The fact that a chronograph is a complication is beyond dispute: it provides additional information over and above hours, minutes, and seconds. That being said, its distinctive feature is the wide variety of interpretations of what a chronograph actually is. This means its presentation, precision, sophistication, and functions can all be revisited or even doubled. In short, the chronograph is a limitless technical and aesthetic playground for inventive watchmakers.
Singular
A. Lange & Söhne’s Triple Split stands out for a variety of reasons. For one thing, rather than being one-of-a-kind, it forms part of a family: two sisters to be precise, the Double Split and Triple Split. And while the Manufacture may not have invented the split-time function that defines one specific type of chronograph, it has developed a whole range of them. Not only that, but the exercise has been performed with a grace and excellence that make this one of the most beautiful movements of the 20th century. The timepiece will appeal to fans of precision as well as aesthetes with a taste for the absolute finest in watchmaking art.
Simply Complex
It’s not often that the immense complexity of a movement can be summed up in a single sentence: the Triple Split is the first mechanical split-second chronograph in the world that can compare time periods several hours long. To achieve this, each of the hands features a split-time function, forming three pairs in total: two seconds hands, two minutes hands, and two hours hands. Two of everything, hence the name of the timepiece, Triple Split, meaning three sets of split measurements.
Measuring Time — Lots of It
What’s the point? Simply put, it’s a way of comparing time spans lasting seconds, minutes, and even hours. Traditionally in watchmaking, split-time functions only involve two seconds hands. This means that, in theory, you can only measure two successive time periods lasting more than 60 seconds. In 2004, the Double Split extended this range to 30 minutes, but the Triple Split goes much further, to 12 hours: for instance, you could use it to compare the race times of two marathon runners. By combining the many options available thanks to this system, a virtually limitless range of scenarios can be envisaged: timing both the outbound and inbound legs of a long-haul flight, adding multiple durations of several hours, measuring all sorts of intermediate time periods, and more. These innumerable possibilities aren’t really the focus, though. For users, the appeal lies in the ease of use and readability of a Triple Split function in a single case, albeit quite large at 43.2mm in diameter. Both aspects are winning features.
Perfectly Readable
One of the assets in terms of readability is that when the chronograph function isn’t in use, each split hand sits atop its twin. As a result, the Triple Split dial normally looks exactly like that of any other tricompax chronograph. A. Lange & Söhne even finds space on the dial for a power-reserve indicator at 6 o’clock. As is customary, each pair of hands is differentiated: one in grey steel, the other in blued steel. This means that when the chronograph is triggered, it’s very easy to see which time is being measured: ‘blue’ or ‘grey’ time, each marking off hours, minutes, and seconds.
As Simple as a Traditional Chronograph
In terms of ease of use, the Triple Split once again relies on tried and tested methods: two pushers for the chronograph and a third for the split-time feature. To ensure that events can be timed in quick succession with no downtime, the chronograph also has flyback capability, allowing it to be stopped, reset, and restarted with a single push — a technical feat adding a further layer of complexity to a movement totaling 567 components and two column wheels. The Triple Split was launched in January 2018 as a 100-piece white gold edition, followed by a 100-piece rose gold series in April 2021.
