Very rare & hard to find model Ulysse Nardin, Locle “Chronometre”, No. 200883, case No. 613969. Made circa 1940'S, 0.925 solid silver pocket watch with oval button split-seconds chronograph

Ulysse Nardin was founded in 1846 and were best known for their highly complicated watches, and pocket chronometers. This watch is a split second chronograph or rattrapante from the 1940's. Serial No. 613969. The signed movement is highly complicated (see pictures) with two chronograph hands for clocking separate events. Activating the chronograph by depressing the crown, both center seconds hands begin tining, then depressing the button at the 11 o'clock position, the first center seconds hand stops and the next continues on. Depressing the crown a second time stops the hand, while depressing the crown a third time resets the hands to zero. The snow white enamel dial is in excellent condition (very small wear @ 10 o'clock - see pictures). Movement is in excellent condition, running well and keeping good time. The case is in solid silver 0.925 and ~54mm in diameter (case shows few dings but overall it is in excellent condition).

What is a Rattrapante? :

A "Rattrapante" is a chronograph with an added second hand, to allow, for example, lap times in a multi-lap event to be read off without stopping the chronograph. A chronograph is usually started with one pusher, which starts both second hands moving (one superimposed over the other). When the operator desires to read an intermediate time, he/she pushes a second pusher. On the dial, one of the second hands stops (the "split" hand), while the main second hand continues. If the second pusher is pressed again, the split seconds hand "catches up" with the main second hand, and is ready to be used again.

Interestingly, three languages describe this function in different ways: "Rattrapante" is the French term for "catch up" (describing the motion of the split hand); the German term for this function is "Doppelchronograph", or double chronograph; the English term is "Split Seconds" (describing the appearance of the second hand when the function is activated).