Gallet X L.L. Bean Military Diver/Navigator

A good ol’ fashioned military watch is one thing. A double-signed military watch is quite another, altogether!

Feast your eyes on the Gallet ‘Navigator’ watch. Issued to Canadian and U.S. service members in the late 1980s and early 1990s, these tough, mil-spec timepieces pick up the story of the asymmetric Benrus Type I and Type II watches from the 1970s. A joint venture between Gallet and Marathon Watch Company, they feature the best of both dive and field watch attributes.

However, this is a special Navigator. Much in the way that Marathon field watches were later retailed via American outdoor companies such as Orvis and others, this particular Navigator from the 1990s was similarly sold by L.L. Bean, whose signature graces its dial. It features a 42mm, brushed stainless steel asymmetrical case with an acrylic crystal, fixed spring bars, a stainless steel bezel with a 12-hour insert, a battery hatch, and a screw-down crown, it features a matte black "L.L. Bean" signed dial with applied Tritium gas tubes, a matching syringe handset, and a robust quartz movement powering it within.

Though modern, plastic Marathon Navigator watches provide a welcome mil-spec timepiece at just a few hundred dollars, these tougher, stainless steel versions provide a historical link to watches used in Vietnam and the Gulf War. Add in a dial signed by one of the country’s most beloved outdoor retailers, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for one hell of a mil-watch.

Don’t let this one slip through your fingers!

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.

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.