TGIF —thank God it’s Friday. The A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar is without a doubt a masterpiece of horology and one of our favorite watches out there. This watch unveiled in 2013 received two prizes the same year at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève — the Grande Complication Prize and the Public Prize. Available in Platinum or Pink Gold this watch is stunning in either metal. Fitted with a case measuring 41.9 mm in diameter —not 42 mm as German engineering calls for the utmost precision—, the craftsmanship is just out of this world. Featuring a split-seconds chronograph and a perpetual calendar, the dial layout on its solid German silver dial is very well balanced and very legible.
On its dial one can find a date and day indicator at 9 o’clock, a month and leap-year indicator at 3, a moon-phase indicator and running seconds at 6, and an Up/Down power-reserve indicator and minute chrono register at 12 o'clock. The dial is perfectly balanced with red accents and two blued hands —for the minute register and the rattrapante seconds hand— that provide the ultimate level of contrast.
This extraordinary timepiece is powered by the manual-wound A. Lange & Söhne calibre L101.1 composed of 631 parts, 43 jewels and a large balance spring. The calibre provides a power reserve of 42 hours when fully wound and it is fully visible via the anti-reflective coated display case back. This movement is perfection and an absolute treat for the eyes. On the wrist, as expected, once you put this watch on you won't want to take it off. The watch wears slightly bigger than its actual size but with a wrist presence that is hard to describe and hard to match unless you are wearing a Patek Philippe ref. 2499. Honestly, it really doesn't get any better than this.
Sticker Price $189,000 USD. For more info on A. Lange & Söhne click here.
