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The Encyclopedia of Horology

France / England / Switzerland · Split-seconds mechanisms documented from the mid-19th century, with Nicole's 1862 patent frequently cited; refined by numerous makers through the following decades

Rattrapante (Split-Seconds) Chronograph Clutch

Needs research

The rattrapante remains one of the most technically demanding chronograph complications and a benchmark of fine chronograph manufacture, prized for enabling lap or comparative interval timing.

A rattrapante adds a second chronograph seconds hand that normally runs stacked with the first, but can be stopped independently by an additional pusher (via a split clamp, typically a heart-shaped cam or clamp jaw) to record an intermediate time, then released to instantaneously catch back up ('rattraper') with the still-running primary hand.

Because several makers contributed competing mechanisms in this period, and the mainstream literature available to this project does not converge on one uncontested founding patent, claims naming a single inventor should be treated with caution pending direct archival confirmation.

How to verify this yourself

Nicole's 1862 English patent and comparable French filings should be checked directly in The National Archives (Kew) patent index and the INPI historical archive respectively before citing a specific number; this project has not independently verified a single founding patent number.

Manufacturers known to have used it

  • Patek Philippe
  • many haute horlogerie chronograph manufacturers

Sources & references

  1. Cutmore, M., Watches 1850–1980
  2. The National Archives, Kew — patent index (existence of period split-seconds filings noted, not individually verified here)

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.