Partly due to military requirements, the late 1930's and early 1940's were an important period for the development of technically advanced chronographs. As a mid-sized watch manufacturer Gallet & Co. was a specialist, focusing on creating chronographs of superior quality. Her Majesty put Britain's timing needs during World War I into the hands of the company's wristwatches, selecting them as its first chronograph supplier in 1916.
Building on the success of their wartime timepieces, the Swiss firm grew into a significant supplier to the world's armed forces.
The cool midsized Gallet "Regulator chronograph featured here is a wonderful and classic original vintage example of one of the company's civilian chronographs made for the U.S. market.
It is all-original down to the dial, all hands, pushers, and even the winding crown.
The watch is patterned after a regulator clock, a precision pendulum clock that served as the timekeeping standard for adjusting watch's and other clocks.
It features the hour and minute telling portion of the watch in a small off-center dial at the top of the face, while the large outer seconds track is reserved exclusively for the chronograph. With its 1/5 second markings around the periphery of the face, this watch was designed for the extremely precise timing needed by men in demanding technical, sporting, and professional uses. While medical uses didn't require measuring to 1/5 of a second, this watch would have made taking someone's pulse easier than most other watches of the era.
It is midsized for a chronograph, measuring only just under 34mm in diameter without the crown. It is fully signed - an honest original watch. Unlike many similar chronographs it is all steel rather than chrome with only a steel back.
Its case presents beautifully, better than near mint. Its dial is original and untouched and its movement is clean. Photos of the inside available upon request.
One of our watchmakers has disassembled it down to its last screw and cleaned and oiled it making it ready for immediate enjoyment. It is keeping very accurate time, and the chronograph works perfectly and crisply resets to exact zero.
For the finishing touch we have equipped it with a brand new leather strap making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. warranty on the movement and its function, a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate.
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Manufacturer: Gallet
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Country of origin: Switzerland
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Year built: c. 1940's
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Serial no.: 54,647
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Functions: Hours, Minutes, Regulator Chronograph
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Designed for: Men
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Case material: Stainless steel
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Case markings (inside): Gallet & Co., Swiss, Stainless steel
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Case condition: Beautiful better than near mint condition
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Dial: Silver, signed Gallet, black painted Arabic indices and scales with inner red snail tachometer scale, 1/5 graduations on outer edge, subdials for the hours and minutes and the elapsed chronograph graph minutes up to 30, original and untouched
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Dimensions: 34mm wide (excluding crowns), 38mm long lug tip-to-tip
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Hands: Original, blue steel "epees" and lozenges with counter weighted sweep hand, excellent condition
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Movement type: Gallet caliber, 15 jewels, rhodium plated, fausses cotes decoration, small balance wheel, self-compensating flat balance spring, index regulator
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Movement markings: Gallet & Co. Swiss, 15 Jewels
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Jewels: 15 rubies
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Band: Leather, fully stitched, padded, brand new and unworn
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Crystal type: Acrylic, excellent condition
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Serviced: One of our watchmakers has disassembled it down to its last screw and cleaned and oiled it making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
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Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an experienced team of watchmakers both of whom each have over forty years of experience and a large number of parts.
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Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please email concierge@cotwatches.com for details
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Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate
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Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee
We offer a 100%
satisfaction guarantee for all of our watches. If you are in any way
unsatisfied with the watch we will fully refund the purchase price anytime
within 7 days after the watch has been received. Our goal is to exceed our
client's expectations throughout the buying experience.
All watches are packaged carefully and mailed double boxed in specially
constructed, reinforced shipping boxes designed for high value items. All
watches are sent fully insured with signature required. Most of our domestic
shipping is done through FedEx. At times we will also use USPS Express Mail,
and we can accommodate most requests for your preferred carrier.
International shipments are sent USPS International Express Mail or FedEx.
The purchase price will be the declared value of the merchandise on any
required customs forms. The payment of all customs duties, tariffs, and
taxes are the responsibility of the buyer.
Also note that water resistance of vintage watches can no longer be
guaranteed and is not covered under the watch's warranty. We do not
recommend getting a vintage watch wet, even one that was originally designed
to be waterproof.