On a conventional two-pusher chronograph, press the upper pusher to start timing, press it again to stop, and then press the lower pusher, once the hands are stopped, to return them to zero. That sequence is the most common pattern, not a universal rule. The manual for your exact make, model and caliber takes priority, and several common exceptions are covered below.
The function itself is defined in Hamilton’s Chronograph Watch Guide (dated June 6, 2022 on the page) as “a timepiece with a mechanism built into the movement that can measure elapsed time without disrupting its basic time-telling functionality.” In practice, that means the watch keeps showing the time while a separate chronograph mechanism times an interval you choose.
Find the pushers before pressing anything
Most chronographs with two pushers place them on the case flanks, usually one above and one below the crown, according to Hamilton’s guide. The upper pusher typically controls start and stop, and the lower pusher typically controls reset. Some watches also have a crown that changes modes, and some pushers are screw-locked. Check the case for both before you press.
- Two pushers, one above and one below the crown: the conventional layout described above.
- Screw-locked pushers: the ring must be unscrewed before the pusher will work. See the section on screw-lock pushers below.
- A crown-based mode selector: some models, such as Citizen’s E67, select chronograph functions through the crown instead of the familiar two-pusher steps.
Start, stop and reset, step by step
These steps follow the common two-pusher arrangement. Confirm each one against your manual.
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- If the pushers are screw-locked, unscrew the pusher ring until it turns freely. Grand Seiko’s Cal. 9R96, 9R86 and 9R84 instructions say to unlock the ring before use.
- Press the upper pusher once. The chronograph seconds hand begins to move, and the elapsed-time registers start counting.
- Press the upper pusher again to stop. Read the chronograph seconds hand and the counters.
- With the hands stopped, press the lower pusher to reset. Grand Seiko’s Cal. 9SC5 instructions state: “After stopping the chronograph hands, press the RESET button to return all the chronograph hands to the 0 position.”
- If you locked the pushers, screw the rings back down after you finish. Grand Seiko’s Cal. 9R instructions say to relock them after operation.
The stop-then-reset order matters. The reset step is written for stopped hands in the manufacturer instructions cited here, and the next section explains what changes when a model allows different behavior.
Reading the elapsed time
A chronograph adds its own hands and counters on top of the normal time display. A common layout uses a central chronograph seconds hand, plus subdials that count elapsed minutes and hours. The number of counters, their orientation and their ranges vary by caliber, so identify each one from your manual before you rely on a reading.
| Caliber (manufacturer guide) | Central chronograph hand | Minute counter | Hour counter | Stated capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Seiko Cal. 9SC5 | Central seconds hand | 30-minute dial; its minute hand completes two rotations per hour | 12-hour dial | Up to 12 hours, per Grand Seiko’s Cal. 9SC5 instructions (caliber-specific, not all chronographs) |
| Audemars Piguet Caliber 8100 | Elapsed seconds | 30-minute counter | 12-hour counter | Not stated in the Audemars Piguet guide cited |
On the Cal. 9SC5, the minute hand on the 30-minute dial passes the same mark twice each hour, so read it as a half-hour cycle. Add the 12-hour dial reading to get the total. Use the table as a reading guide only; the subdial positions on your own watch may differ.
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Model differences that change the steps
Several behaviors depend on the movement. Do not assume that a press which works on one watch will work on another.
Running reset
Shinola’s instructions say that on its quartz models, pressing pusher B while the chronograph is running can stop the hands while timing continues in the background. The same company warns that using that action on its automatic Canfield Speedway can damage the movement. Check your manual before attempting this on any model, and treat it as a movement-specific behavior rather than a general technique. See Shinola’s chronograph guide.
Accumulated timing
Some chronographs can time several separate intervals and add them together before you reset. On Grand Seiko’s Cal. 9SC5, each new start after a stop restarts the hands from their previous stopped position, so the displayed total accumulates. Shinola’s automatic models use the start/stop pusher the same way to stop and restart successive intervals. Reset clears the accumulated total, so do it only when you are finished with the session.
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Screw-lock pushers
Some Grand Seiko Cal. 9R96, 9R86 and 9R84 models have screw-locked pusher rings that must be turned to unlock before use and relocked after. This applies only to watches with screw-lock pushers. Most standard two-pusher chronographs do not have them.
Crown-based mode selection
Citizen’s E67 instructions describe crown-based mode selection rather than the usual two-pusher steps. If your watch has a crown that changes modes, follow the crown sequence in your manual and do not press the pushers in the order described above.
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Recalibration is specific to each model. Shinola states that the Canfield Speedway’s hands cannot be recalibrated manually and must be reset by its watch experts. Do not attempt a calibration button sequence from a general guide. If the hands do not return to zero after a correct reset, stop using the chronograph and contact the manufacturer’s service center or an authorized service center for your watch.
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