Panda chronographs are favorites among watch enthusiasts. These sporty watches with a white or silver dial and contrasting black sub-dials, offering high contrast readings, or the so-called "reverse pandas" with a black dial and light sub-dials, became fashionable in the 1960s and 1970s. Their modern-retro style has never gone out of fashion, and 2021 has brought its own crop of "panda" dials. We have selected the 5 best, in our opinion, among chronographs of this special style.
CARL F. BUCHERER HERITAGE BICOMPAX ANNUAL
The elegant Carl F. Bucherer Heritage BiCompax Annual returns with a reverse Panda dial featuring a black galvanized background and snail-shaped silver sub-dials. Retro-style Arabic numerals, a tachymetric scale, syringe-type hour and minute hands, and a double-domed sapphire crystal emphasize the vintage style of the watch. Through the open case back, you can see the automatic movement combining a chronograph and an annual calendar with a large date at 12 o'clock and a fine rectangular aperture between 4 and 5 o'clock indicating the month.
Key facts: 41 mm steel case – Caliber CFB1972 (based on ETA 2894) – automatic chronograph / annual calendar – water resistance up to 30 m – calfskin leather or rubber strap – limited edition of 888 pieces – 6,900 euros
HAMILTON INTRA-MATIC CHRONOGRAPH H
The Hamilton retro-style chronograph was recently only available with automatic movements, and now the Intra-Matic H has appeared. The 40 mm H model is equipped with the legendary hand-wound ETA Valjoux 7750 movement. The model is offered with a "panda" or "reverse panda" dial, on a leather strap or mesh bracelet. The retail price starts at 1,895 euros, which, as is often the case with Hamilton, seems like excellent value for money.
Key facts: 40 mm steel case – Caliber H-51 – hand-wound chronograph based on the 7753 architecture, specially developed for Hamilton – water resistance up to 100 m – leather strap or mesh bracelet – from 1,895 euros
PARMIGIANI FLEURIER TONDAGRAPH GT
Introduced last year, the Tondagraph GT is a line of luxury sports watches with an integrated bracelet. This year, the collection features new versions of the chronograph, equipped with excellent Panda dials with hand guilloché. The 42 mm streamlined case stands out with a knurled bezel, elegant teardrop-shaped lugs, and pushers. The steel version is a rare combination of a chronograph and an annual calendar. The watches are offered on a black rubber strap or bracelet.
Key facts: 42 mm steel case – Caliber PF043 – automatic chronograph with annual calendar – water resistance up to 100 m – 18,500 Swiss francs on a strap, 19,500 Swiss francs on a bracelet
PIAGET POLO BLUE PANDA AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH
Released as a limited edition of 888 pieces, this elegant yet sporty Polo chronograph variant is executed in a silver-blue color scheme with contrasting elements and an integrated textured rubber strap. If you turn the watch over, the sapphire case back offers an unobstructed view of the Calibre 1160P, a thin and compact integrated chronograph movement with a column wheel and vertical clutch.
Key facts: 42 mm steel case – in-house caliber 1160P – automatic integrated chronograph – water resistance up to 100 m – blue rubber strap – limited edition of 888 pieces – 15,800 euros
TUDOR BLACK BAY CHRONO PANDA
Since its introduction in 2012, these diver's watches, inspired by vintage motifs, have become Tudor's most successful collection. In 2021, the brand presented an interesting evolution of the Black Bay chronograph, available with "panda" or "subdued panda" dials. The 41 mm case has become thinner (now 14.2 mm) and is now equipped with a contrasting anodized aluminum bezel. The watch is still equipped with the MT5813 caliber. Based on the Breitling B01, this modern integrated chronograph features a column wheel and vertical clutch, a variable inertia balance, and an anti-magnetic silicon balance spring. Its chronometer accuracy is certified by COSC.
Key facts: 41 mm steel case – Caliber MT5813 – automatic integrated chronograph – water resistance up to 200 m – steel bracelet, leather bund strap, or fabric strap – 4,920 euros on a bracelet
