This text is from the WatchTime archives and was initially revealed in July 2022.
Rattrapante chronographs, often known as split-seconds chronographs, are chronographs with two second palms that enable a number of occasions to be measured on the similar time, comparable to runners throughout a race. It may additionally measure a sequence of occasions, such because the laps a single particular person drives round a race observe. One of many palms, the so-called “Rattrapante” hand, sits both instantly on or beneath the primary chronograph hand. The rattrapante hand is began and returns to zero similtaneously the primary chronograph hand. A particular pusher and extra mechanism enable the rattrapante hand to be repeatedly stopped (permitting cut up occasions to be learn) after which instantly introduced again into synchronization with the primary chronograph hand by flying again to meet up with it. (“Rattrapanter” is French for “catch once more” or “take once more.”) All of this occurs with out affecting the motion of the chronograph’s important hand. In recent times, we have seen an upward development in split-seconds chronographs as extra manufacturers of all sizes add this complication to their arsenal. Here’s a choice of among the notable Rattrapante chronographs in the marketplace in the present day.
FP Journe Chronograph Monopoussoir Rattrapante
At SIHH 2018 FP journey debuted the Chronograph Monopoussoir Rattrapante. You might keep in mind FP Journe’s contribution to the Solely Watch public sale in November 2017, which was fabricated from titanium and bought for CHF 1.15 million (an public sale document for an FP Journe watch). That was the inspiration for this model, with the most important distinction being the addition of a giant date complication. The watch launched the hand-wound Caliber 1518, a monopusher split-second chronograph motion with a considerable energy reserve of 80 hours and a direct gear with a rocking pinion to keep away from hand leaping when beginning the chronograph operate. The watches differ of their colourful dials and case supplies. Value: CHF 58,000 in titanium; CHF 78,000 in platinum.
IWC Portuguese Rattrapante Chronograph
In 2017 IWC launched a sequence of restricted editions Portuguese Rattrapante chronographs bought solely in choose boutique areas around the globe. These areas included Geneva, Munich, Paris, Milan and Toronto/Vancouver, with every watch that includes a particular aesthetic to attraction to its target market. Our favourite of those fashions once they have been first launched was the “Boutique Genève” version (Ref. IW371221), which was restricted to a complete of fifty items and featured an engraving of the title of the 1602 Geneva anthem. Cé qu’è lainô, on the case backside. IWC launched its first rattrapante chronograph to the Portugieser assortment in 1995, when Richard Habring developed a split-seconds module for the legendary Valjoux 7750 motion. The motion of the higher hand is managed by a pusher at 10 o’clock, whereas the decrease hand is managed by the pusher at 2 o’clock. IWC lately launched the Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Ceratanium prematurely of SIHH 2019.
Breitling Navitimer B03 Rattrapante Chronograph
Breitling launched it Navitimer 1 B03 Rattrapante 45, Geared up with the model’s first in-house split-seconds chronograph motion in 2017. On the Breitling Summit 2018 in London, the model unveiled a brand new restricted version model with a “Stratos Grey” dial, accessible solely on the model’s 70 boutiques worldwide. The timepiece’s boldly proportioned 45mm case is fabricated from chrome steel and includes a convex, double anti-reflective sapphire crystal over the dial. The three darkish grey subdials (30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock, 12-hour chronograph counter at 6 o’clock and small seconds at 9 o’clock) stand out in opposition to the elegant background of the primary dial. The split-seconds push-piece is embedded within the 3 o’clock crown. The modular structure of the B03 caliber is predicated on the essential B01 caliber, Breitling’s first Manufacturing Motion geared up with computerized winding, date show, an built-in 1/4 second chronograph operate and an influence reserve of 70 hours. The split-seconds module of this highly effective watchmaking motion consists of solely 28 elements and is mounted between the primary circuit board and the calendar mechanism. Restricted to only 250 items, the Navitimer 1 B03 Rattrapante 45 Boutique Version in Stratos Grey prices $12,000.
Patek Philippe Ref. 5372P Nice complication
The Patek Philippe Ref. 5372P Nice complication in Platinum was an evolution from the legendary unbiased watchmaker when it was introduced in 2017. It represented the subsequent part of the model’s iconic line of split-seconds chronographs, most lately launched in 2012 with the modern basic Ref. 5204. The 5372P retains the complementary performance of the perpetual calendar, however will increase the complexity of the rattrapante mechanism by including it reworked right into a monopusher. The association of the dial has additionally been modified: the chronograph counters at 3 and 9 o’clock are flanked by openings that show the month and day of the week. The date wheel is positioned in a subdial at 6 o’clock, whereas the moon part has been moved to 12 o’clock. Small home windows on both facet of the date wheel point out bissextile year and day/evening. The diameter additionally shrinks barely and is now 38.2 mm in comparison with 40.2 mm for the reference. 5204. The dial is out there both in blue sunburst with utilized gold numerals or in vertical satin rose gold. Value on request.
A. Lange & Söhne Triple Cut up
As so usually, A. Lange delivered one of the mentioned improvements at SIHH 2018 with the discharge of the triple cut up, the world’s first mechanical split-seconds chronograph that may perform comparability time measurements lasting a number of hours. The watch’s means to measure each additive and comparative occasions as much as an astonishing 12 hours is achieved via further rattrapante palms on each the minute and hour summation subdials. When switched off, the pairs of palms on the chronograph – central seconds, minute and hour counters – lie on high of one another. When the chronograph is activated through its pusher, all palms start operating concurrently till the rattrapante pusher (on the alternative facet of the case) is pressed to freeze the split-time measurements. Restricted to 100 items and housed in an 18-carat white gold case, the Triple Cut up can be geared up with a flyback operate that makes use of all three pairs of palms. Value: roughly $147,000.
