21 Of The Best Tachymeter Watches (And How They Work)

It's a common refrain in the watch collector community that chronographs are one of the most popular complications while at the same time being one of the least practical in day-to-day life. Many of the most famous chronograph watches are also equipped with tachymeter scales, and while fans of these watches mostly agree that they look very cool, few of them have ever used the scale with the stopwatch function, and many wouldn't really know how. Nevertheless, the tachymeter on a watch was invented for a utilitarian, practical purpose once upon a time and it's worth briefly exploring those origins and exploring those capabilities.

Essentially, a tachymeter (also called a tachometer, and often spelled "tachymètre" in French on watch dials) is a numerical scale on a watch’s dial or bezel that is used in conjunction with a chronograph seconds hand to measure an object’s speed over a predetermined distance. It is often used to determine miles or kilometers per hour and is thus a common feature of chronograph watches whose design is inspired by automobile racing; we'll showcase several icons of that category in our list below.

Unlike divers’ watch bezels, which should rotate in one direction to set dive times, or other types of bezel scales used for calculations and conversions, like the circular slide rule on Breitling’s Navitimer, most of which are bidirectional, a tachymeter scale bezel should be fixed. The numerical scale typically starts around the 6- or 7-second marker on the minute track, and is usually indicated in units of speed starting at 500 (though increments of 400 or 600 can be found in some cases, depending on which second marks the start of the scale).

How does it work? First, there's a bit of math to do: Start with determining whether you’ll be measuring in miles of kilometers. Then keep in mind the equation T=3600/t, in which capital “T” is the tachymeter value (i.e., the MPH) and small “t” is the elapsed time divided into the “3600” seconds per hour. The classic example for using a wrist tachymeter is determining speed based on the distance between two mile markers on a road or highway. At the first marker, activate the watch’s chronograph to start the central counter hand, then stop the chronograph at the second marker. Read where the hand stopped on both the seconds scale and the tachymeter scale. If it took 45 seconds to get from Marker A to Marker B, and the “00:45” lines up with the 80 on the tachymeter, you’re going 80 MPH (3,600 divided by 45 equals 80).

Furthermore, once you establish a consistent speed, you can use the same scale to determine distance traveled. If there are no more mile markers to assist you on a trip, and you’re traveling at 60 MPH or above (the scale ends at 60), simply note where the seconds hand passes the “80” marker (in the above example) to determine when another mile has been traversed. If you’re traveling slower than 60 MPH, it gets a little trickier: you’ll have to multiply the lower speed by 2 and then divide the tachymeter reading by that same number for an accurate distance.

Of course, all of this might be a little too much work for today’s watch-wearing driver, who has all the benefits of modern dashboard technology to make all these calculations. Chronograph watches with tachymeters are fun and stylish tools nonetheless, at their highest level combining vintage low-tech appeal with the enduring romance of auto racing in their presentation. Here are 21 of our favorites. 

Price: $6,875 - $10,825, Case Size: 41mm, Case Thickness: 14.79mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 200 meters, Movement: Automatic Tudor Caliber MT5813

To develop the movement for the first-ever chronograph watch in its popular Black Bay collection, Tudor turned not to its parent brand Rolex but to an outside source, fellow Swiss sports-watch giant Breitling. The resulting Caliber MT5813, which uses Breitling’s self-winding B01 movement as a base, features an integrated chronograph powered by a column wheel, a 70-hour power reserve and a COSC chronometer certification. The bezel on the 41mm steel case does not rotate and its anodized aluminum bezel insert is inscribed with a tachymeter scale (rather than the dive-time scale characteristic of the Black Bay family), bringing this model more into the realm of motorsport than marine exploration. The screw-down crown and chrono pushers help ensure the same 200-meter water resistance as the diving models, and the dial feature contrasting "panda" subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock as well as a date window at 6 o’clock.

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Blancpain Air Command

Price: $25,900, Case Size: 42.5mm, Thickness: 13.7mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 30m, Movement: Automatic Blancpain Caliber 3888

Revived in 2019 as a limited edition in steel, the Blancpain Air Command traces its history to a prototype made for the French Ministry of Defence in the 1950s, and its successor that was produced in limited numbers for the U.S. Air Force shortly thereafter. In 2021, the vintage-flavored aviation watch joined Blancpain’s regular lineup in a satin-brushed case made of grade 23 titanium (a higher grade than those usually found in watchmaking) and a contemporary blue dial. Among the watch’s retro utilitarian elements are its ratcheted bidirectional bezel that enables a pilot to keep track of his fuel reserve in flight and a tachymeter scale on the dial's edge for calculating air speeds. The flyback chronograph-equipped Caliber F385 inside holds a power reserve of 50 hours and is finished in a stark, mostly matte finish that differentiates it from Blancpain’s usual ornately decorated movements.

[shoppable-product-slim handle="air-command-flyback-chronograph-42-5mm-green"]

Price: $420, Case Size: 39mm, Thickness: 11mm, Lug-to-Lug: 48mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100 meters, Crystal: Mineral, Movement: Seiko VK64 Mechaquartz

Founded in France’s watchmaking hub of Besançon in 1948 by watchmaker Henry Louis Belmont, Yema relaunched in 2005 after a long hiatus, under new French ownership, and began offering a vast range of watch styles, including the emblematic Superman divers’ watch and the racing-inspired Rallygraf chronograph, which is a modern re-edition of a watch worn by F1 legend Mario Andretti. Powered by a VK64 caliber, the contemporary Rallygraf, here in a striking silver-black “panda” execution, features the block chrono pushers and double-domed mineral crystal of its predecessor as well as the car-dashboard-inspired subdial arrangement, with a tiny checkered-flag motif between two trapezoidal registers. The black aluminum bezel is etched with a tachymeter scale and the caseback features a relief engraving of Yema’s historical coat of arms. 

Price: $725, Case Size: 39mm, Thickness: 13.3mm, Lug-to-Lug: 45.5mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100m, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Seiko Solar Caliber V192

The original Seiko Speedtimer, released in 1969, was among the world’s first self-winding chronograph watches, equipped with the legendary Caliber 6139. When Seiko revived the Speedtimer, as part of its sport-oriented Prospex collection, it decided to eschew the automatic mechanical movement in favor a new, high-tech, solar-powered one, Caliber V192, which enhances reliability and runs up to six months on a single charge from any light source. The tachymeter scale is etched into the stationary bezel, and the dial’s intuitive design uses red detailing for the central seconds hand and the elapsed minutes hand on the 6 o’clock subdial at 6 o’clock for easy reading of the chronograph displays. The date window is nestled unobtrusively between the indexes at 4 and 5 o’clock, helping to enhance the overall legibility of the sunray-finished dial. 

[shoppable-product-slim handle="ssc961-prospex-speedtimer-39mm-white-on-bracelet"]

Price: $895, Case Size:43.5mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 50 meters, Movement: Quartz Precisionist Caliber NP20

The Bulova Lunar Pilot is an homage to the Bulova chronograph worn by astronaut Dave Scott on the Moon during the Apollo 15 mission. Visually, the modern-day Lunar Pilot is a faithful re-creation of its spacefaring ancestor, retaining the curvy case shape and elongated pushers of the original. The dial is mostly similar too ― except for the addition of a date window at 4:30 and the label “262 kHz” at 6 o’clock within the running seconds subdial. Bulova has expanded the color palette beyond the original black-dial edition, introducing in 2024 the “Blood Moon” edition, with its crimson-hued “panda” dial enhanced by a subtle lunar-surface texture and silver-toned subdials. Like most chronographs at this price point, the Lunar Pilot is equipped with a quartz movement, but not just an off-the-rack one: the high-performance Precisionist caliber buzzes away at 262 Hz, eight times the frequency of typical quartz movements, and has an accuracy of +/-5 seconds per month.

[shoppable-product-slim handle="lunar-pilot-blood-moon-43-5mm"]

Price: $2,840, Case Size: 42mm, Case Height: 15.2mm, Lug Width: 21mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 50 meters, Movement: Automatic Mido Caliber 60 (ETA A05.H31)

Mido introduced the Multifort, its first watch with an automatic movement, as well as being notable for its antimagnetic and shock-and-water-resistant properties, in 1934 and has been building the collection ever since. This 42mm bicompax chronograph with a rose-gold PVD-treated case evokes the Multichrono model of 1937. Its appealing vintage details include the domed dial with tachymeter scale, faceted sword hands, and Arabic numerals; tapered lugs and pump chrono pushers on the case; and the box-style crystal over the dial. Powering the watch is the automatic ETA-based Caliber 60, offering a 60-hour power reserve.

[shoppable-product-slim handle="multifort-patrimony-chronograph-black"]

Price: $2,595, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 14.4mm, Lug-to-Lug: 49mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100m, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Hamilton H-31 (Valjoux 7750 base)

Based on the original Hamilton Chrono-Matic — one of the world’s first self-winding chronographs, debuting in 1968 — the Intra-Matic Autochrono has a 40-mm steel case with elongated lugs, pump-stye pushers, and a large, right-side-mounted crown. Its black “reverse Panda” dial has an outer white tachymeter scale, applied hour markers with luminescent inserts, and two parallel, snail-finished white subdials for running seconds and 30 elapsed chronograph minutes. A vintage-style Hamilton logo appears at 12 o’clock. The movement is the automatic Hamilton Caliber H-31, based on the ETA 7750, which maintains a 60-hour power reserve. The black leather perforated strap harmonizes with the tachymeter details to give the watch a classic "racing" look.

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Price: $2,575, Case size: 43mm, Thickness: 14.8mm, Lug to Lug: 47mm, Lug Width: 22mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 100 meters, Movement: Automatic ETA Valjoux 7753

Tissot's Heritage 1973 is a motorsport-inspired chronograph whose retro design hearkens back to the Tissot Navigator, a watch worn in the 1970s by Swiss Formula One driver Loris Kessel. Tissot worked with Kessel’s son and his racing team to produce this modern homage, with an expanded, cushion-shaped 43mm steel case with an array of high-end finishes and a sharp, black-and-white “panda”-style dial bordered by a black tachymeter scale on its periphery. The front crystal is scratch-resistant sapphire, while the back exhibition window uses a more period-appropriate mineral glass to showcase the automatic integrated chronograph caliber inside, with its golden rotor engraved with a Tissot logo. The black calfskin strap with racing-style perforations is a reproduction of the original.

Longines Record Heritage Chronograph

 

Price: $3,000, Case Size: 40mm, Case Height: 13.8mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 30 meters, Movement: Automatic Longines Caliber L895

The Record Watch Co. was founded in 1903 and was known as the maker of the triangular “Sector” pocket watch and a purveyor of high-end wristwatch chronographs in the 1930s. Longines absorbed the Record brand in the 1960s and resurrected the Record style in a series of vintage-flavored models under the Longines brand umbrella. The Record Heritage Chronograph has a round 40mm steel case and a sober black dial with gold-colored details, including the tachymeter scale that borders its edges and the frames for the parallel subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock. Golden leaf-shaped hands tell the time on a combination of Arabic numerals at the even hours and thin indexes at the odds, while smoothly rounded rectangular pushers activate the built-in stopwatch. A COSC-certified automatic movement, with a silicon balance spring and a 59-hour power reserve, ticks inside.

Price: $4,175 - $4,275, Case Size: 39.5mm, Thickness: 12.9mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 50 meters, Movement: Automatic Caliber RW5030 (Sellita base)

Raymond Weil’s Millesime Tricompax Chronograph follows the classical, retro-flavored aesthetic that won the original time-only Millesime model a GPHG award: a sector-style dial surrounded by a tachymeter scale; sharp “obelisk” hands for the hour and minute, luminous-coated baton hour markers; and three subdial counters at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock with the same sectored design as the main dial and a polished finish on the hands. The round, stainless steel case measures 39.5mm in diameter and 12.9mm thick, with a glassbox crystal over the dial, pump-style pushers, and a fluted crown bearing an engraved “RW” emblem. The timepiece is offered in two panda-dial iterations, one with a midnight blue dial and white counters, the other with the same-colored subdials on a black dial. Inside the case is the automatic, Sellita-based RW5030 movement, which stores an impressive 56 hours of power.

Price: $6,195, Case Size: 42mm, Case Height: 15.5mm, Strap Width: 20mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 50m, Movement: Automatic FC-760

Powered by an in-house movement developed specially for it, Frederique Constant’s Flyback Chronograph is inspired by models from the 1930s. The automatic Caliber FC-760 inside has an unconventional, star-shaped column wheel that rotates on bearings to govern the integrated stopwatch’s start, stop, and reset functions. Working in unison with the operating lever, which is controlled by the start/stop push-piece, the star-shaped wheel is responsible for the mechanism’s exceptionally smooth operation. The watch’s case measures 42mm in diameter and available in either stainless steel or rose-gold-plated steel. The tricompax dial features subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock for the 30-minute chronograph counter, analog date display, and small seconds indicator, respectively. In another nod to its historical inspirations, the tachymeter scale appears on the dial’s periphery rather than on the bezel. A high complication at an amazing price point, this watch’s value is enhanced by the haute horlogerie decorations on the movement, visible through a sapphire caseback.

Price: $7,800, Case size: 42mm, Thickness: 13.54mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Lug to Lug: 47.5mm, Crystal: Hesalite, Water Resistance: 50 meters, Movement: Manually Wound Caliber 3861

The Omega Speedmaster is not only the first watch on the moon; it’s also often the first “serious watch” in a budding connoisseur’s collection. Best of all for traditionalists, the standard “Moonwatch” reference on a bracelet is still more or less identical to the manual wind watch that Buzz Aldrin rocked on the Apollo 11 mission more than 50 years ago, with a 42mm steel case, a Hesalite crystal over the tricompax dial, luminous hands and hour markers, and the trendsetting tachymeter-scale bezel that speaks to the Speedy’s origins as a watch for auto racing. It’s even equipped with a modern version of the hand-wound movement that powered the original, Omega Caliber 1861, with a 3Hz frequency and a 48-hour power reserve. With this reference, Omega takes the adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” to heart.

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Price: $6,950, Case Size: 39mm, Thickness: 13.9mm, Lug to Lug: 46mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 100m, Movement: Automatic TAG Heuer Caliber TH-20-00

TAG Heuer’s iconic racing chronograph, the Carrera, turned 60 years old in 2023. The Swiss brand commemorated the milestone with the Carrera Chronograph Glassbox, which derives its name from the vintage-inspired, domed sapphire crystal that rises over the 39mm steel case, evoking the shape of the Hesalite crystals on the 1960s models. The crystal’s prominent curve flows seamlessly over the tachymeter scale at the outer edge of the dial, allowing it to be read legibly in a wider range of angles. The case’s pump-style pushers have also been carefully reshaped and repositioned to make them as user-friendly as possible. Debuting inside the Glassbox is the TAG Heuer TH20-00 caliber, a re-engineered version of the ubiquitous Heuer 02 movement with a new bidirectional winding system meant to increase efficiency of the winding and to enable longer periods of running with its maximum 80-hour power reserve. The Carrera Chronograph Glassbox is offered in several colorways, on a perforated strap that evokes classic 1960s references.

Price: $9,400, Case Size: 37mm, Thickness: 12.6mm, Lug to Lug: 46.8mm, Lug width: 19mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 50 meters, Movement: Automatic Caliber El Primero 400

Zenith’s legendary El Primero high-frequency chronograph caliber marked its 50th anniversary in 2019, a year that saw Zenith release the vintage-homage Chronomaster Revival models, defined by tonneau-shaped cases at a period-appropriate 37mm diameter, pump-style chronograph pushers, and tricompax dials with tachymeter-scale borders. Many Chronomaster Revival models feature distinctly modern materials and colorways that enhance their retro appeal, like the “cappuccino” dial of the Chronomaster Revival A385, with high-contrast white subdials and a vignette effect that re-creates the brand’s first-ever gradient dial from 1969. A discreet date window appears at 4:30, and the barrel-shaped case connects to another retro-style element, the steel “ladder” bracelet popularized by the historic manufacturer Gay Frères. The El Primero movement inside powers the 1/10-second chronograph function and stores a lengthy 50-hour power reserve.

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Price: $9,900, Case Size: 42mm, Case Height: 15.1mm, Lug Width: 22mm, Lug to Lug: 50.5mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 200 meters, Movement: Automatic Breitling Caliber B01

Breitling's original 1948 Chronomat, which introduced the slide-rule bezel now emblematic of its more famous Navitimer model, was revamped in 1984 for Italy’s famed Frecce Tricolori aerial squadron, with a tachymeter-scale flange and “rider tabs” at the quarter-hours on the rotating bezel used to set countdown times with the built-in stopwatch. Breitling updated the design again in 2020 for a slew of new models, including this steel-cased model, on a steel Rouleaux bracelet, with a tricompax panda-style dial with contrasting snailed subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. On the modern Chronomat models, the rider tabs are interchangeable, meaning they can be used either for tallying up or counting down the first 15-minute interval via the bezel. Inside is the brand's in-house, chronograph-equipped movement, the automatic Caliber B01.

[shoppable-product-slim handle="chronomat-b01-42mm-white-on-bracelet"]

Price: $5,790, Reference: 168589-3002, Case Size: 42mm Case Height: 12.67mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 50 meters, Movement: Automatic ETA Caliber 2894-2

Chopard’s decades-long partnership with the Mille Miglia series of classic car rallies has yielded a wealth of sharp, motorsport-inspired wristwatches at a more accessible price point than many of the manufacture's high-jewelry ladies’ watches and its higher-end L.U.C series. The Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph sports a dial with large, legible Arabic numerals, in a vintage font used on the dashboards of the historical cars that drive in the Mille Miglia races. Three snailed subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock tally the running seconds, chronograph hours and chronograph minutes, respectively. A racing-inspired tachymeter scale appears on the flange and a bright red Mille Miglia logo joins the date window at 3 o'clock. Two pump pushers flank the screwed crown on the round, steel case to operate the chronograph. The textured pattern on the black rubber strap, evoking the treads of Dunlop racing tires, carries on the rally-racing theme.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph

 

Price: $16,700 - $17,600, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 11.9mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 100 meters, Movement: Automatic Caliber 751

Taking their cues from the original 1968 Polaris, a groundbreaking alarm-equipped divers’ watch, the watches in Jaeger-LeCoultre's modern Polaris collection feature dive-inspired inner rotating bezels, dials with three concentric circles with contrasting finishes, vintage-inspired Arabic numerals and trapezoidal indexes, and large luminous hands. The Polaris Chronograph is the sportiest of the collection, its inner bezel sporting a racing-inspired tachymeter scale and its chronograph pushers designed to ensure an ideal grip. Like all watches in the series, its dial consists of three concentric circles with contrasting finishes: sunray in the center, graining on the outer circle, and opaline for the rotating inner bezel flange. The dial’s bicompax layout has a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and small seconds at 9 o’clock. Beating behind a sapphire caseback and holding a 65-hour power reserve is Jaeger-LeCoultre's self-winding manufacture Caliber 751. 

Price: $16,900, Case size: 40mm, Thickness: 11mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 100 meters, Movement: Automatic Rolex Caliber 4131

In 1962, Rolex became official timekeeper of the Daytona 500, and one year later it released the Ref. 6239 Cosmograph, nicknamed the “Daytona,” its now-famous racing-inspired chronograph watch. The watch, notable for its three-register dial and engraved tachymeter bezel, has been produced in various versions ever since, forever linked to the high-performance world of motorsport and consistently one of the most coveted watch models in the world. In 2023, the Daytona celebrated its 60th anniversary with a host of subtle but significant refinements to the case and dial as well as a new automatic movement, Caliber 4131. The case profile has new, light-catching highlights, the subdials are even more harmoniously balanced, and the tachymeter bezel, made of Rolex’s proprietary Cerachrom alloy, now has a metal ring on its periphery that matches the case material.

Price: $23,500, Case Size: 39mm, Case Thickness: 9.27mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 30 meters, Movement: Manual-winding Caliber A5000

If you’ve ever wondered why anyone timing quick bursts of speed, like laps in an automobile race, needs a stopwatch that can accumulate times up to 12 hours, Angelus may have created your ideal timepiece. The historic brand pays homage to the golden age of motorsport, and strips the chronograph watch down to its original, bare-essential purpose, with the limited-edition Instrument de Vitesse.  At first glance, the watch looks like a simple three-hander, but a closer look reveals the tachymeter scale around the periphery and the classical monopusher embedded in the crown; the latter activates the single chronograph hand in the center, which can be started, stopped and returned to zero by the same button to record elapsed times to a maximum of 60 seconds — perfect for taking average speed readings of fast-moving targets like race cars. The movement inside, Angelus Caliber A5000, is suitably old-school, with manual winding, a steady 3Hz frequency, and an integrated chronograph device with a column wheel and vertical clutch, and the dial, with its historical typography, would be at home on the dashboard of a classic car.

Price: $68,500, Case Size: 38.5mm, Case Thickness: 10.9mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Lug-to-Lug: 47.4mm Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 30m, Movement: Manual Caliber 1150

In 1955, Vacheron Constantin released the highly collectible Reference 6087, its first chronograph with a waterproof case distinguished by its unusually shaped lugs that resembled the “horns of a cow” (cornes de vache in French). Vacheron revived the model, with some modern styling and a new movement, for its vintage-inspired Historiques collection in 2015. The distinctive case is historically accurate in most of its detailing, including the mushroom-style chronograph pushers, grooved crown, and curvy cow-horn lugs. At 38.5 mm in diameter, it is slightly larger than the historical model’s 35 mm size, The mostly period-accurate dial has applied hour indexes, blued chronograph hands, and a tachymeter scale on its periphery, another holdover from the 1955 original. Vacheron’s manufacture Caliber 1142, ticking inside, has earned the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva for its high-horology decorations.

Price: $97,150, Case Size: 41mm, Case Width: 11.45mm, Crystal: Sapphire, Water Resistance: 30m, Movement: Manual-winding in-house Caliber CH 29-535 PS

Debuting in 2019 in white gold, Patek Philippe’s Ref. 5172G is the elegant descendant of the discontinued and fondly remembered Ref. 5710. Updated elements include the new, fully polished finish on the white-gold case, which measures 41 mm in diameter and 11.45 mm thick, a tad larger than its predecessor; the rounded chronograph pushers with guilloché treatment; the newly designed three-tiered lugs; and the applied Arabic numerals and baton-style, pointed-tip hands on the varnished, midnight-blue dial. Bordering the dial is a white transfer-print minute track and tachymeter ring; covering it is a curved, box-type sapphire crystal. Behind the sapphire exhibition caseback is Patek Philippe’s manufacture Caliber CH 29-535 PS, a manually winding, lavishly decorated movement with a column wheel, a horizontal clutch, and a 65-hour power reserve.