The Anatomy of a Chronograph: What Sets a Great One Apart

A chronograph is, at its simplest, a stopwatch grafted onto a timekeeping watch. But the difference between a good chronograph and a great one lies almost entirely in the switching mechanism that starts, stops, and resets it.

Most affordable chronographs use a cam-actuated system: simple, reliable, but with a noticeable mechanical 'thunk' when engaged. Column-wheel chronographs, by contrast, use a wheel with raised columns that lift and lower the chronograph levers with a much lighter, more precise action — the kind of refinement collectors pay a premium for.

Our Meridian Automatic Chronograph uses a column-wheel system visible through its exhibition caseback, a deliberate choice to let owners see exactly what they're paying for.