Accessible Flyback Chronographs: Five Value Propositions Well Under €10K From Longines, Sinn, Frederique Constant, And More

The flyback function is arguably the epitome of technicality in sports watches, and it can be an expensive collection goal. Many of you will know the snap-quick function from Patek Philippe and über-horology from the likes of A. Lange & Söhne. However, as manufacturing techniques improve, so does the possibility of (comparatively) affordable flyback chronographs.

In 2024, we have seen new versions of Swiss-powered flyback chronographs for less than €3,000, which would have been hard to find only a couple of years ago. There is an avionic story behind the magical simultaneous reset/restart, and thanks to companies like Sellita and La Joux-Perret, Swiss top-tier stopwatch functionality has become more affordable.

The flyback chronograph

A flyback chronograph allows the user to restart the central chronograph seconds hand from zero without stopping and resetting it first. Nowadays, all this typically requires is a single press of the watch’s 4 o’clock pusher. Like many tool watches, the flyback chronograph was originally for pilots. Not having to push one or multiple buttons three times can save precious seconds, so a flyback chronograph reduces the time needed to measure back-to-back events, such as portions of a flight.

The first chronograph movement with a flyback function was the Longines 13.33Z from 1925. According to Wikipedia, the flyback “was the first watch complication designed to record multiple time intervals[,] such as calculating the time taken to travel between waypoints, measure fuel consumption[,] or perform coordinated maneuvers.” In 2024, a standard mechanical chronograph still boasts one of the more complex complications. The flyback functionality merely ups the ante and the manufacturing price. However, relatively affordable options are on the table thanks to the aforementioned movement manufacturers and economies of scale.

Longines Spirit Flyback

It seems appropriate to start with Longines. After all, the brand was the first to develop the complication. In the fast-selling Spirit series, there is now a group of flyback chronos. First introduced in March 2023 in steel and later in a titanium version, the Spirit Flyback models currently start at €5,000. I, however, enjoy a touch of gold and harbor a desire for the brown-dial version above. This one has a gold-capped bezel and solid gold pushers, topping the range at €6,850.

But while the taste of gold lingers, the timeless case design of the Spirit is not dress-watch small with its 42mm diameter and 49.5mm length. This means that the €5,450 titanium version is a lighter, better choice for wearability on smaller wrists. You’ll have to choose between a bracelet and this soft NATO strap, but that’s all good. With its handsome dark looks and gold details, this Spirit Flyback is a strap monster that looks awesome on a vintage leather strap.  The complexities of the automatic Longines-exclusive L791 movement mean a chunky 17mm thickness, but you do get a solid 68-hour power reserve. Learn more on the Longines website.

Sinn 910 SRS

Sinn is delightfully focused. The brand has a no-nonsense catalog of tool watches, and many Fratelli have a close relationship with this German watchmaker. But the 910 SRS offers a different vibe, and it is not a new watch. It has been in the catalog for about six years with a vintage, cheerful colorway of cream and red. “SRS” stands for the German “Stopp-Retour-Start,” denoting its flyback functionality.

For €3,850, you get twin pump pushers and the click-quick brilliance of flyback functionality. Powering the watch is a modified Valjoux 7750 with a blued column wheel (instead of the usual cam) and elaborate decoration. The 910 is also one of the few instrument-focused Sinn references to have an exhibition case back for viewing the movement. Learn more on the Sinn website.

Furlan Marri Flyback

As a small brand, Furlan Marri is not short of attention, and I have a few of its OG chronographs. But last year, the two founders sat down with Wei Koh of Revolution and collector legend Auro Montanari, aka John Goldberger. The result was the value-driven Flyback that sold for CHF 2,750 with a Sellita AMT 5100 movement. Because the Sellita caliber is manually wound, the blued-column-wheel charm of the Flyback comes with a rather slim (for a flyback) 13.2mm thickness.

Add a discreet 38mm case diameter, and this is one of this story’s most wearable and affordable flyback chronographs. This watch also has a comfortable 46mm lug-to-lug length and, to my eyes, a remarkably well-finished dial. The vintage-glamorous Salmon version and the Honey Blue model sold out on Furlan Marri’s site recently, but you will find a few still available from Revolution (here and here) for €2,890.

Frederique Constant Classics Flyback Manufacture

The Flyback Manufacture from Frederique Constant represents classic value and was discontinued this year. But have a look at Chrono24, and you’ll find plenty. The series had been in production for about seven years, and some versions are available secondhand for around €2K. Currently, unused examples of my fave blue reverse panda, like this one, start at €3,695.

I have a soft spot for Frederique Constant’s knack for offering big value at decent prices. The in-house (yes, you read that right) FC-760 caliber is a great example.

This 32-jewel caliber took the brand six years to develop. The flyback chronograph module accounts for 96 of its 233 parts, including a patented column wheel in an eight-pointed star shape. This helps ensure incredibly smooth operation (read all the details here). You’ll also find perlage on the mainplate, circular Côtes de Genève on the upper bridge, and a gold-plated, open-worked rotor. Matching the movement up with a classic dial with applied indices and recessed azurage-finished registers, you’ll be hard-pressed to find the same at this price.

The budget-cut stealth option

Consider this your cheapest way of sampling the intricacies of a flyback chronograph. To be honest, when you see the price, you might not even take it seriously, but that is exactly what Timex offers. This is a seriously stealthy chronograph with a solid quartz movement on a G-Shock budget. It is the Waterbury Traditional Fly Back Chronograph in steel with black PVD, complete with a madly busy dial of retrograde hour and minute registers and an unconventional pilot’s-watch vibe. I’ll drop the mic by revealing the price for 43mm of flyback battery power — a “princely” sum of €179. Have a look at the Timex website to find out more.

What about you, Fratelli? If you have felt the need for easy-to-use and more complex stopwatch timing, let me know what you think of these suggestions.