Omega

Split-Seconds Frenzy - Rattrapante addiction

 

Team,

I believe that started this sub theme on my collection because I love chronographs and more pushers the better.

It's a non-trivial complication and there are few manufactures that venture on this area.

I'm a declared fan of the Habring and I love the stories that Dr. Markus Hanke tells about this creation when Richard was at IWC.

Omega has some split-seconds chronographs and my first was one that is somehow common here.

The Speedmaster Split Seconds, black dialed (it looks like carbon fiber):



Few months back, I was able to add the silver dialed one:

The De Ville Co Axial Rattrapante uses a different movement, more complex because it employs two column wheels to manage the split seconds and it also carries the Co Axial escapement.

Shame on me, that I don't have any movement picture (just notice that now and I will try to take one later).

Add to that that I consider the De Ville Rattrapante a very beautiful watch.

The dark grey De Ville is wonderful but the white (or cream) dialed one with the blue hands is gorgeous.

I was chasing this one for years (I have a friend that owns one) without success.

Thanks to my favorite sales woman from the boutique, I was able to source one NEW!

Love this one.

Of course, we cannot ignore my IWC 3713 Doppel. Movement designed by Richard Habring, when he worked at IWC:

On the Omega line, I'm now chasing the Speedmaster Co Axial Split Seconds.

Hard search. It was released on a limited edition (300 pieces if I remember) and it was very expensive.

The hunt continues. Who knows if one day I can add this one to my set.


(Picture from Omega web site).

Some explanations:

To the ones not familiar with this complication, let's see it's definition:

A Rattrapante or Split-Seconds or Double chronograph is a watch that includes two separate stopwatch mechanisms in order to estimate two separate events of different durations.

A Rattrapante has two chronograph seconds hands. One hand is superimposed over the other. While one hand moves continuously, the other one can be either stopped, started or reset to zero.

The first push, on the regular chronograph pusher, releases both hands. While one continues registering the time, the other hand can be stopped.

The pusher that controls the other seconds hand, when pressed again, "chases" the regular chronograph seconds hand.

The position of the pusher, controlling the split-seconds function is usually at 10 o'clock but some manufacturers (GP?) has it as part of the regular winding crown.

The name Rattrapante comes from the French: rattraper - the act of recovering, recapturing.

Did I already told that I love to see the "rattraper" in action?

Thanks for seeing.

Cheers,

Nilo

This message has been edited by nilomis on 2015-10-06 06:59:31