Watches and Wonders 2024 did not establish an event-wide winner for chronographs. Three releases stand out for different reasons: TAG Heuer’s complication-heavy Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph, Zenith’s 1/10-second DEFY Skyline Chronograph, and IWC’s Portugieser Chronograph variants, which put the focus on dial and case combinations. This is a curated comparison, not a shared-score ranking: the strongest choice depends on whether you value mechanical complexity, timing resolution, or a particular finish.
What were the best chronographs at Watches and Wonders 2024?
These three novelties make a useful shortlist because they represent distinct approaches to a chronograph: a split-seconds complication, a high-frequency sports-watch display, and a family of Portugieser models distinguished by materials and dial colors. The official Watches and Wonders catalogue lists the TAG Heuer and Zenith models among its 2024 novelties; IWC’s 9 April 2024 announcement presents its three versions as Watches and Wonders Geneva launches. See the official 2024 novelty catalogue.
| Model | What distinguishes it | Published details | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph | Rattrapante, or split-seconds, complication in the square Monaco design | TAG Heuer and Watches and Wonders describe it as a modern interpretation and tribute to the original 1969 Monaco. The cited event page does not establish a price or case dimension. | Readers drawn to the extra mechanical complexity and the Monaco’s distinctive shape |
| Zenith DEFY Skyline Chronograph | 1/10-second chronograph indication | 42 mm case; El Primero 3600 calibre, according to the official event page | Readers who want fine elapsed-time indication in a contemporary sports-watch design |
| IWC Portugieser Chronograph variants | Three combinations of dial color and case material; IWC-manufactured 69355 calibre | Horizon Blue in 18-carat white gold; Obsidian in 18-carat 5N gold; Dune in stainless steel. IWC describes a column-wheel control and vertically arranged displays. | Readers choosing primarily by dial treatment, case material, and the Portugieser layout |
The specifications above are launch information from the brands and event pages, not the results of a common independent test. Those sources do not provide a comparable current-price or availability picture, so neither is treated here as a deciding value measure.
Which new chronographs were shown at Watches and Wonders 2024?
TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph: the complication-led pick
TAG Heuer and Watches and Wonders position this novelty as a modern take on the square Monaco and a tribute to the 1969 original. Its defining feature is the rattrapante complication, also called split-seconds: an additional chronograph hand can be stopped separately to time an intermediate interval while the other continues. The complication is the reason to choose this Monaco over a chronograph whose appeal rests more on its case or dial.
#1 Best Overall
- Men's luxury timepieces with technical advancements and a sporty style
- 1/5 Second Chronograph Measures up to 60 Minutes, 12/24 Hour Time, Date
- Silver-Tone Stainless Steel
- Spherical Mineral Crystal
- 100 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty
The heritage framing is the manufacturer’s own; it is not an independent assessment of the model’s historical significance. The event description likewise does not establish comparative performance, price, or wearability. Read the Watches and Wonders/TAG Heuer model page.
Zenith DEFY Skyline Chronograph: the fine-resolution sports option
The official event listing gives the DEFY Skyline Chronograph a 42 mm case and Zenith’s El Primero 3600 calibre, with chronograph indication to 1/10 of a second. That makes it the clearest choice in this group for a reader who prioritizes fine elapsed-time display in a modern sports-watch format.
Forty-two millimeters is the stated case diameter, not a guarantee of how the watch will fit. Wrist comfort and visual scale depend on more than diameter, and the event listing does not provide a standardized fit comparison with the other models. See Zenith’s official Watches and Wonders listing.
Rank #2
- Stainless Steel case with Black Resin Band
- Black Dial with date window at 3 O'clock
- Luminous markers and hour hands; sweep second hand
- Anti-reverse bezel
- Water-resistant to 200 M (660 feet)
IWC Portugieser Chronograph: three material and dial choices
IWC announced three variants in Geneva on 9 April 2024. Horizon Blue has an 18-carat white-gold case, Obsidian uses 18-carat 5N gold, and Dune pairs its dial with stainless steel. All three use IWC-manufactured calibre 69355. IWC describes its chronograph control as column-wheel operated, with stopped minutes at 12 o’clock and small seconds at 6 o’clock.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe announcement also says the dials involve more than 60 manufacturing steps. That is IWC’s description of its production process, not an independently audited count. These variants are most meaningfully compared by their published finishes and materials; the release does not supply a side-by-side timing test or a current price comparison. Read IWC’s 9 April 2024 announcement.
What is a split-seconds chronograph?
A split-seconds chronograph, or rattrapante, has two chronograph seconds hands that can be separated temporarily. Start them together, stop one to record an intermediate time, then release it to catch up with the other hand. That makes it useful for timing two events that begin together but finish at different moments, or for reading a lap or split without ending the overall timing.
Rank #3
- Men's luxury timepieces with technical advancements and a sporty style
- 1 Second Chronograph Measures up to 60 Minutes, 12/24 Hour Time, Date
- Silver-Tone Stainless Steel Case
- Mineral Crystal
- 100 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty
It adds a distinct function beyond a standard chronograph’s start, stop, and reset sequence. In this roundup, that extra timing capability is the Monaco’s distinguishing technical idea; the available event description does not establish a comparative accuracy result.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How does the Zenith DEFY Skyline Chronograph measure 1/10 seconds?
Zenith’s event page states that the DEFY Skyline Chronograph provides 1/10-second indication and uses the El Primero 3600 calibre. In practical terms, the chronograph display is marked to show elapsed time in tenths rather than only whole seconds. The event listing supports that stated resolution, but it does not provide a laboratory accuracy figure or a comparison against the TAG Heuer and IWC launches.
How to choose among these Watches and Wonders chronographs
- Choose the Monaco if the split-seconds function and recognizable square design matter more to you than the other models’ documented features.
- Choose the DEFY Skyline if the stated 1/10-second indication and contemporary sports-watch presentation are the main draw; consider the 42 mm diameter in light of your own wrist and fit preferences.
- Choose a Portugieser variant if case material and dial color are central to the decision. The three announced pairings are Horizon Blue/white gold, Obsidian/18-carat 5N gold, and Dune/stainless steel.
There is no supported event-wide chronograph scoring system behind calling any one of these the objective best. GQ’s 12 April 2024 roundup covered 27 favorite new watches after its writers attended in Geneva, but it was a general event selection rather than a chronograph-only ranking. Read GQ’s Watches and Wonders 2024 roundup. The event’s replay index also organizes novelty videos by participating brand. Browse the official 2024 novelty video index.
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