Two centuries after its founding in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Gallet is returning to the watchmaking landscape — this time as a sibling brand of Breitling.
Gallet Flying Officer Automatic.
Founded in 1826, Gallet built its reputation around chronographs and timing instruments for aviation, racing, sailing and exploration. Its historical watches were associated with early intercontinental travel and motorsport, including the Wright brothers’ first powered flight and racing champion Rex Mays.
Now, on its 200th anniversary, that history has been reworked into four collections: the Flying Officer, Multichron Pilot, Multichron Sport and Gallet Classics.
A New Chapter In Adventure
Gallet Flying Officer Chronograph.
The relaunch is being backed by Breitling, with Gallet watches manufactured within its infrastructure and supported by its technical expertise, after-sales service and global distribution network.
“Gallet was born in an age of exploration and has followed that path ever since,” says Georges Kern, CEO of House of Brands, which encompasses Breitling, Gallet and Universal Genève. “We’re proud to bring Gallet back for a new generation.”
The Flying Officer provides perhaps the clearest expression of that continuity. First introduced in 1939 for the era of early intercontinental flight, its rotating city ring allowed pilots to track the time at destinations and refuelling stops.
Gallet Flying Officer Chronograph.
The contemporary 40mm version retains the world-travel concept, now with a rotating bezel covering 24 destinations ranging from major international gateways to more remote points of exploration. It is offered as both a chronograph and three-hand watch, with the latter available in orange or dark blue.
The Multichron Pilot and Multichron Sport take Gallet further into tool-watch territory. The 42mm Pilot draws on the brand’s exploration chronographs, adding a telemeter scale, second-time-zone functionality and luminous details for changing conditions. The 41mm Sport, meanwhile, looks to Gallet’s motorsport history, with a tachymeter scale designed to calculate average speed.
Across the core collection, interchangeable quick-release straps are intended to make the watches adaptable between environments, with leather, rubber, field and fabric options available alongside stainless-steel bracelets.
A Bicentennial In Three Watches
Gallet Flying Officer Chronograph.
Gallet is also marking its return with three Gallet Classics tribute chronographs, each revisiting an important historical reference.
The 38mm watches are distinguished from the core collections by their hand-wound Caliber B09, Breitling’s manufacture chronograph movement, and approximately 70 hours of power reserve.
The trio draws on the Multichron Yachting Big Eye, the Multichron 45 and the Silverlight, translating their original applications in regatta racing, aviation and navigation into more restrained contemporary watches.
Gallet Flying Officer Automatic.
Beyond the watches themselves, Gallet is giving its revival a distinctly modern face through collaborations with professional adventurers, conservationists, photographers and filmmakers. Their Field Notes series documents expeditions ranging from Himalayan paragliding to Arctic sailing and wildlife conservation.
The geography may have changed considerably since Gallet’s early chronographs were accompanying pilots and racers. The underlying proposition, however, remains familiar: watches designed for those inclined to venture beyond the familiar.
