The rattrapante is a rarely seen complication, and for good reason. Deriving its name from the French verb “rattraper”, or to “catch up”, this supercharged take on a chronograph allows for the timing of multiple simultaneous events. The complex mechanism required for this makes it one of the most technically demanding feats in horology.

This challenge is one that A Lange & Söhne has excelled at in recent years, bolstered further still by the release of the new 1815 Rattrapante, limited to 200 pieces. Featuring two superimposed chronograph hands, both start together when the pusher at 2 o’clock is activated. The rattrapante hand can be stopped independently of the central chronograph hand, and both can then be instantaneously resynchronised.

Importantly, the watchmaker’s in-house expertise, showcased in the manufacture movement L101.2, enables a slightly unusual dial layout. Instead of the sub dials being placed at 3 and 6 o’clock, here they are aligned vertically in a design that is both pleasingly balanced yet draws the eye. It lends a slightly idiosyncratic nature to the otherwise classic design, with heritage details including the peripheral railway-track minute scale and the traditional Arabic numerals.

The finishing of the movement, viewable through the transparent caseback, similarly builds on A Lange & Söhne’s centuries of expertise. Here, modern components are matched with the traditional and intricate decorative elements, with particular attention paid to the moving parts of the rattrapante chronograph for a flawless final effect.

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