Chronographs are inherently made for timing sports events — are one of the essential sports watch archetypes — and we’ve selected our five favorite mechanical sports chronographs available in 2025.
1. Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional – is not only the legendary watch flight-qualified by NASA that landed on the moon in 1969, purchasing it also often represents where an enthusiast becomes a collector. With a relatively thin 42 mm diameter case, acrylic or sapphire crystal, and solid or clear caseback, the Moonwatch Professional is made to operate in rigorous conditions on Earth, and the Moon. An asymmetrical case and twisted lyre lugs create a distinctive, easily recognizable aesthetic. The Master Chronometer COSC-certified caliber 3861 is a Co-Axial-equipped, manually wound movement adjusted to 0/+5 seconds per day. You won’t likely find a more precise mechanical chronograph for less. Value retention is quite good compared to the market as a whole and another solid reason to own this genre defining masterpiece. $7,000/$8,000
2. Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph – is likely the least well known chronograph of the bunch, making it somewhat of a sleeper. Featuring a 42 mm stainless steel case, and with this particular version, a blue gradient dial, the Polaris Chronograph is a sports chronograph worth your consideration. This model has good but not Rolex level value retention, and offers a watch that will be less common on people’s wrists, if that’s your preference. The movement has traditional Geneva strips, blued screws and the chronograph is actuated by a column wheel and vertical clutch, making this caliber both attractive and technically sophisticated. $14,800
3. Zenith El Primero Chronomaster Sport – was introduced in 2021 and takes the famed El Primero Chronograph and placed in it a sportier case, with an integrated stainless steel bracelet option, that places it as a direct alternative with regards to aesthetics, size, price, brand reputation and so forth. Powered by the El Primero, with a column wheel and horizontal clutch, the 40 mm stainless steel chronograph with ceramic bezel is a formidable alternative to the Rolex Daytona. $11,300
TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox – an icon that’s lost touch with its original aesthetics due to rapid management changes and differing design philosophies, has regained some of its greatness with this modern Carrera Glassbox in a conservatively sized 39 mm diameter stainless steel case. Referred to as a panda, the dial is actually silver, not white, but that’s okay, and the 80-hour caliber TH20-00 in-house movement with column wheel and vertical clutch makes this a great classic sports watch option under seven thousand. $6,650
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona – updated in 2023, the stainless steel version of the Daytona chronograph is an obvious choice. After all, it’s the most coveted and hard to get watch within the entire Rolex group, and let’s be honest, the watch industry as a whole. Accordingly, the Daytona commands an astonishing premium close to twice retail, the moment you leave an authorized dealer with a new one (the white dial is worth more than the black dial). This watch essentially created the waitlist in modern watch collecting. You cannot go wrong with the 40 mm diameter case, robust Rolex chronograph movement featuring a premium column wheel with vertical clutch, and classic sporting good looks, the only problem is getting someone to sell you one at retail. $15,500
These five iconic sports chronographs feature precise in-house movements, integrated bracelets, good-great resale values, and we highly recommend them.
Photos by Omega, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Zenith, TAG Heuer, Rolex.
