Hands-On A. Lange & Sohne 1815 Rattrapante Platinum
The rattrapante chronograph, also known as split-seconds or Doppel chronograph, is often regarded as one of the most sophisticated horological complications, and a must-have in high-end watch collections. As a top-tier watchmaker, A. Lange & Sohne isn’t only familiar with the complication, it somehow masters it, with a double-rattrapante – the Double Split – and even a triple-rattrapante – the Triple Split (respectively able to split the seconds and minutes, or the seconds, minutes and hours). Two years ago, the Saxon manufacture came with its first stand-alone split-seconds chronograph, the 1815 Rattrapante Honey Gold. And sometimes, less is more, this watch being one of the absolute best of the brand. This watch fully focused on the eponymous complication returns this year in a classic limited edition, the A. Lange & Sohne 1815 Rattrapante Platinum.?A. Lange & Sohne and the ChronographThe chronograph complication and the rattrapante function are de

The 2022 A. Lange & Sohne Grand Lange 1 - Review, Specs & Price
When Gunter Blumlein and Walter Lange undertook the monumental task of reviving A. Lange & Sohne after Germany's reunification, they had to come up with a model that would represent the spirit, past and present, of a legendary Saxon watchmaking brand. Accordingly, the watch would have to embody some of the finest historical traditions associated with Glashutte’s high-end German watchmaking, but it would also have to flaunt a combination of design and mechanics that would signal the way forward. And as everyone familiar with the brand knows, the Lange 1 appeared in the line-up of A. Lange & Sohne's four inaugural watches in 1994. With its intrepid asymmetric layout and outsize date display, the Lange 1 was singled out as the star of the quartet. Interpreted with different complications over the decades, the Lange 1 is considered the quintessential face of the brand. Following the introduction of the larger Grosse Lange 1 (Grand Lange 1) in 2003 and its various evolutions,

SIHH 2015 - Introducing the A. Lange & Sohne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater, Featuring a Decimal Minute Repeater (Specs and Price) - Monochrome Watches
On this first day of the SIHH we are already blown away by the vast amount of extremely impressive time pieces, and the new Lange & Sohne is no exception. The ‘normal’ Zeitwerk, as introduced in 2009, was in itself a magnificent masterpiece with most likely the easiest (ergonomically) way to read the time on a mechanical timepiece. A year later the German brand presented the Zeitwerk Luminous, and in 2011 the Zeitwerk Striking Time saw the light of day. Today we can show you the newest and most impressive of the Zeitwerk family, the A. Lange & Sohne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater, with a very special minute repeater!The ‘special’ minute repeater is a so-called decimal repeater, something that by my knowledge only Kari Voutilainen and Credor (although it is a spring-drive system and thus has a quartz crystal as regulator) have implemented in a wrist watch. Voutilainen’s?Decimal Repeaters are among the most coveted timepieces ever created. And yes, I lust

Maurice Lacroix Aikon Venturer GMT - Hands-On Review, Specs, Price
The Aikon is Maurice Lacroix's interpretation of the luxury sports watch, a collection of watches with a solid build, a distinctive style and refreshingly competitive prices. Introduced in 2016 with quartz movements, in 2018, an automatic Aikon model appeared, followed by a bolder and sportier iteration known as the Aikon Venturer. With its 43mm case, water-resistance of 300 metres and rotating bezel, the diving credentials of the first batch of Aikon Venturers were paired with straightforward time-and-date functionality. Today the brand adds the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Venturer GMT to the collection, with a complication allowing you to consult the time in two different time zones at a glance. Two versions, with black or white dials, are the first representatives of the new Aikon Venturer GMT line matched with an integrated steel bracelet or a black rubber strap (or both).Powerful case and 24H bezelAdopting a similar strategy to Audemars Piguet, which launched the Royal Oak and then deve

Hands-On - Longines Spirit Pioneer Edition Titanium Chronograph (Price)
For two years now, Longines has concentrated a lot of efforts on developing its Spirit collection, a range of modernly executed, slightly retro-styled pilot’s watches. Available in different sizes (37mm, 40mm and 42mm), with various displays, many different colours and materials, the Spirit lineup is growing fast. Apart from the classic range, there are some special editions that have been specifically well received, such as the green dial models and, recently, the titanium time-only version. Now, it’s time for the chronograph to come in a new version, with the Longines Spirit Pioneer Edition. Titanium case, bold neon green accents and a no-date display…The Longines Spirit is, as of now, an entire collection with a specific position in the brand’s portfolio. While it surely has some design cues that refer to past models of the brand, it isn’t shaped after an existing watch from the heritage lineup. Contrary to the vintage-oriented collection, with relative