Gallet Multichron Yachting 'Big Eye'

Gallet & Cie has been around for so long that archeologists have probably dug up a fossilized Gallet clock right next to trilobites.

Ok, that’s slightly exaggerated, but when a watchmaker has been around since 1466, it’s fair to say they know a thing or two about horology and watch making.

Come the post-War boom of the 1950s, a newly formed leisure class found the time, wealth, and appetite for sports such as SCUBA diving, motoring, and sailing.

To cater to those who enjoyed the latter, many watch companies devised modified chronographs that allowed the user to time the countdown to a regatta. Gallet, founded in Switzerland in 1466, was one such brand. From one-off handmade pocket watches for kings to some of the first mass-produced wristwatches in history, there is little road in the timekeeping industry on which Gallet hasn't tread in their 500+ year history.

By the 1960s, Gallet had devised an excellent version of its Multichron chronograph dedicated to helmsmen and skippers. Dubbed by collectors the Multichron Yachting ‘Big Eye,’ it joined a long list of Gallet-devised innovations including the first wrist-worn chronograph, the first waterproof chronograph, the first regatta timer, the first chronograph with GMT hand and the first chronograph with built-in worldtimer...just to name a few.

The watch we have here is an excellent example of the Yachting ‘Big Eye’ that looks as beautiful as the day it came off the assembly line.

Coming in with a 35mm stainless steel case with dual 'barrel' pushers, an unsigned crown, and an acrylic crystal, it features a satin silver dial with a red/blue ‘big eye’ countdown timer at 3 o’clock, a running seconds register at 9 o’clock, printed 'Arabic indices, and a blackened steel ‘sword’ handset.

Powered by the venerable Valjoux Calibre 7733 hand-cranking chronograph movement, this nautical riff on the standard midcentury chronograph stands out for its unique countdown feature, its superb colors, and its attractive aesthetics.

Regardless of whether one is a sailor, there’s no doubt that this handsome piece will make for a terrific bit of wrist candy!

The Gallets have been making watches in Switzerland since 1466, when Humbertus Gallet became a citizen of Geneva. Nearly 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. From then on, the company only started to expanded, even into the United States, becoming one of the best-known names in watchmaking.

Gallet is well known to hard-core vintage collectors, but they’ve flown under the radar among enthusiasts in general. Interestingly, the manufacture has long been on the forefront of horological innovation, and they’ve racked up a 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.

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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.