The new 1815 Rattrapante by A. Lange & Söhne
Fernando AldeaA. Lange & Söhne expands its 1815 watch family with a new model featuring the most ambitious watchmaking complication: the split-seconds chronograph. This new model focuses on the complication that gives it its name and is equipped with a custom-developed mechanism. In addition to forming the basis for the completely independent dial design, this mechanism is literally the exclusive drive that allows the Saxon manufacturer to forge its own path. The 1815 Split-seconds chronograph features a platinum case and is limited to 200 pieces.
https://www.alange-soehne.com/attachments/42/425_025_website.mp4The masterclass in short time measurement
With the 1815 Rattrapante , the watchmakers at A. Lange & Söhne have once again demonstrated their expertise in short-time measurement. Its complex mechanism goes beyond the function of a classic chronograph and measures numerous intermediate times within a minute. To achieve this, it features two superimposed ticking hands: the central chronograph hand and the central rattrapante hand. Both start together when the pusher at 2 o'clock is pressed. The central rattrapante hand can be stopped at this moment independently of the central chronograph hand and then synchronized with it. This process, used, for example, to measure races or competitions, can be repeated many times.
Functional elegance
The 1815 Rattrapante is housed in an elegant platinum case. The silver-plated dial and dark blued hands contrast perfectly, ensuring perfect readability. Traditional design features include the perimeter railway minute track and striking Arabic numerals. They reproduce the unmistakable style that characterized the historic Lange wristwatches and still characterizes the watch family named after Ferdinand Adolph Lange 's birth year.
The development of a proprietary mechanism allowed watchmakers to freely determine the position of the auxiliary dials. Instead of the usual positions at 3 and 9 o'clock, the 30-minute totalizer and small seconds are placed at 12 and 6 o'clock respectively, on a vertical central axis. This symmetrical arrangement gives the 1815 Rattrapante a harmonious and expressive effect. Additionally, average speeds can be determined using the peripheral tachometer scale.
Manufacture caliber L101.2
The 1815 Rattrapante is powered by the in-house L101.2 movement. The complete chronograph and split-seconds movement are arranged so that they are visible through the sapphire crystal case back. The complex switching processes can thus be observed in detail. Timekeeping and split-time measurement are controlled in a classic and precise manner by two column wheels. The barrel provides a power reserve of 58 hours when fully wound. The freely oscillating Lange balance spring, in combination with the screw-type balance wheel, also manufactured in-house, guarantees excellent rate values at a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour (3 Hertz).
This is now the seventh caliber developed and manufactured by Lange with this complication. This movement was already used with a special finish in the 1815 Rattrapante Honeygold "Homage to FA Lange." In 2020, the manufacture commemorated the 175th anniversary of Saxon precision watchmaking with this limited edition of 100 pieces in Lange's exclusive honey gold alloy.
The spirit of the old master
The caliber's finishing, assembled twice by hand, is fully in keeping with the tradition of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, who, in addition to providing striking construction elements, always gave them an unmistakable aesthetic. Natural nickel silver bridges and balances, a screw-mounted balance wheel, screw-set gold settings for the bearing stone, and a hand-engraved balance bridge—all of these in the caliber L101.2 maintain the highest quality standards of his pocket watches (1A quality). These traditional elements combine with today's watchmaking prowess to create a complete work of art in precision watchmaking.
The moving parts of the split-seconds chronograph, such as levers, springs, and stop notches, are decorated on their upper parts with a linear finish, while the peripheral bevels are angled. Chamfering the inner edges of the corners is a particularly difficult task for finishing specialists. Only the most experienced craftsmen can manually polish the edges without leaving any trace of curves or angles.
One of a kind
The design and manufacture of high-quality chronographs, especially those featuring split-seconds, present one of the greatest challenges in precision watchmaking. Ensuring the precision and reliability of the complex mechanism requires a high level of knowledge, experience, and patience.
Since A. Lange & Söhne resumed operations, several watches have set new benchmarks in this field. With the Double Split, A. Lange & Söhne created the first double split-seconds chronograph in the history of precision watchmaking in 2004, extending the interval between split-seconds timings from 60 seconds to 30 minutes. The Triple Split, presented in 2018, marked the culmination of the development of the split-seconds function. With the addition of a third pair of hands that can be stopped independently, the chronograph and split-seconds functions can be extended to up to 12 hours. To date, these two watches are unique in precision watchmaking.
The new 1815 Rattrapante brings a classic interpretation of the split-seconds mechanism to the forefront today as a unique complication. It is presented in a 41.2-millimeter platinum case. Despite the technical complexity of the 365-piece hand-wound caliber, the Lange watchmakers have managed to limit the case height to 12.6 millimeters. The immense watchmaking work on this masterpiece means it is limited to just 200 pieces worldwide.
Specs
| A. LANGE & SÖHNE 1815 RATTRAPANTE |
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REFERENCE : 425.025 | 200 copies, limited edition print, exclusively in boutiques |
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MOVEMENT : Lange Manufacture calibre L101.2, hand-wound, manufactured to Lange's highest quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand | Diameter: 32.6 millimetres, height: 7.4 millimetres | Precisely regulated in five positions | Natural nickel silver plates | Hand-engraved balance and chronograph bridges | 365 parts | 36 jewels | 4 screw-set gold settings | Lever escapement | Balance with shock-resistant screws, in-house balance hairspring with a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour, precise decay adjustment with a lateral adjustment screw and swan-neck spring | 58-hour power reserve when fully wound |
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CASE : 950 Platinum | Diameter: 41.2 millimeters, Height: 12.6 millimeters | Sapphire crystal (9 Mohs hardness) | Crown for winding the watch and setting the time, two chronograph pushers, one pusher for using the split-seconds mechanism |
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DIAL/HANDS : Solid silver dial, silver-plated | Blackened steel hour, minute, and small seconds hands, blackened steel 30-minute totalizer, rhodium-plated steel chronograph hand, blackened steel split-seconds center hand |
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BRACELET : Hand-stitched alligator leather strap, black | 950 platinum pin buckle |
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FUNCTIONS : Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Stop-second function for precise time setting |
