Gallet Multichron 12 "Jim Clark"

For the Gallet family, horology is in the blood.

The Gallets have been making watches in Switzerland since Humbertus Gallet became a citizen of Geneva in 1466. Four-hundred years later in 1826, Julien Gallet registered the name Gallet et Cie for his watchmaking company and relocated to La Chaux-du-Fonds, that valley nestled in the Jura mountains that has spawned such horological icons as Breitling, Girard-Perregaux, Movado, Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Heuer, among many others. The new connections and prestige in La Chaux-du-Fonds allowed Julien Gallet to extend the reputation and distribution of his pocket watches throughout Europe. The purchase of Grumbach & Co. in 1855, by Julien's son Léon, allowed Gallet to increase production, and attracted the best watchmakers of the day, whom Gallet allowed to register patents in their own names. 

In 1864, Léon's brother Lucien--together with their cousin, Jules Racine, scion of another Swiss watchmaking dynasty--expanded the brand into the U.S. market. Offices were opened in Chicago and, later, New York. All Gallet watches distributed in the United States were sold under the Racine name. 

To counter the encroaching advances of the American watch industry on the Swiss-made timepiece market, Léon--along with Ernest Francillion of Longines and Constant Girard-Gallet (a cousin) of Girard-Perregaux, among others--formed a strategic partnership in 1876. The Societe Intercantonale des Industries du Jura (Intercantonal Society for Industries of the Jura Region), solidified the dominance of Swiss watches in Europe. By the time Léon died in 1899, Gallet et Cie produced nearly 100,000 watches a year.

The manufacture has long been on the forefront of horological innovation. They’ve achieved an impressive number of impressive wristwatch “firsts”: including the first waterproof chronograph wristwatch, the first wristwatch with a 28,800 BPH escapement, first wristwatch with rotating bezel and the first chronograph wristwatch with a 24-hour GMT complication. Considering how often we see these features in watches from nearly every significant brand today, one cannot overstate Gallet’s contributions to the watch industry.

Of the many watches produced by Gallet in the 20^th century, the MultiChron chronographs are some of the most significant and collectible today. Although they are refined and stylish, many were intended as tool watches for military and industrial professionals, featuring decimal, pulsometer and telemeter tracks on the dials. The MultiChron 12H, so named for its third register and capability of recording up to twelve hours, would likely have found use in aviation, motorsports, or military use, as the easily readable dial, black Arabic numerals and colored outer scales, allow for quick and precise reading.

The look of the entire watch, from its sharp steel lines and beveled edges to its barrel pushers and uncluttered dial, is simply breathtaking. The black dial is the most desirable of the series, made famous by Formula 1 legend Jim Clark. Internally, the MultiChron 12Hs were fitted with either Valjoux 72 or Excelsior Park 40 manufacture movements, both venerable chronograph calibers. This particular example is fitted with the stalwart Valjoux 72 and is in absolutely excellent overall condition, a stylish high-quality watch from one of the lesser known (but most important) brands in the Swiss watch industry.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.