September is the sportiest month. Football (the kind played with the round ball) is back around the world. Baseball and F1 enter the business end of their respective seasons, basketball is just around the corner, and that other football? The NFL is in full swing, and so is college football, the last bastion of amateur sports where everyone wears a Rollie.

Lots of things in need of timing! Sure, you can use your phone to do that, but a chronograph watch is far cooler. Here are five chronographs, some micros, some macro, that allows you to generate those splits in style.

If it's a chronograph, and it has moon in its name, well, we know what's being channelled here. This watch is part of Monterey's Tribute line, and we find it a worthy homage to the first watch to reach the moon.

There's a lot to like here: the meca-quartz movement, the micro-adjustable strap, and the price is terrific. Monterey is generous with the discounts, so sign up for their newsletter.

39.5 Stainless steel case, 48mm lug-to-lug, Seiko VK63 meca-quartz movement, rubber strap with said micro-adjustment, sapphire crystal and handsome enough for Neil Armstrong.

We didn't set out to write an Omega chrono tribute watch edition. But given this watch is inspired by the Omega La Magique worn by Al Pacino in the Scarface remake, well, here we are.

Of course, it is the original Scarface that inspired this watch, produced as it was by Howard Hughes. This chronograph reflects all the things that make Riley special: vintage aesthetics, aviation-inspired design, assembled in Britain, and, in this case, a touch of gangster style. Time to 'say hello to your little friend.' (Apologies, wrong Scarface.)

40 mm x 42 mm gold-plated stainless steel case, Seiko VK64 meca-quartz movement, leather strap, sapphire crystal, gangster cool.

OK, so we are not entirely sure this chronograph is the right one for a football pitch. And we're not quite sure what to make of how the company describes this watch: Let the gorgeous ombré hues of this smoky 40mm dress timepiece reflect your mood. Let the what what?

And yet...well, it is a gorgeous watch, and it is a chrono. And Undone Urban is an exciting brand, offering a genuinely unique selection of customisable watches. This one's another meca-quartz (a flyback), and as said, probably more for the boardroom than the boot room. One that plays.

40mm stainless steel case, 47.6 lug-to-lug, TMI VK61 meca-quartz movement, leather strap. A flyback, if you didn't know, lets you stop, reset, and restart the timing hand with a single press, so you can quickly time successive events without pausing twice.

And now to a chronograph with legitimate sports credentials. Tissot has partnerships with the NBA, Tour De France, French rugby, Swiss Hockey, and international superbikes. They know how to time things.

This chronograph offers a Swiss-made product, and Tissot has been producing watches since 1853 (and was once in partnership with Omega, a name we can't escape today). This model is a chronograph's chronograph: a small seconds subdial, a 30-minute and 12-hour elapsed time indicator. This is a watch designed to time things, whether it's a 40-meter sprint or the perfect soft-boiled egg.

40mm stainless steel case, ETA G10.212 quartz movement, stainless steel bracelet, and a serious Swiss heritage brand.

Orient is the brand that, when you're considering a Seiko or a Citizen, your watch snob enthusiast friend says, "You should look at Orient!" And for good reason: Orient makes great, affordable watches.

This year, the company unveiled a series of beautiful watches to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the brand, including this chronograph. Solar-powered, with a six-month power reserve, it's an excellent addition to any watch collection.

42.8mm stainless steel case, 48mm lug-to-lug, VS752 solar quartz movement, stainless steel bracelet. One thing, though - that 24-hour subdial. It doesn't track a second time zone; it's more there to tell you if it's morning or evening. Coffee time, or Scotch time, if you will.

A note on chronographs: A Chronograph is a watch with a built-in stopwatch function, started and stopped by pushers. A Chronometer is a watch certified to meet strict accuracy standards, typically by an official testing body such as COSC.

Also, chronographs, unless they specifically indicate this, aren't divers: they are made for us landlubbers. Be cautious around water and avoid the pushers when swimming.

Watch500 publishes twice a week: Watch500 Edit covers news, releases, and industry insights, every other week, while The Five brings you themed watch picks every week (like these). Get the best of the $500 watch world - new releases, brand discoveries, industry news, and the stories behind timepieces that are eminently affordable.

Prices are approximate, converted to GBP or USD where needed, and may wander off thanks to exchange rates, local tariffs, or whatever mood your customs office happens to be in.