Lange presents the new 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar in white and red gold
Fernando AldeaThree complications, ridden twice, only Lange.
https://img.alange-soehne.com/dynamic/noop/2493254961715673453e197b139752ca1d7c9efd.m3u8With the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar, A. Lange & Söhne presents three of the most ambitious watchmaking complications in a classic design. The coveted yet rare combination of split-seconds chronograph and perpetual calendar now offers a new look with its 18-carat white gold case and red gold dial. The new 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar is limited to 100 pieces.
The 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar marked a milestone in the recent history of A. Lange & Söhne at its launch in 2013. This, already the eighth chronograph caliber with an in-house developed movement, combines three of the most ambitious and rare complications with the classic and elegant design of the 1815 watch family. It achieves excellent performances over both short and long distances: thanks to the complications that give it its name, the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar sets a benchmark in short-time measurement and calendar timekeeping.
Comparison of times measured to the fraction of a second
The split-seconds function is one of the greatest watchmaking challenges of the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar. In addition to the traditional chronograph function, this ambitious complication allows for time comparisons and the recording of minimum and maximum values over the course of a minute. The frequency of six semi-oscillations per second of the manufacture's L101.1 caliber enables time recording with a precision of one-sixth of a second. An additional division on the minute scale on the outside makes these precise references possible.
The movement stands out in all its splendor against its sapphire crystal caseback, through which the precisely controlled processes can be observed and understood. The transition between the measured stop and intermediate times is achieved through a classic two-column wheel construction. As is customary with A. Lange & Söhne, it reaches a new level of technical complexity in its handcrafted finish: the upper surfaces of all moving parts are decorated with a linear finish, while the peripheral bevels are polished. Only an experienced finisher can achieve a perfectly flat and sharp polish of the corners.
A calendar for eternity
While the split-second chronograph perfectly masters the measurement of different time intervals down to a fraction of a second, the true technical mastery lies in the "long-term memory" of the perpetual calendar. The complex and proverbial predictive mechanism guarantees the exact representation of the date, day of the week, and month every day for centuries, even taking leap years into account. The calendar display on March 1, 2100, only needs to be corrected by one day, because according to the Gregorian calendar settings, that year is not a leap year.
The lunar phase display is also programmed for the long term. It reproduces the Earth's satellite's synodic period so accurately that it only needs to be corrected one day in 122.6 years.
Harmoniously arranged indications
The 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar stands out not only for its technical details, but also for the clear arrangement of its displays. Following the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon (2019) and the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar (2021), it is the third watch from A. Lange & Söhne with an 18-carat red gold dial. Its warm color also creates an elegant contrast to the cool white gold of the case. With its traditional "Chemin de fer" minute track, Arabic numerals, and the harmonious arrangement of the four sub-dials, the dial illustrates the essence of the watch family, whose name refers to Ferdinand Adolph Lange's birth year.
The numerous displays of the perpetual calendar and split-seconds chronograph blend harmoniously into the aesthetics of Lange's early pocket watches. The calendar displays, formerly arranged in pairs, are located at 3 and 9 o'clock. The left subdial shows the date and day of the week, and the right, the month and leap year. The moon phase display, which shares a subdial with the small seconds at 6 o'clock, adds an expressive touch of color. At 12 o'clock are the minute totalizer and power reserve displays. The short gold-plated hand in the inner circle indicates when it is time to re-energize the winding crown. The long, black-coated steel hand reports stopped minutes.
Manufacture caliber L101.1
The L101.1 hand-wound movement, structured according to traditional construction principles, consists of a total of 631 parts. The perpetual calendar and split-seconds chronograph movements alone consist of 211 and 206 components, respectively. A screw-type balance wheel driven by a balance spring developed and manufactured in-house ensures high rate stability. Typical Lange quality features such as screw-set gold settings, blackened screws, elaborate swan-neck precision adjustment, and the hand-engraved balance bridge are visible through the sapphire crystal case back. The workmanship of the double-assembled movement demonstrates the high standards of A. Lange & Söhne in every detail.
"With three classic complications, the in-house calibre L101.1 is one of our most complex movements. While they are technical masterpieces on their own, combining them is a much greater challenge. For both our watchmakers and our watchmakers, the precision adjustment and coordination of all the movements requires a high level of finesse and technical expertise," explains Anthony de Haas, Director of Product Development at A. Lange & Söhne.
Three variants
The dimensions of the new 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar remain unchanged. With a diameter of 41.9 millimeters, its case measures 14.7 millimeters in height. In addition to the white gold edition with a red gold dial limited to 100 pieces, the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar is available in a platinum/silver case/dial combination and a red gold/silver case/dial combination.
Specs
| A. LANGE & SÖHNE 1815 RATTRAPANTE PERPETUAL CALENDAR |
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REFERENCE : 421.056FE |
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MOVEMENT : Lange Manufacture calibre L101.1, hand-wound, manufactured to Lange’s highest quality standards, hand-decorated and assembled; precision-regulated in five positions; natural nickel silver plates and bridges; hand-engraved balance bridge | 631 movement parts | 43 stones | 4 screw-set gold settings | Lever escapement | Balance wheel with shock-resistant screws; top-quality, in-house balance spring, frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour, precise winding adjustment with lateral adjustment screw and swan-neck spring | 42-hour power reserve when fully wound |
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CASE : 18K white gold | Diameter: 41.9 millimeters; Height: 14.7 millimeters | Crown for winding the watch and setting the time; two pushers for the chronograph, one pusher for using the split-seconds mechanism; sunken correctors for advancing the date, day of the week, month, and moon phase | Sapphire crystal (9 Mohs hardness) |
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DIAL/HANDS : 18K red gold | Rhodium-plated gold hands; hours, minutes, minute counter, and split-seconds hands in blackened steel; rhodium-plated steel chronograph hand |
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BRACELET : Hand-stitched leather strap, dark brown |
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FUNCTIONS : Time display with hours, minutes and small seconds with stop-seconds; split-seconds chronograph with minute totalizer; perpetual calendar with date, day of the week, month, moon phase and leap year; power reserve display |
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PRICE : By inquiries only | 100 copies, limited edition print, exclusively in boutiques |
