425.025, 1815 Rattrapante, Platinum

The ref. 425.025 1815 Rattrapante is an enigma, introduced in 2022 as a very limited run of 200 examples. Following the Honeygold variant chronologically, this platinum case, argenté-coloured solid-silver dial with blued steel hands variant provides an extremely pure and traditional aesthetic. The 1815 Rattrapante was the first ‘pure’ split seconds-only, a traditional Swiss high complication, to leave the manufacture. With split text and Arabic numerals, its dial is arguably one of the most audacious designs to leave Glashütte—equal parts sporting and austere. With a dial that breaks from tradition and a calibre which embraces it, the 425.025 is a modern classic that endures: Germany taking on classic Swiss high complication and furthering its abilities.  

The 1815 Rattrapante’s genesis is an entirely German affair: calibre L101.2 was developed and finished at Lange’s Glashütte manufacture rather than adapted from an outside ébauche, a point the brand made repeatedly in its press rollout. Anthony de Haas, Lange’s long-time director of product development, has been central to that movement work and the brand’s modern chronograph philosophy; as he has remarked in interviews, Lange prefers to ‘follow its own path’ when complexity and legibility are present. The subdial placement at 12 and 6 is a design choice that creates a balance many chronographs lack, while aiding legibility. Yet, there is a certain flair here in design decisions such as ‘Glashütte in Sachsen’ text split across center and red, three-dot quarter indices (a nod to Saxon porcelain).

The 365 individual componenets of calibre L101.2 are unusual. Where many Rattrapantes have the mechanism significantly raised, A. Lange & Söhne’s approach optimized for thinness, with the split wheel near the topmost plane, almost integrated within the chronograph. This calibre is about minimizing stack height. In finishing treatment, L101.2 is textbook Lange: the manufacture assembles the calibre twice, uses untreated German silver for bridges and cocks, fits (blue) screwed gold chatons, a hand-engraved balance cock and a screwed balance, and applies traditional anglage, black polishing and perlage where appropriate.

The platinum Rattrapante has been widely praised by journalists for its restraint and technical integrity. Hodinkee’s words at launch, a ‘king amongst complications meets the ice queen of metals,’ could not be more apt. There is a dual character of technical gravity and elegant execution here. A. Lange & Söhne dares that a manufacture can still create a split-seconds chronograph from the ground up and improve it, presented in the historically-grounded 1815 case. This is a traditionally Swiss high compliciation, reinterpreted mechanically and aesthetically to bring complexity and clarity into absolute, proportional harmony. 

This 425.025 presents in exceptional overall condition. Its case bears only extremely light signs of wear, barely noticeable. There are no significant marks. Its calibre L101.2 is running well in specification. It comes on its original strap with platinum pin buckle clasp.

This example is modelled on an average-sized 7-inch wrist.