Amazingly stupid question - What makes a watch a chronograph?

[phydaux]

So what is it exactly that makes one watch a chronograph and another watch NOT a chronograph? 

 

From noodling around on the web it seems that the degree of accuracy the movement is capable of is that makes it a chronograph.  Or perhaps not the movement itself, but rather the GRADE of the movement.  So one ETA 6498 might not be a chronograph but another (more expensive) ETA 6498 might be a chronograph.

And then from other sources it seems as if ANY WATCH with a built-in stopwatch feature calls itself a chronograph.

 

And while we're having the discussion, let's all remember this old Chinese proverb:

"The first step toward wisdom is calling things by their correct name."

[DavidC]

My understanding is that a watch with a stopwatch function is a chronograph. A chronometer is a very accurate timepiece.  Marine chronometers used to be mechanical but are quartz nowadays.  The mechanical chronometers I used to use for astral navigation often had a rate of less than 5 seconds per day, and the difference between them and your own wristwatch that may show a similar rate on a timegrapher is that the chronometer would keep the same rate irrespective of ship movement, temperature, pressure etc.  ETA may make 6498 movements of different qualities, but they are just timepieces not chronographs. Or chronometers.

[phydaux]

-graph vs -meter.  Thank you, that makes a lot of sense.

[oldhippy]

Here is what you need to know. This is for the Swiss chronograph. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COSC

It is not a stupid question.

 

[vinn3]

could i be just a sales pitch?  much like the railroad watches,  designated RR on the case,BUT  not certified.? accutron soled a wrist watch  with it on the dial.  vin