The A.Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante watch hands-on

The double or split chronograph complication is paramount at A.Lange & Söhne, and is part of the small yet prolific Haute-Horlogerie Saxon brand’s DNA. The new Lange 1815 Rattrapante fosters the saga of the world-prized and connoisseur-admired hand-wound Chrono calibres only a bunch of selected Swiss or independent watchmakers can compete against. A.Lange & Söhne‘s mechanical movements are a rare combination of top-notch finishes and supreme technical ingenuity, as proved by the never-forgotten Triple Split, the pinnacle of chronograph making.

If you ever had a chance to visit the manufacturer, you might witness how unparalleled the technical refinement, including the tiniest mechanical part, is. However, the new Lange 1815 Rattrapante builds upon a well-known architecture; the updated recipe follows up the first of its kind, the 1815 Rattrapante Honey Gold “Homage to F. A. Lange” introduced in 2020.

Interestingly, the brand’s approach to the Chrono complication has gone the opposite direction; they initially kicked off the Double Split, hence the legendary first double rattrapante of its kind, followed by the 2018 Triple Split. An ordinary “rattrapante” popped out in 2020 to celebrate F.A. Lange and now comes with a platinum case and a silver dial for the first time.

The 41,2 mm large case, whose 12,6 mm thickness slims down the size compared to some hefty Lange watches, houses the refined and lovely finished calibre L101.2, whose combination of performance, finishes, and compactness is second to none. The fiercest competitor I can think of is the legendary Patek 5370P, whose thickness (which, alone, can’t tell the whole story) stops at a whopping 13,56 mm in the benchmark. The 1815 Rattrapante looks, therefore, like the slimmest of its kind.

The L101.2 hand-wound movement is a feast for the eyes; exquisite Saxon micro mechanics pairs with exceptional hand-performed finishes, which include the most hidden areas where no human eye nor magnifying glass could ever reach. The bridges come in nickel silver, while several types of finishes include ribbon finish and hand-engraving on the balance cock. Last but not least, “anglage” is performed throughout. The result is as sober as it is pleasing. For the records, the calibre comprises 365 parts.

The dial’s layout adopts the signature vertically-displaced Chrono counters, making the 1815 Rattrapante a distinctive complicated timepiece despite loving the honey-gold Lange watches more; their lure and charm are unrivalled. The A.Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante will be manufactured in a one-off batch of 200 pieces, and the price is on request.

(Photo credit: A.Lange & Söhne for Horbiter®)

Giovanni Di Biase @Horbiter®