Blasphemous I know but I ordered a factory refurbed Citizen Eco Drive Chronograph, it should be here Tuesday.
I pondered long and hard on whether I should get a mechanical Chronograph, and one day I will, but at $80 USD for a watch that normally is priced at near $300 I couldn't pass it up.
The Vendor is one I've bought from before, a licensed Bulova dealer with 100% approval rating.
The dial is dark brown. From video review the dial looks glassy like a lens from sun glasses. The solar cell being behind the dial it must allow some light through.
I had been looking at a slightly higher priced new Seiko Quartz Chronograph but the silvery hands weren't as easily visible against the white dial. Several reviewers mentioned the visibility of the hands as the Seiko's only flaw.
I'll consider this my starter chronograph. I'll graduate to a more suitable mechanical in the near future.