Carrera Chronographs: Give me speed, not moon phases!

Official racing began with the invention of the chronograph, an iconic complication. Notable examples include the Moser Streamliner, Buren Minstop, Singer Reimagined 1969, Baltic Tricompax x Tour Auto 2024, Jaeger-LeCoultre Amvox 7, and Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch, each with its own unique style and competitive spirit.

Chronograph or Stopwatch? If you ask me that question again, I'll have to kill the questioner. Anyway, let's move on to a more cheerful topic today. The pursuit of speed has existed since man learned to move, but official racing has only existed since man invented the chronograph. That's why it's the most iconic and most masculine complication of all. Moon phases, perpetual calendars? Nobody cares! Give me speed! While not all chronographs were created for racing drivers, these six we selected here are some that stand out, in our opinion, for their originality, functionality, and competitive spirit.

Moser Streamliner Chronograph

The Moser Streamliner Chronograph is, like everything Moser makes, a masterpiece of modern design, fusing elegance, nostalgia, retro-futurism, and cutting-edge technology. This watch stands out for its flyback chronograph functionality, which allows time intervals to be measured with extreme precision and style. All this is thanks to its in-house movement.

The minimalist and avant-garde design of this watch, launched in 2022, has captured the attention of connoisseurs around the world, becoming Moser's best-selling watch. One look at that bracelet and you know this is something special. Bonus points for positioning the pushers so the chronograph can be operated with one hand.

Buren Minstop

You're probably Googling this watch because you've never heard of it before. Well, we're here to enlighten you about this little gem of a chronograph, a true vintage treasure that transports us back to the golden age of watchmaking in the 1960s. Equipped with a hand-cranked mechanical movement, this classic features a precise and highly visible chronograph function, invented to keep track of the minutes remaining on your parking meter. That's right, a chronograph so you don't have to lose any parts. Basically, it's a watch for a race against the law and its long tentacles.

Its gold case and classic mid-century typography have elevated it to cult status, with prices rising rapidly. While it wasn't an expensive watch, it was produced in small quantities. You know, if you like unusual watches, this is one of the best.

Singer Reimagined 1969

The Singer Reimagined 1969 is a watchmaking extension of what Singer's wizards can achieve. A unique piece where the chronograph is the star and the watch a supporting character. The aesthetic follows the lines of their remastered Porsches, but just like those supercars, what lies within is pure modernity. A very special movement, created exclusively for this watch, elevates it to a price range dangerously close to six figures, ensuring that only a select few can enjoy it, just like their cars.

Launched in 2017, this watch revolutionized the concept of a chronograph in its time, and although there have been many subsequent versions (including a diving one), the 1969 will forever be our favorite, with its 100% classic car racing-inspired look, making it a unique and exciting collector's item.

Baltic Tricompax x Tour Auto 2024

We've said it many times at LOFT: Baltic has been doing things right. The Baltic Tricompax x Tour Auto 2024 is a vintage-style sports chronograph with a Tricompax chronograph that offers exceptionally tailored functionality for measuring different race time intervals. Equipped with a high-quality Japanese automatic movement and offering excellent finishes for this price point, this watch, launched in 2024, combines the charm of vintage design with the legacy of one of the most legendary races, the Tour Auto Race.

For nearly $2,000, it's hard to imagine a racing watch that delivers so much. Perfect size, good technical specifications, a well-crafted vintage design, and the association with the Tour Auto Race—what more could you ask for? Well, it would be nice if it were available and not always out of stock.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Amvox 7

You may not remember, but there was a time when JLC was a groundbreaking, bold brand, pushing the boundaries of what was possible. It was the Richard Mille of the 90s. No watch better represents that golden age than the Amvox 7, launched in 2005. Created in collaboration with Aston Martin, this watch's magic trick is its sapphire crystal, which also doubles as a chronograph pusher. I still don't understand how they did it, nor what its purpose is, but no one can deny that it's the coolest pusher ever seen. The rest of the watch screams motorsport, with shapes inspired by Aston Martin models of the era.

The magic of depreciation has made this watch yours today for a fraction of its original price, but be very careful when operating this chronograph, because we don't want to know what a service visit costs. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Amvox 7 is a bold and futuristic timepiece that incorporates cutting-edge technology into its design.

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch

The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch is THE timeless icon of watchmaking. Famous for going to the moon, we forget that since its launch in 1957, this watch, which features a chronograph proven on space missions and has been integral to space exploration, earning the trust of NASA, has never been known as a racing watch. Its robust design with inset crown guards, a high-quality hand-wound chronograph movement, and a tachymeter scale were all originally designed for the track, although they have rarely been seen on the wrists of F1 idols. Omega has even released special editions featuring Michael Schumacher—it doesn't get more RACING!

Today we're here to give it our vote as the perfect racing timekeeper: indestructible, beautiful, legible, and widely available. For us, that story about the Moon is a mere anecdote and nothing more than the icing on the delicious cake that is the Speedmaster.