GALLET

“World's Finest Professional Timing Instruments”
 
Gallet is a historic Swiss manufacturer of high-end timepieces for professional, military, sports, racing, and aviation use. Gallet is universally recognized as the “Maître du Chronographe” or Master of the Chronograph. For over 550 years, Gallet timepieces have been the first choice for the world’s most important timekeeping applications.
 
Gallet is the world's oldest watch and clock making house with history dating back to Humbertus Gallet, a clock maker who became a citizen of Geneva in 1466. The Gallet & Cie (Gallet & Company) name was officially registered by Julien Gallet in 1826, who moved the family business from Geneva to La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
 
In 1855, Léon Gallet (1832–1899) purchased Grumbach & Co., complete with factory and equipment, to address the need for greater manufacturing capabilities. With this increase in work area, Gallet was able to bring together under one roof many of the Jura Region's watchmakers to help meet Europe's increasing demand for watches.
 
Léon Gallet allowed his watchmakers to benefit through the registration of patents in their own names. This unique approach inspired innovation with Gallet's artisans and allowed the company to offer a very extensive range of watches. With innovation came growth and Gallet & Cie grew to become one of the largest timekeeping manufacturers in Switzerland.

Léon Gallet set his sights on the rest of the world markets. In 1864, Léon's brother, Lucien Gallet (1834–1879), established the company's first US location in Chicago, with a New York City office following soon after. Together with Jules Racine, a cousin of the Gallet brothers living in the US, the company began its expansion into the American market.
  
RACINE
 
Racine is another one of those watch manufacturers with ties back to the 1700s. The Racine family was well known for centuries for their connection and advancement of horology. They were French-speaking and lived in the Swiss Jura as well as in Lamboing in Bern Canton and Grenchen in Solothurn Canton. There were many watchmaking businesses with a Racine family member involved, though only a few used the family name. One, Jules Racine Sr. had registered the family name as a watch brand. Formed in 1870, Jules Racine – a cousin of the Gallet brothers – formed the Racine watch company, and he and his cousins often worked together to bring watches to markets other than Switzerland.


RACINE
By Gallet & Co.
Swiss Made
 
With a number of advanced timekeeping innovations, Gallet is best known during the 20th century to the present day for high-end timepieces produced primarily for military, industrial, auto racing, and other professional applications.

Today we are presenting what we believe was one such watch that Jules Racine and the Gallet brothers brought to the American market, a super cool timepiece from the WWII era. It is a vintage Racine Gallet & Co. military wristwatch dated from the 1930s.
 
It is a manual wind watch powered by and original Gallet & Co. movement caliber FHF 150-1, 17 jewels, sweep second hand, unadjusted, Swiss made.
 
Still the original and always popular 12 and 24-hour dial. The dial is champagne and silver two-ton color and features luminous Arabic Numerals, bold minute track, luminous matching hands and blue steel sweep second-hand. The dial is also signed RACINE.
 
It is cased in a 29.5mm round case and lug design, all in stainless steel. The case back is also signed with the Gallet & Co. name.
 
It comes with a new-old-stock, Canada-made, Nastrix brown Glove Leather two-piece strap. This strap will fit a wrist up to 6 1/4" (15.9 cm).
 
After 90 years, it is still in good condition. Runs very well and keeps great time.

Thank you for looking!  Please feel free to contact us with any questions or respectful offers.

Movement:
GALLET & Co.
17 Jewels
Swiss
Unadjusted

Case Back Markings: 
GALLET & Co.
Swiss
Stainless Steel

Measurements (mm):
Case Diameter 29.6
Case Diameter w/Crown 32.4
Case Lug to Lug 36
Case Thickness 10
Lug Width 16
Band Width 16

Vintage watches are traditionally smaller than today's watches. Men’s watches typically measure between 29-36mm wide (some larger, some smaller) excluding the crown. In the listing details we typically try to do our best to list all pertinent dimensions of a watch. If you don't see it, or we failed to do so, please reach out to us. Women’s watches from the 1900s-1970s were also much smaller than today's offerings. Please also feel free to ask any questions you have pertaining to size.
 
We prefer to shoot photographs outside when weather is permitting. However, when we shoot indoors, please be aware that we shoot our photographs inside of lightboxes that are lit with 360 LED bulbs. This indeed magnifies any flaws. Usually, they are much less obvious to the naked eye. Having said that, we never photoshop any of our photography, remove blemishes, etc. We adjust the lighting, when necessary, but what you see is what you are getting, and we take pride in that.

The condition is pre-owned.
The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear but is fully operational and functions as intended.
Please review the photos and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
 
It will be carefully packed.

Please view our other listings.
Thank you for looking!

WA-3441