Eberhard Pre Extra-Fort Rattrapante – Oversized Steel Split-Seconds Chronograph, Black Dial

An oversized, very rare, and highly complex Eberhard Pre Extra-Fort Rattrapante from the 1940s, featuring a black dial, split-seconds chronograph mechanism, and an impressive 40 mm steel case.

An exceptional and seldom-seen Eberhard Pre Extra-Fort Rattrapante, dating to the 1940sand representing a remarkable chapter in the history of complicated chronographs. Combining technical sophistication, oversized proportions, and strong vintage character, this is a watch that stands apart even within the already respected world of early Eberhard chronographs. For collectors of important vintage complications, it is a particularly compelling and uncommon proposition.

The defining feature of the watch is its rare split-seconds chronograph architecture, a sophisticated complication that allows intermediate timing without interrupting the main chronograph. Eberhard was among the early pioneers of chronograph development, and this example reflects that innovative spirit in especially striking form. The present watch is notable for its unusual configuration, with the chronograph functions integrated through the winding crown, an upper pusher for the rattrapante mechanism, and the lower pusher serving as a locking function for the chronograph system — an uncommon and fascinating technical detail that contributes significantly to the model’s appeal.

Encased in stainless steel, the watch is further distinguished by its highly desirable 40 mm case, an impressive and unusually large dimension for the period. The black dial, with its richly aged surface, combines strong visual depth with excellent legibility, featuring a tachymeter-style scale, three balanced subsidiary registers, and painted numerals that reinforce its unmistakably vintage presence. Preserved with strong character and fitted on a leather strap, this Pre Extra-Fort Rattrapante stands as a true connoisseur’s piece: rare, technically intriguing, and deeply representative of the innovation that defined the finest early chronographs.

Included

• Watch only

Specifications

• Brand: Eberhard
• Model: Pre Extra-Fort Rattrapante
• Year: Circa 1940s
• Case material: Stainless steel
• Case number: 1'015'229
• Movement: Manual, 17 jewels
• Movement number: 17'412
• Dial: Black dial
• Functions: Chronograph, split-seconds chronograph (rattrapante)
• Case size: 40 mm diameter
• Strap: Leather strap
• Signed: Case, dial and movement
• Set: Watch only

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