It’s time to get reacquainted with Gallet. The historic watchmaker, which clocked nearly two centuries in the industry before fading into obscurity in the early 1990s, has officially relaunched with the help of Breitling.
Founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, in 1826, Gallet built a reputation on rugged tool watches used in fields such as aviation, racing, and sailing. It was a Gallet stopwatch that the Wright brothers used to time the first successful manned and powered flights in Kitty Hawk in 1903, for example. The maison is continuing in that same utilitarian vein, with four new collections for modern explorers. All pieces will be manufactured by Breitling, with Gallet’s in-house Sellita-based movements or Breitling calibers.
“Gallet has a remarkable history and a distinct identity,” Erwan Rossignol, managing director of Gallet, said in a statement. “By manufacturing every watch within Breitling’s infrastructure, we’re able to honor that heritage while ensuring the quality, reliability, and service expected from a modern Swiss watch brand.”
The Flying Officer Chronograph 40.
Gallet
The first line, the Flying Officer, is geared toward travelers. The two models—one a chronograph, the other a straight automatic—are inspired by the first Flying Officer that Gallet introduced in 1939. The original was famously donned by former U.S. President Harry S. Truman, who called it “the most elaborate watch [he] ever saw.” The modern successors both measure 40 mm and feature a rotating bezel plus an outer city ring showing 24 destinations. They both come in two colorways.
The Multichron Pilot Chronograph 42.
Gallet
The Multichron family includes two chronographs. The first, which takes design cues from the Multichron Pilot that Gallet introduced in 1969, showcases a 42 mm case, a bi-directional bezel, a telemeter scale, and a date window. The second, the Multichron Sport, features a similar layout but a smaller 41 mm case. Both come in two colorways.
The Multichron Sport Chronograph 41.
Gallet
The quartet, all crafted in steel, comes with interchangeable quick-release straps, allowing for instant personalization. Options include leather, rubber, field, and fabric straps in a variety of colors, as well as stainless-steel bracelets.
To celebrate 200 years of Gallet, the maison has also unveiled three special-edition chronographs that pay tribute to historic models. Each one features a compact 38 mm case and Breitling’s hand-wound Caliber B09 movement offering a 70-hour power reserve.
The Tribute to Yachting Big Eye.
Gallet
“Gallet was born in an age of exploration and has followed that path ever since,” adds Breitling CEO Georges Kern. “We’re proud to bring Gallet back for a new generation.”
Breitling, led by Kern since 2017, has been focusing on growing a house of brands in order to increase sales, volume, and reach. The Swiss watchmaker acquired the legendary Universal Genève marque in 2023, before snapping up Gallet in late 2024.
Gallet watches will be sold online and in-store, with dedicated safari-inspired Gallet corners now featured in select Breitling boutiques. Prices for the core collection range from $2,900 to $4,600, while the Tribute pieces cost $6,700.
