Prestigious German watch manufacture A. Lange & Söhne has expanded its 1815 collection by launching a new Rattrapante (split-seconds chronograph) in platinum.
The complex mechanism of the manual-winding 1815 RATTRAPANTE expands the functionality of a classic chronograph by allowing the measurement of a random number of lap times within a minute.
The watch has two superposed chronograph hands, the centre chronograph hand and the centre rattrapante hand. Both hands start together when the pusher at 2 o’clock is actuated. The centre rattrapante hand can now be stopped independently of the centre chronograph hand and then resynchronised with it. This procedure, used for instance to measure lap times, can be repeated infinitely.
The 1815 RATTRAPANTE comes in a platinum case measuring 41.2mm diameter. The bright argenté-coloured dial and the dark blued hands contrast well and assure perfect legibility. The traditional style elements of the watch include the peripheral railway-track minute scale and the prominent Arabic numerals.
Instead of the ordinary positions at 3 and 9 o’clock, the 30-minute counter and the subsidiary seconds dial are at 12 and 6 o’clock, respectively, on the vertical centre axis. This symmetric arrangement gives the 1815 RATTRAPANTE a balanced and expressive personality. Additionally, the peripheral tachometer scale allows average speeds to be determined.
The 1815 RATTRAPANTE is powered by the manufacture movement L101.2. The entire rattrapante chronograph mechanism is configured such that it is visible through the sapphire-crystal caseback. This allows the complex switching processes to be observed in detail. The control of elapsed and lap-time measurements is handled highly precisely in the classic manner with two column wheels. The mainspring barrel has a power reserve rating of 58 hours.
Manufactured in-house, the freely oscillating Lange balance spring guarantees excellent rate accuracy at a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour (3 hertz).
It is already the seventh calibre with this complication developed and crafted by Lange. With a special finissage, the movement was already integrated in the 1815 RATTRAPANTE HONEYGOLD “Homage to F. A. Lange” limited edition released in 2020.
The calibre L101.2 manual-wound movement features bridges and cocks made of untreated German silver, a screw balance, screwed gold chatons that secure the jewels and a hand engraved balance cock. All upper sides of the moving parts of the rattrapante chronograph, such as levers, springs and jumpers, are decorated with straight graining while the peripheral chamfers are polished.
Fitted on a black hand-stitched alligator leather strap, the 1815 RATTRAPANTE in platinum is limited to a global 200-piece edition.
Technical details
Model: A. Lange & Söhne 1815 RATTRAPANTE
Ref. 425.025
Movement
Lange manufacture calibre L101.2
Diameter: 32.6 millimeters
Height: 7.4 millimeters
Manually wound, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; plates made of untreated German silver; balance cock and chronograph bridge engraved by hand
Movement parts: 365
Jewels: 36
Screwed gold chatons: 4
Escapement: Lever escapement
Oscillation system: Shock-resistant screw balance; balance spring crafted in-house, frequency 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour; precision beat adjustment system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring
Power reserve: 58 hours when fully wound
Functions
Time display with hours and minutes as well as subsidiary seconds with stop seconds; rattrapante chronograph with 30-minute counter, tachometer scale
Operating elements
Crown for winding the watch and setting the time; two chronograph pushers, one pusher to operate the rattrapante mechanism
Case
Material: 950 platinum
Diameter: 41.2mm
Height: 12.6mm
Crystal and caseback: Sapphire crystal
Dial
Solid silver, argenté
Hands
Hours, minutes, and subsidiary seconds: blued steel
30-minute counter: blued steel
Centre chronograph hand: rhodiumed steel
Centre rattrapante hand: blued steel
Strap
Hand-stitched alligator leather, black
Prong buckle in 950 platinum
Edition
Limited edition of 200 watches, edition engraving, boutique exclusivity
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Find More Details about A. Lange & Söhne Watch Brand.
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A. LANGE & SÖHNE New Watch Models.
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A. LANGE & SÖHNE Archives (from 1994 to 2013).
Image Credit: Lange Uhren GmbH