We’ve seen so many watch brands come and go over the years, but some of them just sort of slowly disappear without ever saying anything. Gallet is one of the brands in the latter camp. The Swiss outfit that timed the Wright Brothers’ 12-second hop at Kitty Hawk and strapped its Flying Officer to Harry Truman’s wrist has been nothing more than an eBay search for obscure watch collectors over the past three decades.
That all ends today. Freshly acquired by the folks at Breitling and celebrating its 200th birthday, Gallet has officially relaunched with four complete watch collections.
The Bottom Rung of a Very Swiss Ladder
This revival completes the House of Brands, the three-tier structure Georges Kern has been assembling since Breitling scooped up Universal Genève. UG sits at the top, Breitling holds the middle, and Gallet now anchors the entry point.
Of course, entry-level is all relative – especially in the world of watches. The three-hand Flying Officer opens the catalog at $2,900, the Sellita-powered chronographs run $4,400 on a strap, and the Classics command $6,700. Everything is available now through Gallet’s website and dedicated Gallet corners inside select Breitling boutiques.
The Flying Officer Learns Some New Cities
The 1939 Flying Officer let pilots track the hour at upcoming refueling stops via a rotating city bezel, which was a really clever trick decades before the GMT hand became standard issue. Truman famously called it the most elaborate watch he’d ever seen.
The new 40mm version keeps the concept in tact but with a bit of twist. It now loads the ring with 24 destinations spanning major hubs and even far-flung spots like Ushuaia and the Azores. You can have it as a bicompax chronograph running the Sellita SW510-based Gallet 23, or as a cheaper three-hander whose orange dial channels the baked patina of an aged original.
Two Multichrons and a Hand-Wound Trio
The Multichron family handles tool watch duty for the new collection. The 42mm Pilot pairs a sandpaper-textured dial with a telemeter scale and rotating 12-hour bezel. The 41mm Sport, on the other hand, ditches the bezel entirely for a tachymeter and bright orange chronograph hands.
But the Classics are where our money would go. This trio of 38mm tributes (Yachting Big Eye, Multichron 45, and Silverlight) runs Breitling’s hand-wound B09 manufacture caliber, the same movement doing duty in the Premier line. Proper vintage proportions, a premium engine, and easily the strongest argument that this revivals can sometimes be the perfect recipe for upstarts.
Spec Sheet
Brand: Gallet
Collections: Flying Officer (40mm), Multichron Pilot (42mm), Multichron Sport (41mm), Gallet Classics (38mm)
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 100m
Movements: Gallet 23 (Sellita SW510 chronograph), Gallet 17 (Sellita SW200 automatic), Breitling B09 (hand-wound, Classics only)
Power Reserve: ~65 hours (Gallet 23), ~41 hours (Gallet 17), ~70 hours (B09)
Straps: Interchangeable quick-release leather, rubber, field, and fabric; steel bracelets with micro-adjustment
Price Range: $2,900 to $6,700
Pricing & Availability
The full Gallet lineup is available now, with the three-hand Flying Officer starting at $2,900, the Sellita chronographs at $4,400 on a strap ($4,600 on a bracelet), and the hand-wound Classics at $6,700, strap only. Head over to Gallet’s website to browse the whole revival.
Recap
Gallet Relaunch (Flying Officer, Multichron & Classics)
Breitling resurrects 200-year-old Gallet with four full collections, from the city-bezel Flying Officer to a trio of hand-wound 38mm Classics, starting at $2,900.
