From aircraft pilots to race car drivers, the tachymeter has become an invaluable tool for enthusiasts of aviation and high-speed sports. Often found on chronograph watches, a tachymeter can be used to calculate your speed based on elapsed time. Read on to learn more about tachymeter complications and how to use them.
How Does a Tachymeter Work on a Watch?
Tachymeters can be found on chronograph watches as either a bezel or around the edge of the dial. They are used in conjunction with the chronograph to convert elapsed time into average speed – this means you can use it to calculate how fast you run a lap, the speed you’re traveling in an aircraft, or your best lap speed in a car.
To get a little more technical, a tachymeter can be used to measure speed in miles per hour (MPH), nautical miles per hour (knots) or kilometers per hour (KPH) using the sweep second hand and the scale around the dial.
Why Consider a Watch with a Tachymeter?
Whether you’re an athlete timing yourself around the racetrack or a pilot flying across the globe, there’s no denying that a tachymeter watch can be a useful tool.
Tachymeters are also often a mark of high-end or luxury watches, so if you’re looking for a way to enhance your personal style, a tachymeter watch might be on your radar.
Using the Tachymeter on Your Watch
To use your watch’s tachymeter, you’ll need to know the actual distance you are covering in miles or km. You’ll also need to know how to use a chronograph watch – a type of watch complication that helps track elapsed time.
Start the chronograph with the second hand at zero (the twelve o’clock position).
Within the first minute, the second hand will point to the rate for a one mile (or one kilometer) course. For example: if it takes 45 seconds, the hand will point to 80 at that position – 80 MPH or 80 KPH.
If within the first minute, a distance greater than one mile or kilometer is covered, multiply the tachymeter number by the distance to get the actual rate. For example: if you went 1.2 miles in 45 seconds, the formula would be 80 x 1.2 = 96 MPH.
Timex Watches Featuring a Tachymeter
When it comes to accurate timekeeping, Timex has you covered. We have over 170 years of watch design expertise, and our chronograph and tachymeter watches make the ideal companions for any athlete, pilot, or racing driver with durable construction and reliable quartz timekeeping.
Our range of Marlin Chronograph Tachymeter and Standard Tachymeter watches boast the following features:
- Eco-friendly Materials – We pride ourselves on our use of sustainable materials, such as our Timex Standard Tachymeter watch, which features an eco-friendly resin strap.
- Vintage-Inspired Design – The Marlin Chronograph Tachymeter 40mm series features a mid-century aesthetic that combines classic design with modern functionality.
- Versatile Strap Options – We offer a range of strap options including stainless-steel bracelets and leather straps to suit your personal style.
- Functional Tachymeter Scale – Our tachymeter watches allow you to measure average speed based on travel time, adding practical utility to your everyday wristwatch.
- Reliable Chronograph Movement – The functionality on our chronograph watches provides precise timekeeping and stopwatch capabilities, enhancing the watch’s overall versatility.
Key Takeaway
Tachymeter complications are handy if you participate in any speed-related sports, fly planes, or just want to give your style an elevated, sportier look. They’re a common function of chronograph watches and help to calculate your average speed or distance traveled. Shop our full range of Marlin Chronograph Tachymeter watches to find your newest addition to your watch collection.
SHOP THE STORY:
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Q Timex Chronograph 40mm Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch40 mm Stainless Steel/Stainless Steel$229.00 -
Marlin® Chronograph Tachymeter 40mm Leather Strap Watch40 mm Brown/Stainless Steel$179.00 -
Marlin® Chronograph Tachymeter 40mm Leather Strap Watch40 mm Black/Stainless Steel$189.00 -
Timex Standard Tachymeter Chronograph 43mm Eco-Friendly Resin Strap Watch43 mm Black/Black$139.00
