Longines 'Nonius' Chronograph

There is perhaps no more versatile complication than the chronograph.

From race cars to rocket ships, boats to battlefields, you are likely to find a chronograph being employed to measure a plethora of tasks and times. From the Greek khrónos (‘time’) and gráphō (‘to write’), a chronograph is a watch that has the ability to record time, generally via the addition of small sub-counters that register minutes and hours.

Though many storied brands produced notable chronographs during the complication’s heyday from the 1930s through the 1970s, numerous other firms fell by the wayside during the Quartz Crisis, folding completely and disappearing or being rolled up into conglomerates that pillaged their stores of parts.

Thankfully, Longines is still alive and kicking, situated as one of the Swatch Group’s strongest mid-tier brands. This particular Longines chronograph from the 1970s is a perfect example of the brand’s excellent offerings from the heyday of the tool watch: Housed in a 39mm stainless steel case with an acrylic crystal and dual barrel pushers, it features a white dial with orange accents.

Named the 'Nonius' after Mathematician Pedro Nunes who developed a more accurate timing device by using round scales in the 16th century, this piece is based on a manually wound Valjoux movement, and brings the presence of a cushion case 70s design to a classic complication.

Colorful and utilitarian, it’s just the type of fun tool watch that makes for a perfect weekender — or an excellent, everyday option.