Tag: Pilot Watch

Gallet is returning to the watchmaking scene with a collection built around its historic expertise in chronographs and aviation watches. Originally established in 1826, the brand is being revived as part of Georges Kern’s House of Brands, alongside Breitling and the recently relaunched Universal Genève.

The new collection brings together four families: Classics, Multichron Pilot, Multichron Sport and Flying Officer. While each draws on a different chapter of Gallet’s history, the modern watches combine period-inspired designs with contemporary movements, practical complications and a choice of straps and bracelets.

Gallet Classics: Three Historical Tributes

The Classics collection comprises three 38 mm chronographs inspired by watches from Gallet’s past. Developed with input from historians, collectors and enthusiasts, the models retain distinctive elements of their predecessors while adopting modern specifications.

The Tribute to Multichron Yachting Big Eye features a white dial with black Arabic numerals and a red-and-blue regatta timer. Its enlarged 30-minute subdial is divided into five-minute intervals, allowing sailors to monitor the countdown to a race start. The larger subdial also explains the “Big Eye” designation.

The Tribute to Multichron 45 takes a more technical approach, with a black dial, contrasting white markings and compact chronograph registers. The arrangement leaves room for larger timing scales, while a peripheral tachymeter and telemeter provide additional functionality. The tachymeter can be used to calculate speed over a known distance, while the telemeter measures distance based on the time between seeing and hearing an event.

Completing the collection is the Tribute to Silverlight, inspired by the Multichron Navigator. Its silver sunray-brushed dial and stylised Arabic numerals give it a distinctly vintage character. The original Navigator’s compass indication has not been carried over, but the new model preserves much of its visual identity.

All three Classics references share a 38 mm steel case and are powered by the Breitling B09 manual-winding chronograph movement. The calibre offers a 70-hour power reserve, while its hand-wound construction contributes to the watches’ relatively slim proportions and reinforces their traditional chronograph character.

The Gallet Classics models are priced at GBP 5,300.

Gallet Classics. White (Tribute to Multichron Yachting Big Eye)/black  (Tribute to Multichron 45)/silver-toned (Tribute to Silverlight) dial, stainless steel case, 38 mm diameter, sapphire crystal. Leather/rubber/field/fabric strap. Calibre B09, hand-wound movement, hour, minutes, small seconds, chronograph, 70 hours of power reserve. Price: GBP 5,300.

Multichron Pilot: A 1960s Aviation Chronograph Reinterpreted

The Multichron Pilot draws inspiration from Gallet’s 1969 model, combining a chronograph with a dual-time bezel. The contemporary version is a 42 mm steel watch with a tricompax layout and a choice of reverse-panda or blue dials.

Its grain-textured surface adds depth to the display, while the reverse-panda version introduces an orange telemeter scale. This scale can be used to estimate the distance of an event by measuring the interval between seeing and hearing it, making it particularly relevant to the watch’s aviation-inspired character.

Inside, the Multichron Pilot uses the Gallet 23, a Sellita SW510-based automatic chronograph movement with a 65-hour power reserve. This calibre is also used in the chronograph version of the Flying Officer.

The Multichron Pilot is priced at GBP 3,400 on strap or GBP 3,600 on bracelet.

Gallet Multichron Pilot. Black/blue dial, stainless steel case, 42 mm diameter, sapphire crystal. Leather/rubber/field/fabric strap or stainless steel bracelet. Calibre 23 (based on Sellita SW510), automatic movement, hour, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph, gmt, 65 hours of power reserve. Price: GBP 3,400 (on strap), GBP 3,600 (on bracelet).

Multichron Sport: A More Contemporary Take on the Chronograph

The Multichron Sport is based on the 1960s Multichron 12 and shares the same movement and general tricompax layout as the Multichron Pilot. However, its 41 mm case and different case architecture give it a distinct identity.

Wide pushers and a smooth, polished fixed bezel create a more substantial silhouette, while the dial is available in reverse-panda or blue. Unlike the Pilot, the Sport uses smooth dial surfaces, with orange accents on the chronograph hands and a peripheral tachymeter scale.

The watch is powered by the Gallet 23 automatic chronograph movement, offering a 65-hour power reserve. It is available on strap or bracelet, with prices set at GBP 3,400 and GBP 3,600, respectively.

Gallet Multichron Sport. Black/blue dial, stainless steel case, 41 mm diameter, sapphire crystal. Leather/rubber/field/fabric strap or stainless steel bracelet. Calibre 23 (based on Sellita SW510), automatic movement, hour, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph, gmt, 65 hours of power reserve. Price: GBP 3,400 (on strap), GBP 3,600 (on bracelet).

Flying Officer: Aviation Heritage with a Modern Dual-Time Display

The Flying Officer collection revisits a model first introduced in 1939. Historically associated with aviation and worn by figures including Harry S. Truman, the watch was designed to help pilots track different time zones.

The modern version retains that purpose through a cities ring and a 12-hour bezel. Rather than reproducing the original list of air-refuelling locations, Gallet has selected a combination of major and less conventional travel destinations.

The Flying Officer Chronograph measures 40 mm in steel and features pump-style pushers surrounding the crown. It is available with either a black or light blue dial and is powered by the Gallet 23, a Sellita SW510-based automatic chronograph movement with a 65-hour power reserve.

The non-chronograph Flying Officer uses the Gallet 17, based on the Sellita SW200, with a 41-hour power reserve. It is offered with electric blue or orange dials, paired with an olive cities ring on the latter.

The automatic Flying Officer is priced at GBP 2,200 on strap or GBP 2,400 on bracelet. The chronograph version costs GBP 3,400 on strap or GBP 3,600 on bracelet.

Gallet Flying Officer. Light blue/black/orange/dark blue dial, stainless steel case, 40 mm diameter, sapphire crystal. Leather/rubber/field/fabric strap or stainless steel bracelet. Calibre 23 (chronograph), 17 (time-date), automatic movement, hour, minutes, seconds (time-date), small seconds (chronograph), date (time-date), chronograph (chrono), 65 hours (chronograph)/41 hours (time-date) of power reserve. Price: GBP 2,200 (time-date on strap), GBP 2,400 (time-date on bracelet), GBP 3,400 (chronograph on strap), GBP 3,600 (chronograph on bracelet).

A Collection Built Around Chronographs

Gallet’s revival places its historical chronograph expertise at the centre of the collection. From the regatta timer of the Yachting Big Eye to the aviation-inspired dual-time displays of the Multichron Pilot and Flying Officer, each model draws on a specific function associated with the brand’s past.

The use of Breitling’s B09 in the Classics collection and the Sellita-based Gallet 23 across the core chronograph models also establishes a clear distinction between the different families. Combined with interchangeable strap and bracelet options, the new range offers a broad selection of sizes, complications and styles while maintaining a coherent connection to Gallet’s heritage.