421.025 A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar

If you happen to be seeking a perpetual calendar split seconds chronograph, options are limited. Most know the big three references, largely from Switzerland under Patek Philippe (5004, 5204, 5951). On the fringe, attempts have been made from Blancpain, Franck, IWC, and even Paul Picot in 2001 (there’s a deep cut). Yet, a credible rival to the 5004 only arrived in 2013 with this: the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar. A follow-on was created in 2017 when that 1815 Split QP received a PLM Tourbillon configuration, known better as the second Tourbograph. The Germans can’t stand not being the top of the food chain. But the 1:1 direct German competitor to the 5004/5204, sans tourbillon, is this: 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar.

The 1815 Rattrapante QP was made initially in two metals in 2013: this ref. 421.025 in platinum and ref. 421.032 in pink gold. In 2017, a Handwerkskunst blue enamel dial in white gold arrived under ref. 421.048 in 20 pieces. Finally, in 2023, things concluded with a white gold and salmon dial ref. 421.056 in 100 pieces. The two initial metals’ production remains unknown for now. Interestingly, this QP model far predates the Rattrapante only, thought their chronograph layouts are similar.

Photography for this Find comes courtesy of prior sales by The Keystone and SJX, respectively. 

Calibre L101.1 is comprised of 631 components, with a 10 pusher for the split rather than co-axial with crown. It doesn’t have the same depth as the Datograph, but that’s for two reasons. First, there’s more packed in here. Second, the chronograph had to optimized for thinness. It’s hard to say something is only 14.7mm, but for a Split Seconds PCC that’s not much. The 5004’s height is comparable.

The value here, however, is not. This 421.025 is currently on secondary market near 175K USD. Retail for this platinum was approximately 230K. Its nearest credible rival is the 5204P, retail near 300K and secondary market not far off. There’s no other proposition sub-200K like this in the world. The 421.025 is recent enough to not be neo-vintage and old enough to be largely overlooked or forgotten. That little valley of time creates some of the best buying opportunities historically and that does, indeed appear to be the case here. This is an undeniably exceptional complicated Lange. It’s not the craziest complication; it’s not the latest and greatest. Yet, it’s historically important and very, very, very good. Particularly in PT.

This example appears in excellent condition overall. The case is untouched, it comes with its full set from a well-regarded Geneva retailer.