OMEGA De Ville Co-Axial Rattrapante
Introduced in 2005, the OMEGA De Ville Co-Axial Rattrapante features a revolutionary design inside and out. This exceptional automatic timepiece combines the benefits of the brand’s proprietary Co-Axial Escapement technology with a prestigious split-seconds chronograph mechanism to produce a top-of-the range chronograph.
Each version of this split-seconds chronograph has its own distinctive character thanks to a choice of finishes to the familiar 41mm De Ville Co-Axial Chronograph case, whose 1950s-inspired design was introduced in a choice of brushed or polished stainless steel.
The brand also produced a polished platinum 950 limited edition version (reference 4647.40.31) to distribute exclusively through Omega flagship stores.
The Rattrapante’s most distinctive feature is undoubtedly its dial, which deviates from most of the usual conventions and is available in black, grey or white with applied hour markers and applied Omega symbol and name.
Firstly, the conventional chronograph subdials (for the 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, the 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock and the continuous seconds at 9 o’clock) have been enlarged and therefore overlap. Instead of the conventional Arabic numerals, the minute and hour counters have applied Roman numerals around a “railway” scale and the continuous seconds counter has an intriguing new design that offers excellent clarity on the enlarged counters.
In place of the usual circle are two concentric arcs, the inner of which bears a scale for the first 30 seconds in the minute, with the outer bearing the scale for the remaining seconds. Both scales are read off using the same small-seconds hand in blued steel, which has two opposed arrowheads.
The “truncated sector” date window is placed at the unusual position of 11 o’clock. Not only does this allow an uncluttered presentation of the chronograph display, but the sector configuration also allows at-a-glance reading of the date, since if the minute hand happens to be obscuring the date, the previous and following dates remain visible but truncated, meaning that no additional indicator is required and leaving no doubt as to the actual date.
The OMEGA De Ville Co-Axial Rattrapante is equipped with the exclusive self-winding Omega calibre 3612. This officially certified chronometer (COSC) movement has a power reserve of 52 hours and is fitted with Omega’s proprietary Co-Axial Escapement and the Omega free sprung-balance, which together offer excellent stability of the watch’s going rate over long periods.
The split-seconds chronograph mechanism is controlled by two column wheels in blued steel. The column wheels ensure precision start, stop and reset functions for the chronograph hand, the split-seconds hand and the hour and minute totalisers.
A vertical coupling also ensures no jump or delay in the chronograph hand and split-seconds hand when the chronograph is started. The prestigious nature of this movement is confirmed by its luxury finish with blued-steel screws, which is visible through the Omega De Ville Rattrapante’s transparent sapphire crystal case back.
The classic De Ville Co-Axial design is completed by the familiar luminous, facetted and diamond-polished Alpha hour and minute hands, a domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides and the Omega double-gasket crown that helps to guarantee water resistance to 100 metres / 300 feet.
The finishing touch to this spectacular watch is provided by a subtle red circle varnished on the split-seconds pusher at 10 o’clock to match the red “RATTRAPANTE” inscription at 1 o’clock on the dial and the red tip on the split-seconds hand.
The OMEGA De Ville Co-Axial Rattrapante in stainless steel is available in black, grey and white dial versions. These models come with a black alligator leather strap with polished or brushed stainless-steel foldover clasp to match the case.
Limited to 107 pieces, the OMEGA De Ville Co-Axial Rattrapante platinum watch has a grey dial and black leather strap featuring white gold clasp.
Technical details
Model: OMEGA De Ville Chronoscope Co-Axial Rattrapante
References
4847.30.31: Stainless steel case, silver dial, black leather strap
4847.50.31: Stainless steel case, black dial, black leather strap
4848.40.31: Stainless steel case, grey dial, black leather strap
4647.40.31: Platinum case, grey dial, black leather strap, limited edition of 107 pieces
Movement
Calibre Omega 3612
Self-winding chronograph movement with column-wheel mechanism and Co-Axial escapement for greater precision stability and durability of the movement
Free sprung balance
Column-wheel split-seconds mechanism
Power reserve: 52 hours
Functions
Chronograph, date, small seconds
Case
Stainless steel or platinum case
Diameter: 41 mm
Between lugs: 20 mm
Domed anti-reflective, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
Transparent case-back
Water resistance: 10 bar (100 metres / 330 feet)
Dial
Black, grey or white dial
Strap
Black alligator leather strap with non-grained calf leather underside
Fold-over clasp in stainless steel/ platinum version with white gold buckle
