ReviewGraham Chronofighter Vintage: The Fighting Spirit

If you’re the kind of person who has a penchant for watches—not just how they look on your wrist but everything from the art of watchmaking to its complicated history—then the word ‘Graham’ would be all too familiar. For those just starting out on their horological journeys, George Graham, who was a clockmaker and an inventor, is considered the ‘father of the chronograph’, as his most well-known invention was the start-and-stop mechanism—a precursor to the modern chronograph that is widely used today.

In 1994, Eric Loth, the founder of the modern Graham brand, who was earlier with the Swatch Group, along with a few other people, acquired the rights to use George Graham’s name in a Swiss watchmaking company. George Graham’s impact on the watchmaking world and the rich legacy he left behind became the direct inspiration for Graham watches and the company has been making bank ever since.

Military Inspiration

Intrigued by Panerai’s iconic crown protector, Loth went on to think of a similar contraption as a ‘trigger’. This even led him to a seemingly oddball object that would become the muse of a signature collection—an instrument that was used to measure time lapses between bomb drops during World War II. And so, in the year 2000, the rugged-looking Graham Chronofighter was introduced. The Chronofighter Vintage is a rendition of Graham’s celebrated icon, and this time around, the timepiece has been given the retro guise that it truly deserves.

The 'trigger' of the watch not only protects the crown but also triggers the chronograph counters

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The clear caseback lets you appreciate the G1747 automatic chronograph movement, which beats at 28,800vph

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An Explosive Design

The G1747 automatic chronograph movement, which beats at 28,800vph, offers a power reserve of 48 hours. This robust movement is housed in a 44mm stainless steel case with an exhibition caseback. With its signature ‘trigger’ on the left, which not only protects the crown but also triggers the chronograph function, this watch is meant for those fascinated by wartime tools and gadgets, who would enjoy wearing history on their wrists. Even with such a large trigger, the watch is surprisingly comfortable to wear. The onion shape of its crown is reminiscent of a grenade, and goes impeccably well with the rugged, vintage appeal of the watch. Above the crown is a mushroom-shaped reset pusher. The black, textured dial of the Chronofighter Vintage looks subdued yet sophisticated. The cathedral-style hands along with beige-coloured numeral at the 12 o’clock position and baton markers—which have been coated with SuperLuminova—make this watch perfectly legible. Even with two sub-dials—the small seconds at three o’clock and the 30-minute counter at six—and day-date aperture at nine o’clock, the dial does not look busy. Completing the antiquated look of the timepiece is the brown leather strap that pairs brilliantly with the stunning black dial.

A Timeless Story

There’s hardly anything that captures the imagination more than the trials and tribulations of war. The Graham Chronofighter Vintage, with its strikingly bold design, succeeds in capturing not just the imagination but also the eye. World War II is perhaps the defining period of the 20th century, making and breaking nations, and changing the very course of humanity. Moreover, several modern technologies we take for granted find their origins in the annals of the second ‘war to end all wars’. This watch is a fitting tribute to the unsurpassed industry, innovation and progress that came from an otherwise terrible chapter in our history. It is a reminder that even in our darkest times, there is scope for creation. Owning the Graham Chronofighter Vintage is more than just owning a timepiece, it’s about being part of one of the most intriguing, heart-breaking and inspiring stories in our collective past.