SIHH 2018: A. Lange & Söhne Triple Split. We start our articles from the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva with a world first from A. Lange & Söhne: the Triple Split, the first mechanical split-seconds chronograph in the world that allows multi-hour comparative time measurements. Thanks to additional rattrapante hands on the minute and hour totalisers, the Triple Split makes it possible to stop lap and reference times of events that last as long as twelve hours. The A. Lange & Söhne Triple Split (ref. 424.038F) comes in a limited edition of 100 pieces with an indicatie price of Euro 140,000. A. Lange & Sohne Triple Split rattrapante chronograph.
We start our articles live from the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva with a world first from A. Lange & Söhne: the Triple Split, the first mechanical split-seconds chronograph in the world that allows multi-hour comparative time measurements. Thanks to additional rattrapante hands on the minute and hour totalisers, the Triple Split makes it possible to stop lap and reference times of events that last as long as twelve hours.
Breaking the house record of the Double Split, which in 2004 allowed the first comparative measurements with an aggregate duration of 30 minutes and since then has defended its unique position, the Triple Split multiplies the measuring range of the rattrapante function by a factor of 24 with its precisely jumping rattrapante minute counter and continuous rattrapante hour counter.
In the passive mode, the respective hand pairs – sweep seconds, minute- and hour-counter hands – are superposed. As soon as the measurement is started, they all begin to run simultaneously until the rattrapante pusher is pressed to freeze intermediate times.
The three blued-steel hands stop to display lap times while the seconds hand as well as the minute- and hour-counter hands continue to run and measure the total time.
A second actuation of the rattrapante pusher causes the three stopped hands to catch up and synchronise with the running hands that continue to measure the duration of the event.
The Triple Split is endowed with a flyback function that involves all three hand pairs as well. Thus, the chronograph can be reset and instantly restarted by pressing the lower chronograph pusher even during an ongoing measurement.
A power-reserve indicator based on Lange’s typical UP/DOWN display shows how much of the 55-hour reserve remains available. The well-organized grey dial in solid silver is colour-coordinated with the 18-carat white-gold case that has a diameter is 43.2 millimetres.
The three rattrapante hands in blued steel clearly set themselves apart from the rhodiumed chronograph hands. The hands that display the time and the applied baton hour markers are made of rhodiumed gold. The hour and minute hands are luminous.
The development of a triple rattrapante mechanism that controls the three hand pairs collectively or separately represented an exceptional technical challenge. Even a simple rattrapante mechanism has two hands attached to arbors that run one inside the other. In the case of the triple rattrapante mechanism, this arrangement is three-fold: two seconds hands as well as two hands each for the minute and hour counters. For the watchmaker, the multiple arbor configurations require the ultimate in dexterity and extreme patience in adjusting the endshakes.
The design of the movement also assures that neither the measurement of lap times nor the progression of the precisely jumping minute counter has a negative effect on rate stability. The normally unavoidable loss of amplitude is prevented by a disengagement mechanism developed and patented by A. Lange & Söhne. Without this device, friction losses would occur when the rattrapante function is activated. Because it rotates slowly and continuously, the hour counter does not need such a mechanism.
Beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour, the hand-wound manufacture calibre L132.1 is a newly developed movement that significantly distinguishes itself from the calibre L001.1 of the Double Split. The power-reserve indicator has been shifted down to provide more display space for the rattrapante hour counter in the upper part of the dial.
It is remarkable that, despite the extended functionality, the A. Lange & Söhne engineers succeeded in integrating the additional components in the movement so ingeniously that the case did not have to be enlarged in comparison with the Double Split. The white gold case has a diameter of 43.2 mm and a total thickness of 15.6 mm.
The sapphire-crystal unveils the exceptional level of finishes as well as the fascinating choreography of the interacting wheels, levers, springs, clutches and jumpers.
The A. Lange & Söhne Triple Split (ref. 424.038F) comes in a limited edition of 100 pieces with an indicatie price of Euro 140,000. alange-soehne.com
Suggested reading:
- A. Lange & Sohne mechanical movements: what makes them so irresistible?
Breaking the house record of the Double Split, which in 2004 allowed the first comparative measurements with an aggregate duration of 30 minutes and since then has defended its unique position, the Triple Split multiplies the measuring range of the rattrapante function by a factor of 24 with its precisely jumping rattrapante minute counter and continuous rattrapante hour counter.
In the passive mode, the respective hand pairs – sweep seconds, minute- and hour-counter hands – are superposed. As soon as the measurement is started, they all begin to run simultaneously until the rattrapante pusher is pressed to freeze intermediate times.
The three blued-steel hands stop to display lap times while the seconds hand as well as the minute- and hour-counter hands continue to run and measure the total time.
A second actuation of the rattrapante pusher causes the three stopped hands to catch up and synchronise with the running hands that continue to measure the duration of the event.
The Triple Split is endowed with a flyback function that involves all three hand pairs as well. Thus, the chronograph can be reset and instantly restarted by pressing the lower chronograph pusher even during an ongoing measurement.
A power-reserve indicator based on Lange’s typical UP/DOWN display shows how much of the 55-hour reserve remains available. The well-organized grey dial in solid silver is colour-coordinated with the 18-carat white-gold case that has a diameter is 43.2 millimetres.
The three rattrapante hands in blued steel clearly set themselves apart from the rhodiumed chronograph hands. The hands that display the time and the applied baton hour markers are made of rhodiumed gold. The hour and minute hands are luminous.
The development of a triple rattrapante mechanism that controls the three hand pairs collectively or separately represented an exceptional technical challenge. Even a simple rattrapante mechanism has two hands attached to arbors that run one inside the other. In the case of the triple rattrapante mechanism, this arrangement is three-fold: two seconds hands as well as two hands each for the minute and hour counters. For the watchmaker, the multiple arbor configurations require the ultimate in dexterity and extreme patience in adjusting the endshakes.
The design of the movement also assures that neither the measurement of lap times nor the progression of the precisely jumping minute counter has a negative effect on rate stability. The normally unavoidable loss of amplitude is prevented by a disengagement mechanism developed and patented by A. Lange & Söhne. Without this device, friction losses would occur when the rattrapante function is activated. Because it rotates slowly and continuously, the hour counter does not need such a mechanism.
Beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour, the hand-wound manufacture calibre L132.1 is a newly developed movement that significantly distinguishes itself from the calibre L001.1 of the Double Split. The power-reserve indicator has been shifted down to provide more display space for the rattrapante hour counter in the upper part of the dial.
The sapphire-crystal unveils the exceptional level of finishes as well as the fascinating choreography of the interacting wheels, levers, springs, clutches and jumpers.
The A. Lange & Söhne Triple Split (ref. 424.038F) comes in a limited edition of 100 pieces with an indicatie price of Euro 140,000. alange-soehne.com
Suggested reading:
- A. Lange & Sohne mechanical movements: what makes them so irresistible?
Another masterpiece from these incredible German watchmakers. The pictures of the movement make me go nuts.
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