A. Lange & Söhne has long been synonymous with an exceptionally elegant approach to maximalist watchmaking. Inside the brand’s meticulously crafted cases lie intricate, miniature time-telling cities that are as hypnotic as they are baffling to the uninitiated. To truly grasp the magnitude of this engineering feat, one only needs to visit the historic manufacture in Glashütte, Germany, and witness the craftsmen at work. Even among the pantheon of master-level complications that the brand produces, A. Lange & Söhne CEO Wilhelm Schmid has noted that the manufacture’s most talented watchmakers would often far rather work on traditional tourbillons and perpetual calendars than the legendary Triple Split. It is simply that complex, that demanding, and that impressive. Now, following a five-year hiatus, this monumental timepiece has officially returned to the collection.
The journey of the Triple Split began in 2018, when A. Lange & Söhne introduced the groundbreaking timepiece as an evolutionary leap forward from the brand’s celebrated Double Split. At its core, the watch functions as a sophisticated rattrapante—a split-seconds chronograph capable of timing two separate concurrent intervals. However, the Triple Split pushed the boundaries of mechanical horology exponentially further by introducing the unprecedented ability to "split" not just the seconds, but also the intermediate intervals of the 30-minute counter and, uniquely, the 12-hour counter.
Executing such a high level of mechanical complication in a wristwatch is a monumental technical achievement. Even more astonishing is the fact that this intricate network of levers, columns wheels, and springs is housed within a relatively compact case, given its staggering complexity. Measuring 43.2 millimeters in diameter and 15.6 millimeters in thickness, this latest iteration is forged entirely from precious platinum. This release marks the first time the Triple Split has been rendered in platinum, as well as the first time the model has appeared in the brand’s catalog since 2021, following previous editions crafted in white gold in 2018 and rose gold in 2021.
The aesthetic presentation of the new platinum Triple Split is both restrained and deeply sophisticated. The dial is meticulously manufactured from 0.925 silver, featuring a light grey outer track and main dial that provides a striking contrast against the darker grey lower subdials for the chronograph registers. To ensure legibility, the watch is fitted with luminous hands and hour markers, combining traditional dress watch elegance with practical utility. Furthermore, the robust platinum case is designed to be water-resistant up to 50 meters, ensuring that this high complication is suitably equipped for the rigors of daily wear.
Turning the watch over reveals the true heart and soul of the timepiece: the manually wound L132.1 caliber. Comprising an astonishing 567 individual parts, 46 jewels, and five screwed gold chatons secured by thermally blued screws, the movement is a masterclass in traditional German watchmaking decoration and architecture. Operating at a traditional frequency of 3.3 hertz, or 21,600 vibrations per hour, the caliber delivers a robust power reserve of 55 hours when fully wound.
The layout of the movement allows the watch to display traditional hours, minutes, and subsidiary seconds alongside a power reserve indicator and the sophisticated flyback chronograph featuring the brand’s signature triple rattrapante mechanism. Operating the watch is an exercise in tactile feedback: the crown-side pushers manage the standard start, stop, and reset functions of the chronograph, while the isolated top pusher on the opposite side of the case commands the intricate split-seconds mechanisms.
Having the opportunity to experience the watch in the metal reveals a remarkably well-balanced dial design. Despite the considerable physical heft that comes with a solid platinum case of this size, the watch wears surprisingly well on the wrist. That substantial weight is counterbalanced securely by a newly designed quick-release deployant buckle crafted from 950 platinum, paired with a hand-stitched dark brown alligator leather strap featuring subtle grey accent stitching.
While collectors will undoubtedly celebrate the prestige and exclusivity of the platinum case, true horological enthusiasts know that the real visual spectacle resides on the reverse side of the watch. A. Lange & Söhne has provided a comprehensive look at the movement, emphasizing its breathtaking depth and architectural complexity. The exhibition caseback highlights the exceptional hand-finishing standards upheld in Glashütte, showcasing the characteristic untreated German silver three-quarter plate, bevelled and polished steel levers, and the unmistakable chatons framing the functional jewels.
True to the pedigree of its predecessors, the new A. Lange & Söhne Triple Split in platinum is strictly limited in production. The manufacture has capped the edition at precisely 100 pieces worldwide, virtually guaranteeing intense demand among top-tier collectors and brand loyalists. The retail price is set at approximately 210,000 euros, translating to roughly $245,000 USD.
For A. Lange & Söhne, the Triple Split represents the absolute pinnacle of chronograph manufacturing and mechanical ambition. While the timepiece undeniably possesses a commanding presence on the wrist due to its dimensions, the sheer technical wizardry packed inside makes the trade-off more than worthwhile, even for those with more modest wrist sizes. The level of engineering required to synchronize three independent split-seconds displays is self-evident at a glance through either the sapphire crystal dial or the open caseback.
Despite their extreme complexity and limited production runs, secondary market examples of previous Triple Split editions have historically commanded prices hovering at or near their original retail values, underscoring their enduring desirability and status as modern horological icons. For the fortunate 100 collectors who manage to secure an allocation of this new platinum edition, the Triple Split offers an uncompromising masterclass in high watchmaking that stands as a definitive achievement of the twenty-first century.
Brand: A. Lange & Söhne
Model: Triple Split
Reference Number: 424.025F
Diameter: 43.2mm
Thickness: 15.6mm
Case Material: Platinum
Dial Color: Grey (made of .925 silver)
Indexes: Appliqués in rhodium-plated .750 gold; hour markers at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock are luminous
Lume: Yes
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Hand-stitched alligator leather, dark brown with grey seam; Quick-release deployant buckle in 950 platinum
Caliber: Lange manufacture caliber L132.1
Functions: Hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds; flyback chronograph with triple rattrapante (rattrapante chronograph with intermediate timing from 1/6th second up to 12 hours); power reserve
Diameter: 30.6mm
Thickness: 9.4mm
Power Reserve: 55 hours
Winding: Manual
Frequency: 21,600 vph
Jewels: 46 (5 gold chatons)
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Shock-resistant balance with eccentric poising weights; balance made in-house; plates and bridges made of untreated German silver
Price: ~€210,000 / ~$245,000
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: 100 pieces
