Thunderbirds men's chronograph watch 42 mm mesh strap

Looking for a gift for a man who likes a watch with a bit of technical flair? This Thunderbirds chronograph is a good place to start: a 42 mm round case in stainless steel, a white dial and a silver-tone mesh strap, arriving in a presentation box.

What the dial can do

The white dial gives the hands plenty of contrast, so the time reads quickly. Seconds run in their own small subdial, the date sits in a window, and a 24-hour indication helps you tell day from night. The chronograph starts, stops and resets with the pushers, and the minute counter goes up to 60. The tachymeter scale turns the chrono into a speed gauge: start it at the beginning of a kilometre, stop it at the end, then read your average speed opposite the seconds hand. Extra subdials add further readings on the dial.

Build, movement and fit

Inside is a quartz movement (TMI VD57), so there is nothing to wind, you simply replace the battery when it runs out. The case is stainless steel, 42 mm across and 12 mm thick, a size that suits most men's wrists, and the mineral glass protects the dial day to day. Water resistance is 5 ATM, which covers rain and splashes but not swimming. The silver-tone mesh strap follows the shape of the wrist and lets air through, and the lug width is 22 mm, the figure to know if you ever want to change strap. If you want to compare it with similar styles, have a look at our men's mesh strap watches.

On the wrist, it has a sporty, slightly technical look that works with a casual shirt as easily as a T-shirt, and the date and chronograph make it a watch you will actually use through the week.