The fly-back chronograph is considered integral to the collections of the world's leading makers
THE LIMITATION OF a simple chronograph is that it can record only one time interval at a time. It is fine for timing simple intervals, but there are occasions when it is useful to be able to time several intervals simultaneously. This is especially true in sport. Athletics and motor racing are good examples.
When two runners or two cars are racing, an ordinary chronograph cannot cope. It can measure the time of the winner, but it cannot show the time of the runner-up. Fortunately, as long
ago as the 19th century, watchmakers devised practical solutions. One is the fly-back or rattrapante chronograph, such as Omega's De Ville Rattrapante.
When the fly-back chronograph is operated, the first push on the button activates the seconds hand. At the second push, the hand instantaneously 'flies' back to zero and starts timing again. This can be used to produce lap times for one competitor in a race or show the difference between two competitors. Timing can be stopped by another button.
Another solution is the split-second chronograph. This has two second hands superimposed precisely over each other. When the chronograph function is started, both hands move as one. When the stop button is pressed once, one hand stops instantly and the other continues until the button is pressed again.
