available on rubber strap with alligator leather inlay or on stainless steel bracelet.
The IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Racer ref. IW378509 is not only powered by an automatic in-house chronograph calibre, but is also a flyback chronograph with a mono-counter hour/minute totalizer at 12 o'clock. The IWC in-house calibre 89361 is one of the most efficient movements manufactured entirely by IWC with a 68-hour power reserve. This watch features a date display with crown-activated rapid advance, a flyback chronograph with combined hour and minute totalizer at 12 o’clock and a small hacking seconds for precise time setting. Check our full hands-on review here.
Sticker Price $12,300 USD on rubber strap and $13,600 USD on stainless steel bracelet. For more info on IWC click here.
Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award Limited Edition
The Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award —unveiled earlier this year at Baselworld 2015— with its 42 mm stainless steel case, pays homage to the unforgettable Apollo 13 space mission that took place 45 years ago. This watch celebrates the teamwork, quick thinking, ingenuity and courage that brought the astronauts on the mission, home safely. Distinguishing this limited edition watch, there are two inscriptions that decorate the dial. Fourteen small squares between zero and 14 seconds on the dial come together to form a long comic strip, with the words “What could you do in 14 seconds?” written underneath.
The question is a nod to the 14-second mid-course correction that the Apollo 13 astronauts timed with their on-board back-up timing device: the Omega Speedmaster. At the center of the dial is the quote: “Failure is not an option.” These inspiring words were spoken by actor Ed Harris who played Apollo 13 Flight Director Gene Kranz in the 1995 film about the historic mission, Apollo 13. A small image of a sleeping Snoopy painted on the dial with superluminova is positioned in the small seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock and it appears as if he is dreaming of the token phrase that is often used in association with the mission.
The Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award comes in a limited edition of 1,970 pieces. Its beating heart is the Omega in-house calibre 1861, the same manual wound chronograph movement that powered the legendary Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch. Check our full hands-on review here.
Sticker Price $7,350 USD. For more info on Omega click here.
