Overlooked is your weekly horological treasure hunt — where we dig through the vaults of European Watch Company to spotlight a few quietly brilliant pieces hiding in plain sight. It’s the sleeper hit, the underdog, the “wait, how is this still available?” watch you didn’t know you needed… until now.

When a watch collector thinks about chronographs, the first thing that comes to mind are often the more well-known examples, like the OMEGA Speedmaster or the Rolex Daytona. But the world of chronographs is vast, with many brands producing timepieces with this attractive and functional complication. This trio of chronograph timepieces from some perhaps unexpected brands offer some head-turning options.

Jaquet Droz Grande Date Chronograph SS Black Dial

This stainless steel model from Jaquet Droz exudes a quietly powerful elegance. It features a black opaline dial with tasteful Roman numeral indices, two chronograph counters at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions, and a date aperture at 12 o’clock, ensuring that a discreet glance at your wrist during a work meeting yields functional information. The automatic movement and decorated rotor is displayed through an exhibition case back. In like new condition, this piece would be equally at home in a boardroom or at a gala dinner.

Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph SS Black Dial

On the sportier end of the chronograph spectrum is the Chopard Mille Miglia, inspired by the brand’s partnership as the official timekeeper and sponsor of the iconic 1,000-mile Italian vintage car race of the same name. Featuring bright white numerals that are highly legible on its inky black dial, three sub-registers, a tachymeter scale, a 54-hour power reserve, and a date display, this like-new chronograph is the ideal timepiece for timing a long drive, even if it’s not a legendary race in Italy.

Franck Muller Chronograph 7000 CC 18K Rose Gold Silver Dial

Looking for something a little more bold? Look no further than this rose gold Franck Muller chronograph. It has a unique display of subdials at the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock markers instead of the typical 3 and 9 o’clock positions, a black and silver dial with a red telemetry scale on the outer track, and an interesting lug shape that will draw attention. At 36mm, this one will also fit quite a lot of wrist sizes. Like the other two watches above, it’s in like-new condition, and it comes with box and papers.

The chronograph is a functional instrument that is both alluring to the eye and useful for the day-to-day, allowing the wearer to time anything, whether it’s cooking the perfect egg or re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. And with these three pieces that are not the usual suspects, they might even be a conversation starter.