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Gallet & Co was a maker of complicated watches in [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]], [[Switzerland]] from [[ | Gallet & Co was a maker of complicated watches in [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]], [[Switzerland]] from [[1826]] through the present day. The company traces its roots to [[1466]] with the birth of Humbertus Gallet in Geneva. However, the formal establishment of Gallet & Co. occurred in 1826 by Julien Gallet (1806–1849), and the company was re-formed multiple times, notably in [[1924]] after the failure of [[Fabrique Electa]] and in [[1980]] after the failed merger with [[Guinand]]. The Gallet family remained with the firm this whole time, however, until the death of Bernard Gallet in [[2006]]. | ||
Although a very influential company, Gallet has focused on packaging and distributing watches for most of its history. The company was a true [[manufacture]] during the time they owned [[Fabrique Electa]] ([[1907]]-[[1924]]) but even then many Gallet watches were sourced from other manufacturers. Apart from Electa, Gallet never filed a patent on any technical aspect of their watches, though the company had many design and brand registrations. But Gallet was often at the forefront of innovation, being among the first to market with [[waterproof]] cases, [[wristwatch]]es for men, [[automatic]] winding, and many innovations in [[chronograph]]s. | |||
==Foundations and Family Legacy== | ==Foundations and Family Legacy== | ||
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==American and Asian Expansion== | ==American and Asian Expansion== | ||
Julien Gallet's sons were just 16 and 14 years old when he died, but his widow Louise proved capable to continue his legacy. She helped to prepare her sons Léon and Lucien to take over management when they were ready. Léon L. Gallet was especially adept at building the relationships he would need to produce and sell watches worldwide. | |||
In [[1856]] Léon L. Gallet established a relationship with a Mr. Kupfer to distribute Gallet watches in the United States. When Kupfer died in [[1864]], Léon personally traveled to America to take over. Thus an American branch of the company was established in New York, taking over Kupfer's business. | |||
Léon L. Gallet worked tirelessly to build the family firm's reputation, capitalizing on the capabilities of Swiss craftsmen to produce and assemble high-end watches in the [[etablisseur]] tradition. He avoided the bulk watchmaking business which was disastrously impacted by American industrial manufacturing in the 1870s. | |||
When Léon L. Gallet retired in [[1883]] he turned over | When Léon L. Gallet retired in [[1883]] he turned over the firm to his eldest son Julien. The company was re-registered as Julien Gallet & Cie as of January 1, [[1883]] and would continue to use this name until younger brother George became a full partner in [[1900]]. The company was located at Rue du Parc 27 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. | ||
As American watchmaking industrialized, prominent watchmaking firms in the Swiss Jura joined forces as the [[Societe Intercantonale des Industries du Jura]] in [[1876]]. In addition to Gallet this group included [[Courvoisier]], [[Longines]], and [[Girard-Perregaux]]. The group focused on distribution, marketing, and sales in Europe, especially England. Léon's 20 year old daughter Henriette would marry | Julien Gallet saw the opportunity in selling high-end complicated watches in America and established a partnership with his cousin Jules Racine. Racine was originally from [[Tramelan]] and was said to be "the nephew of the founder", presumably Léon L. Gallet. The American arm of this importing business, called Julien Gallet & Co of New York had offices at 25 John St. The company later moved to 1 Maiden Lane, home to many watch importation businesses, and in [[1884]] established a Chicago office. The market for fine and complicated watches in America was quite successful, and the branch there separated on October 24, [[1890]], becoming known simply as Jules Racine & Co. Racine partnered with Charles Perret, relocating to 180 Broadway and, later in the decade, back to 37 Maiden Lane. The brand introduced diverse watch lines tailored to American preferences, and demand for Gallet watches continued to expand for decades. | ||
As American watchmaking industrialized, prominent watchmaking firms in the Swiss Jura joined forces as the [[Societe Intercantonale des Industries du Jura]] in [[1876]]. In addition to Gallet this group included [[Courvoisier Frères]], [[Longines]], and [[Girard-Perregaux]]. The group focused on distribution, marketing, and sales in Europe, especially England. Léon's 20 year old daughter Henriette would marry [[Emile Courvoisier-Gallet|Emile Courvoisier]] in [[1880]] to cement the relationship: It is claimed that this was 55 year old Louis Courvoisier but records show that she married his 22 year old son Emile. | |||
Gallet established the Lyre mark for watch cases and movements in [[1881]] as brands and trademarks became more important. | Gallet established the Lyre mark for watch cases and movements in [[1881]] as brands and trademarks became more important. | ||
Julien's younger brother, Georges-Léon Gallet, became a manager of Julien Gallet & Cie in [[1889]]. He joined the board with his brother in [[1891]] but was not a full partner in the business until [[1900]], when the firm was renamed Gallet & Co. Léon L. Gallet frequently traveled to America even after he retired in [[1883]] and it was there that he died in [[1899]] at Jules Racine's home in New York. Just one month later Georges Gallet's wife gave birth to a son, which the couple named Léon-Louis after his famous and successful grandfather. Young Léon would be instrumental in reorganizing the family firm after its [[1924]] bankruptcy and would lead the company through World War II. | |||
One popular product for the company was The Lady Racine, a brand name registered in [[1888]] and marketed as "the best [[chatelaine]] watch." It was a line of watches for American women, designed to be attached to a chatelaine or set of short chains used for keys and other items. It was available for many years from 10 to 13 sizes in [[hunting]] or [[open face]] and was frequently updated. The watch was distributed by Jules Racine in New York and was available from jewelry stores across the country. The watch used the Lady Racine name on the dial, with the only indicator of its origin being the initials "J. G." for Julien Gallet. | |||
Jules Racine & Co. remained the Gallet representative in America even after partner Charles Perret died in [[1916]]. The company expanded, operating a large showroom at 37-39 Maiden Lane and distributing other brands, notably [[Guinand]]. In [[1919]] distribution of Gallet watches was turned over to a new firm: Efrus and Harry C. Cohen formed a new company, Lorraine Watch Co., Inc. at 206 Broadway to import fine Swiss watches. They gained exclusive rights to distribute Gallet and Electa watches, including ladies bracelet watches, chronographs, and horse timers. | |||
==Fabrique Electa== | |||
It is claimed that Léon Gallet acquired the Grumbach & Co watch factory in 1855 but there is little evidence of this. Instead, it appears that the Grumbach family became involved when Gallet purchased the [[Electa]] factory in [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] in [[1907]]. Gallet appears to have used Electa [[ebauche]]s in complicated watches for a few years by then, and this purchase was an opportunistic way to enter manufacturing. Electa was an evolution of American businessman [[Prosper Nordmann]]'s [[Société d'Horlogerie de Genève]], which produced ultra-thin and chronograph movements for the [[Waltham Watch]] company based on the designs of [[Henry-Alfred Lugrin]] and [[Prosper Nordmann]]. The company moved to [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]], establishing the Fabrique du Ravin at Rue du Ravin 17 in [[1904]]. Gallet was an enthusiastic buyer of Electa's movements and purchased the company when it went bankrupt and renamed the firm Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa in January [[1907]]. | |||
Starting in [[1912]], one of the Gallet sons traveled through India, China, and Japan, seeking to expand trade in Asia. This lead to connections with the [[Hattori]] family in Japan who would create [[Seiko]]. | Starting in [[1912]], one of the Gallet sons traveled through India, China, and Japan, seeking to expand trade in Asia. This lead to connections with the [[Hattori]] family in Japan who would create [[Seiko]]. | ||
Gallet became a public company in [[1912]], offering shares as Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co SA. This provided the funding to build a new factory, known as Fabrique Electa, which was completed in [[1913]]. This factory was located on the opposite side of the railroad line, a new area just being developed, at Rue Jacob Brandt 61. Although not as large as depicted in advertising, the factory gave Gallet a modern manufacturing capability and the firm produced thin and complicated watch movements in-house, reducing the need to source these from other suppliers like long-time partners [[Excelsior Park|the Jeanneret family]] of Saint-Imier. | |||
World War I prompted Gallet to shift its focus to the production of military watches, including hand and cockpit timers for the British Royal Air Force. One important product in this period was the MultiChron chronograph, which would be a signature model for the company through today. The original "30M" model was a monopusher chronograph with a 30 minute counter at 3 using the [[Valjoux]] [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/valjoux-22/ Cal. 15 ligne] (with crown pusher) in the 1910s, but this was updated to use the [[Minerva]] [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/minerva-13-20-ch/ Cal. 13/20] (with pusher at 2) movement in the 1920s. The Valjoux version saw some use during World War I, helping make wristwatches acceptable for men. | |||
But the post-war bust hit Gallet hard. The Electa faced bankruptcy in [[1924]]. The factory was closed and would later be used by [[Schwarz-Etienne]] and [[Eugène Meylan]]. After the failure of the Electa factory, Gallet returned to the Jeanneret family factory (now known as [[Excelsior Park]]) for complicated watches. | |||
==Partnership with Excelsior Park== | ==Partnership with Excelsior Park== | ||
Gallet began working with the [[Jeanneret]] family of [[Saint-Imier]] in the 1880s, giving the company access to stopwatch and chronograph mechanisms. This would continue for many decades, with [[Albert Jeanneret & Frères]] becoming [[Jeanneret-Brehm]] and later [[Excelsior Park]]. It | Gallet began working with the [[Jeanneret]] family of [[Saint-Imier]] in the 1880s, giving the company access to stopwatch and chronograph mechanisms. This would continue for many decades, with [[Albert Jeanneret & Frères]] becoming [[Jeanneret-Brehm]] and later [[Excelsior Park]]. It seems that Gallet was the largest customer of Excelsior Park for the first half of the 20th century, and many Gallet chronographs were manufactured by them in Saint-Imier. | ||
It is said that Gallet supplied the funds to enable Henri Jeanneret-Brehm to purchase the [[Magnenat-LeCoultre]] factory in [[Le Sentier]] and that the company's strong English and American market caused the Jeannerets to use the name "Excelsior Park". But this is unproven, and seems doubtful since Gallet merged with Electa in [[1907]] to build their own manufacturing capability, went public and built the Fabrique Electa in [[1912]], the same year Jeanneret-Brehm purchased Magnenat-LeCoultre. Gallet would no longer need to source complicated movements from Jeanneret-Brehm since they had their own factory until its [[1924]] bankruptcy. As for the Excelsior Park brand name, this was adopted that same year by Jeanneret-Brehm (who had previously just used "Excelsior") and aligns with Gallet's brands National Park and Jerome Park, so perhaps Gallet had an influence there. | |||
==Fabrique Electa | Regardless of the situation during the Electa years, it is obvious that Gallet and Jeanneret-Brehm/Excelsior Park had a long relationship. The Saint-Imier firm solidified Gallet's position as a premier watchmaker, as it gave the firm access to high-end [[chronograph]] movements. The collaboration led to the production of railroad pocket watches and chronograph movements. | ||
The partnership between Gallet and Excelsior Park was critical for both firms. For Gallet, the burgeoning demand for stopwatches and chronographs for military, scientific, and sport gave the company a new market through World War II and beyond. It also separated the company from the consolidation that was happening at this time, which mainly focused on mainstream watches with simple movements. The Excelsior Park factory in Saint-Imier gained access to Gallet's vast international markets and a reliable customer for their complicated watch movements. Although they also supplied others (notably [[Zenith]] and [[Girard-Perregaux]] in the post-war period), Excelsior Park was reliant on Gallet for much of its sales. | |||
==Léon Gallet== | |||
As the Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co SA proceeded with bankruptcy in [[1924]] the next generation of the Gallet family rose to the rescue. Léon-Louis Gallet, son of George Gallet, registered a new company in his own name at Rue Léopold-Robert 66 in La Chaux-de-Fonds on May 10. This was the historic [[Minerva Palace]], an iconic and upscale office block directly across Rue Léopold-Robert (the main boulevard in they city) from the [[Hôtel des Postes]]. The company would remain at this address until 1977. | |||
Gallet became a corporation, L. Gallet et Co, on September 1, with Léon Gallet as director with Madeline Montandon née Gallet as limited partner and Ernest Augsburger as manager. This new company took over the Gallet name as soon as it was released by the bankrupt predecessor in [[1925]] and began re-establishing Gallet in the market. It was renamed Gallet & Co in [[1928]], re-claiming the heritage of Léon's grandfather and namesake. | |||
Among the products introduced by Léon Gallet was a MultiChron "Regulator" using the new [[Venus]] [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/venus-140/ Cal. 140]. Introduced in [[1935]] and produced through the 1940s this unusual watch had an offset dial with a central chronograph seconds hand, 30 minute counter at 6, and smaller timekeeping dial at 12. Gallet also introduced an updated version of the MultiChron 30M in [[1936]] with two chronograph pushers thanks to the latest [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/valjoux-23/ Valjoux] and (in [[1938]]) [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/venus-150/ Venus Cal. 150] movements. | |||
Another notable product in the pre-war period was the MultiChron "Petit" which used the tiny [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/valjoux-69/ Valjoux Cal. 69]. Introduced in [[1936]], this tiny chronograph measured just 26.3 mm in diameter and was intended as a dress watch for military officers but soon found its way onto the wrists of the "Flying Niety-Nines", an organization of women pilots organized by Emilia Earhart. It remained in sporadic production through the 1960s, though the high cost of the movement made production very low. | |||
World War II dramatically accelerated Gallet's rebirth, with Allied military orders forcing the company to diversify suppliers. Indeed, Gallet sourced watches from Excelsior Park, Venus, Universal/Martel, and Valjoux in this period! | |||
The first to be introduced in [[1938]] was the [[Excelsior Park]]-powered Gallet Commander. This leveraged the newly-introduced [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/excelsior-park-42/ Cal. 42], an unusual oval-shaped movement designed to reduce the size of chronograph watches. Gallet's Commander models were produced through the war and included the first-ever 45 minute counter. | |||
In [[1939]] Gallet responded to a request from the United States Army Air Force for a rugged chronograph for pilots. The Flight Officer introduced numerous innovations, including printed world cities around the dial, which could be switched out for different "home time" indication. It also had a rotating 12 hour bezel to show local time and was based on the compact 34.5 mm water-resistant MultiChron 30M Clamshell case and used the new Venus Cal. 150. The first Flight Officer was produced from 1939 through [[1945]] and issued to American and British pilots during World War II. The similar MultiChron Pilot was introduced at the same time for civilian pilots, featuring the same movement. | |||
Two MultiChron 12 models featuring a 12-hour counter were introduced at the same time, both using the new Universal/Martel Cal. 281. A "petit" model had a 30.5 mm case while the standard MultiChron 12 had a 34.5 mm case with tachymeter and telemeter scales. A MultiChron 12 using the Valjoux 71 movement followed in [[1941]] using a larger 36 mm case. | |||
The rare MultiChron Officer was also introduced in [[1939]]. This chronograph leveraged the same tiny Valjoux Cal. 69 as the MultiChron "Petit" but in a square case. Few were sold, making it highly collectible today. A slightly larger MultiChron Pilot Petit model was introduced in [[1942]] with a 28 mm case, making room for a tachymeter scale and rotating triangle bezel, still using the Valjoux Cal. 69. All of these war-related models made Gallet a huge success, surpassing 100,000 units in annual sales. | |||
==Post-War Era and Resilience== | ==Post-War Era and Resilience== | ||
In the | Gallet began to turn to post-war sales in the 1940s in a deepening partnership with [[Excelsior Park]]. In [[1942]] they introduced a model for industrial use, the MultiChron Decimal, with a tenth-of-a-minute scale around the dial using Excelsior Park's highly-accurate [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/excelsior-park-jb40/ Cal. 40]. The MultiChron Medigraph followed in [[1943]], a doctor's chronograph with pulsation scale, 45 minute counter and the similar Excelsior Park Cal. 4. Another specialized model was the MultiChron Navigator GMT, introduced the same year and using a modified version of the same Excelsior Park movement. This chronograph included a small 24 hour hand in the center with the letter "N", which showed north when the 12 was aligned to the sun. This was also invented, patented, and produced by Excelsior Park. | ||
On March 20, [[1944]], the limited partnership Gallet & Co SA was replaced by a new public company of the same name. The firm bought was directed by Léon Gallet (who received a significant cash windfall) who was named president with Ernest-Gérald Augsburger as secretary. Georges-Ernest Augsburger was appointed director. The office remained at Rue Léopold-Robert 66 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. | |||
As athletic pursuits picked up after the war Excelsior Park introduced a yacht timing concept, which Gallet produced as the MultiChron Yachting in [[1945]]. It had was a 30 minute chronograph with 15-10-5 countdown markings and a clear 60 minute outer scale using their Cal. 4. A wristwatch version of Excelsior Park's stopwatches was even offered: The Yachting Stopwatch had no time-keeping function and a pocket watch style crown at 3 but the specialized 5 minute counter was appealing to some. The MultiChron line also gained a 45-minute option that year with the 45M, a water-resistant chronograph using Cal. 4, while the larger 38 mm MultiChron 12 "Waterproof", introduced in [[1952]], added a 12 hour counter, tachymeter and telemeter scales, and more waterproof case. The MultiChron 12 "Waterproof" used either the Excelsior Park Cal. 40 or rival Valjoux Cal. 72. | |||
Gallet continued to work with [[Venus]] as well during this period. The MultiChron 12 "Clamshell" was a waterproof chronograph produced for a short time in the mid-1940s in a 34.6 mm case using the new Venus Cal. 152. The Flight Officer Military used a similarly-sized case and added a rotating 12-hour bezel and fixed world time markings around the dial, using the Venus Cal. 150. And Gallet even produced a [[rattrapante]] wristwatch between [[1945]] and [[1955]], the MultiChron Duo-Timer, using the Venus Cal. 179. Venus' odd "up-down" Cal. 170 was also used in the late 1940s in a Gallet MultiChron with 30 minute counter at 12 and running seconds at 6. | |||
[[Valjoux]]-powered models were also widely offered in this period. The popular Valjoux Cal. 72C found its way into the high-end MultiChron Calendar by [[1946]], including day and date windows at 12 and date by pointer. This was produced into the 1970s. The ultimate Gallet model, apart from the rattrapante, appeared in [[1955]]: The MultiChron Astronomic Chronograph used the Valjoux Cal. 88, which added a moon phase at 6, day and month windows at 12, and date by pointer. | |||
Léon's sons Pierre-Auguste and Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet joined the firm in 1951 and 1954, respectively, and the two would take over on December 29, [[1966]]. | |||
Interest in travel and aviation lead to the [[1953]] introduction of the MultiChron 24HR, which sported a 24 hour dial. Initially produced by Excelsior Park with their Cal. 4.68, Gallet later used the cheaper Venus Cal. 188 and Valjoux Cal. 7730 during a long production run lasting into the 1980s. But the appeal of 24 hour dials was extremely limited in this era, making these models quite rare today. | |||
==Gallet in the 1960s== | |||
The chronograph market collapsed in the 1950s, leaving Gallet struggling for the small aviation, professional, and scientific market. The company responded to [[Breitling]]'s [[Breitling Navitimer|Navitimer]] in [[1959]] with a slide rule bezel of their own on the Excel-O-Graph, which used the specialized Excelsior Park Cal. 40.68 with a [[Glucydur]] balance wheel for accuracy and was produced through the 1970s, but was extremely large for the time, measuring 43 mm in diameter. A "high accuracy" version of the MultiChron 12, introduced in [[1968]], used this same movement. | |||
Gallet entered the [[dive watch]] market in [[1960]] with the MultiChron Diver, which included a tachymeter scale and rotating 60-increment bezel. It was produced until [[1974]] and used the less-expensive Landeron 149/51 or Valjoux 7733 movements. The high-end MultiChron Diver Military was added in [[1967]] using the Excelsior Park Cal. 40. This was supplied to military divers through [[1979]]. The sale of Martel to Zenith made Excelsior Park movements more attractive after 1960 but the rise of the automatic chronograph in the 1970s caused customers to look elsewhere. | |||
The Gallet Aviation offerings were enhanced thanks to the new Valjoux movement offerings. A new MultiChron 12 aviation chronograph was produced through the 1960s and 1970s in larger 37.4 mm case with 30 minute and 12 hour counters, a telemeter/tachymeter scale on the dial, and the respected Valjoux Cal. 72. The long-running MultiChron Pilot line gained both the Valjoux 72 and cheaper 7736 during the 1960s, allowing the company to offer this model at different price points through the 1980s. | |||
A new MultiChron 45M appeared in [[1962]] as the Landeron Cal. 149 added a 45 minute counter. And the MultiChron Yachting model was revived from [[1968]] through [[1976]] using the cheaper Valjoux 7730 and 7733. | |||
==Focus on Military== | |||
Gallet weathered the crisis of the 1970s by maintaining its commitment to mechanical watches for military and professional use. The [[1969]] Flight Officer Swiss Military chronograph returned to the signature world time dial which could be swapped out for other locations, and used the Landeron Cal. 149. A specialized MultiChron Pilot for the United States Air Force was also produced in the mid-1970s using the scarce and expensive but highly accurate Excelsior Park Cal. 40.68. | |||
The Swiss Military version of the MultiChron 12 introduced the automatic Valjoux 7750 chronograph movement in [[1975]]. Produced in a blacked-out 38 mm case, it was stylish and functional but limited in reach. A Flying Officer for the Swiss Military was produced in the same period in a smaller 36.3 mm case using the hand-wound Landeron Cal. 149 or Valjoux 7735. | |||
But the rising Swiss franc and declining production volume forced Gallet into a difficult financial situation by the middle of the 1970s. Facing bankruptcy, the company was forced to sell. | |||
==Rebirths== | |||
On September 8 [[1977]] Gallet was merged with [[Guinand|Guinand Watch Co SA]] of Les Brenets. The new company, called Gallet & Guinand SA, was run by Jean Guinand, president, Hélène-Lucienne Gallet (daughter of Bernard), secretary, Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet, and Michel Guinand. But the combination was ill-timed and faced bankruptcy almost immediately. On April 24, [[1982]], the board voted to liquidate the firm, a process that was completed on October 25, [[1985]]. | |||
Still, the Gallet family was prepared to re-start once again. They had already formed a new [[Société Anonyme]] called Gallet SA on December 20, [[1980]], and this company was able to purchase watchmaking supplies and the Gallet brands that same year at a 50% discount on their value. The company was run by Bernard Gallet, with Hélène Gallet as vice-president, and Laurent Gallet as secretary. This firm officially registered the Gallet brand once again in [[1984]]. | |||
This iteration of Gallet sought military timekeeping contracts and developed a range of such watches. The company introduced a Ship's Chronometer in [[1981]] with a quartz movement. | |||
In [[1991]] Gallet merged with New Trends of Switzerland and moved into a new office at Rue du Nord 176 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. This firm produced Swiss Army branded watches and knives. New Trends was founded in [[1987]] by Jean-C. Vrolixs and his son Michael after extensive travel in Asia and understanding of that market. The new Gallet SA included Bernard Gallet and Hélène Gallet on the board along with Rose-Marie Chapuis, Jean-Claude and Michael Vrolixs, and Jean-Bernard Horisberger. | |||
By 1992 Gallet SA produced a range of quartz watches, some in ceramic and gold. The company's logo included "Genève 1826". Another model featured a mechanical counter from 0 to 99 at the center of the dial with a small time display at 6. The company promised a resurgence based on mechanical watches exported to European countries and the United States. The company also produced specialized timers, including 8-day clocks for aviation and marine use. One important introduction in [[1992]] was a "250th anniversary" model of the MultiChron Astronomic, which returned the moon phase indicator to the dial thanks to the ETA 7750 automatic chronograph. | |||
In the 1990s, Gallet underwent changes in leadership and relocation. Walter Hediger assumed control | But the combination of Swiss Army and Gallet was an odd one and it was not successful. It faced bankruptcy soon after and on June 7 [[1993]] the Civil Court of the District of La Chaux-de-Fonds decided to dissolve the firm. This bankruptcy hit the Gallet family especially hard, with Hélène Gallet forced to sell her villa in Hauts-Geneveys to raise funds. The company was officially liquidated and deleted on January 5, [[1996]]. | ||
==Gallet in Zollikon== | |||
In the 1990s, Gallet underwent changes in leadership and relocation. In [[1996]], shortly after the former company was liquidated, Walter Hediger assumed control of the brand. He renamed the existing firm of B. Neresheimer AG of Zollikon as Gallet AG and sought to re-start production again. The company relocated to Grandson, Vaud, on Lake Neuchâtel in [[2002]]. Gallet continued its focus on mechanical watches for professional applications. It is said that Bernard Gallet remained involved in the company until his death in [[2006]]. | |||
By 2001 Gallet was offering chronographs using the ETA 7751 movement. The logo of the company at this time included "Genève 1742". The company raised successive rounds of funding in 2000, 2001, 2006, and 2019. | |||
The brand's association with the National Watch and Clock Museum and its participation in exhibitions underscore Gallet's commitment to preserving horological heritage. The 2016 celebration of Gallet's 550th anniversary highlighted the brand's resilience and ongoing relevance in the watchmaking industry. | The brand's association with the National Watch and Clock Museum and its participation in exhibitions underscore Gallet's commitment to preserving horological heritage. The 2016 celebration of Gallet's 550th anniversary highlighted the brand's resilience and ongoing relevance in the watchmaking industry. | ||
==Important Models== | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 30M (1910s-1920s) - Monopusher chronograph with 30 minute counter at 3, [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/valjoux-22/ Valjoux 15 ligne (22 GHT)] or later [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/minerva-13-20-ch/ Minerva 13/20] movement | |||
* Gallet MultiChron "Regulator" (1935-1945) - Offset-dial chronograph with 30 minute counter at 6 and timekeeping dial at 12, [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/venus-140/ Venus Cal. 140] | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 30M (1936-) - Waterproof chronograph with 30 minute counter at 3, Valjoux or [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/venus-150/ Venus Cal. 150] movement | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Petit (1936-1969) - Small chronograph in 26.3 mm case, 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/valjoux-69/ Valjoux Cal. 69] | |||
* Gallet Commander (1938-1948) - Chronograph with oval [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/excelsior-park-42/ Excelsior Park Cal. 42] movement, 45 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9 | |||
* Gallet Flight Officer "Truman" (1939-1945) - Chronograph with rotating 12-hour bezel and fixed world time markings around the dial (which could be swapped out for other locations); based on the Gallet MultiChron 30M Clamshell waterproof watch, [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/venus-150/ Venus Cal. 150] | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 12 "Petit" (1939-1938) - Chronograph in 30.2 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, and telemeter/tachymeter scale on the dial, Universal/Martel Cal. 281 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 12 (1939-1944) - Chronograph in 34.5 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, and telemeter/tachymeter scale on the dial, Universal/Martel Cal. 281 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Officer (1939-1951) - Square case chronograph, 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/valjoux-69/ Valjoux Cal. 69] | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Pilot (1939-1951) - Pilot's chronograph with tachymeter and telemeter scale and rotating 12 hour bezel, 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/venus-150/ Venus Cal. 150] | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 12 "Valjoux 71" (1941-1945) - Chronograph in 36 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, Valjoux Cal. 71 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Decimal (1942-1975) - Chronograph with tenth-of-a-minute scale for industrial use, 45 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/excelsior-park-jb40/ Excelsior Park Cal. 40] movement | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Pilot Petit (1942-1948) - Small pilot's chronograph in 28 mm case with tachymeter scale and rotating triangle bezel, 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/valjoux-69/ Valjoux Cal. 69] | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Medigraph (1943-1952) - Doctor's chronograph with pulsation scale, 45 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, Excelsior Park Cal. 4 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Navigator GMT (1943-) - Chronograph with small 24 hour hand for navigation, 45 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, Excelsior Park Cal. 4 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 12 "Clamshell" (1944-1945) - Waterproof chronograph in 34.6 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, Venus Cal. 152 | |||
* Gallet Flight Officer Military (1944-1952) - Chronograph in 34.5 mm case with rotating 12-hour bezel and fixed world time markings around the dial (which could be swapped out for other locations), [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/venus-150/ Venus Cal. 150] | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Duo-Timer (1945-1955) - Rattrapante (split seconds) chronograph with 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, Venus Cal. 179 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Yachting (1945-1950s) - Yachting chronograph with 15-10-5 countdown markings on the 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, clear 60 minute outer scale, Excelsior Park Cal. 4 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 45M (1945-1960s) - Waterproof chronograph with 45 minute counter at 3, Excelsior Park Cal. 4 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Calendar (1946-1974) - Chronograph with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, day and date windows at 12, date by pointer, Valjoux Cal. 72C | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 30M Up-Down (1948-1953) - Waterproof chronograph with 30 minute counter at 12, Venus Cal. 170 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Yachting Stopwatch (1950s) - Stopwatch for yacht racing with no timekeeping, 5 minute counter at 3, 60 second scale, Excelsior Park movement | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 12 "Waterproof" (1952-1970s) - Large chronograph in 38 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, and telemeter/tachymeter scale on the dial, Valjoux Cal. 72 or [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/excelsior-park-jb40/ Excelsior Park Cal. 40] | |||
* Gallet Flight Officer Military (1953-1955) - Chronograph in 37 mm case with rotating 12-hour bezel and fixed world time markings around the dial (which could be swapped out for other locations), [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/venus-150/ Venus Cal. 150] | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 24HR (1953-1983) - Chronograph with 24 hour dial and 30 minute counter at 3, Excelsior Park Cal. 4.68, Venus Cal. 188, Valjoux Cal. 7730 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 30M (1955-1965) - Waterproof chronograph with 30 minute counter at 3, Venus 188 movement | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Astronomic Chronograph (1955-1974) - Chronograph with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour and moon phase at 6, day and month windows at 12, date by pointer, Valjoux Cal. 88 | |||
* Gallet Excel-O-Graph (1959-1978) - Chronograph with 30 minute (at 3) and 12 hour (at 6) registers and slide rule bezel, Excelsior Park Cal. 40.68 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 12 "Aviation" (1960-1970s) - Aviation chronograph in 37.4 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, and telemeter/tachymeter scale on the dial, Valjoux Cal. 72 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Diver (1960-1974) - Dive chronograph with tachymeter scale and rotating 60 bezel, 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, Landeron 149/51 or Valjoux 7733 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Pilot (1962-1985) - Pilot's chronograph with tachymeter and telemeter scales and rotating 12 hour bezel, 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, Valjoux Cal. 72/726/7736 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 45M (1962-) - Waterproof chronograph with 45 minute counter at 3, Landeron Cal. 149 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Diver Military (1967-1979) - Dive chronograph with tachymeter scale and rotating 60 bezel, 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, [https://reference.grail-watch.com/movement/excelsior-park-jb40/ Excelsior Park Cal. 40] | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 12 "High Accuracy" (1968-1974) - Chronograph in 35.8 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, Excelsior Park Cal. 40.68 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Yachting (1968-1976) - Yachting chronograph with countdown markings on the counter at 3, seconds at 9, clear 60 minute outer scale, Valjoux 7730/7733 | |||
* Gallet Flight Officer Swiss Military (1969-1974) - Chronograph in 36.3 mm case with rotating 12-hour bezel and fixed world time markings around the dial (which could be swapped out for other locations), Landeron Cal. 149 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Pilot USAF (1972-1978) - Pilot's chronograph with tachymeter and telemeter scales and rotating 12 hour bezel, 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, Excelsior Park Cal. 40.68 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron 12 Swiss Military (1975-1982) - Automatic chronograph in black 38 mm case with day and date windows at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, 30 minute counter at 12, tachymeter around the dial, Valjoux 7750 | |||
* Gallet Flying Officer Swiss Military (1975-1979) - Chronograph in 36.3 mm case with rotating 12-hour bezel and fixed world time markings around the dial (which could be swapped out for other locations), Landeron Cal. 149 or Valjoux 7735 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Astronomic 250 Anniversary (1992) - Chronograph with moon phase at 3, 12 hour at 6, 30 minute counter at 12, date by pointer, ETA 7750 | |||
* Gallet MultiChron Diver (1994-present) - Dive chronograph with tachymeter scale and rotating 60 bezel, day and date windows at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, 30 minute counter at 12, ETA 7750 | |||
==Gallet Timeline== | ==Gallet Timeline== | ||
* 1883, January 1 - Julien Louis Gallet (from Geneva, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) and Jules Racine (from Tramelan, of New York) form Julien Gallet & Cie in La Chaux-de-Fonds to produce, handle, and sell horology at Rue du Parc 27. The firm confers procuration on Léon L. Gallet (from Geneva, of Chaux-de-Fonds) | ===Offices=== | ||
[[File:1919 Rue Léopold Robert - Minerva Palace - Hotel des Postes and Minerva Palace.jpeg|right|thumb|300px|Gallet was located in the historic "Minerva Palace" across from the Hôtel des Postes on Rue Léopold-Robert in La Chaux-de-Fonds for most of the 20th century]] | |||
* 1859-1861 - Julien Gallet, Grande Rue 21, La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
* 1864-1873 - Julien Gallet, Rue Léopold-Robert 21, La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
* 1875-1887 - Julien Gallet, Rue du Parc 27, La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
* 1883-1910 - Gallet & Cie, Rue du Parc 27, La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
* 1904-1910 - Société Electa, Usine du Ravin, Ravin 13-15-17, La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
* 1911-1924 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet et Cie, Fabrique Electa, Rue Jacob-Brandt 61, La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
* 1926-1977 - Gallet & Co, Rue Léopold-Robert 66, La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
* 1978-1979 - Gallet & Guinand, Rue du Nord 116, La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
* 1980-1981 - Gallet & Guinand, Rue du Nord 69b, La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
* 1982-1991 - Gallet, Rue du Nord 69b, La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
===Julien Gallet=== | |||
* 1774 - Jean-Louis Gallet, father of Julien Gallet, is born | |||
* 1806 - Julien Gallet is born; Jean-Louis Gallet works as a goldsmith in Geneva | |||
* 1808 - Louise Gallet is born | |||
* 1809 - Jean-Louis Gallet dies; the Gallet family moves to La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
* 1826 - Julien Gallet sets up a jewelry and watch assembly workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
* 1832, December 31 - [[Léon L. Gallet]] is born | |||
* 1837, November - Adèle Nicolet is born | |||
* 1858 (about) - [[Emile Courvoisier-Gallet|Emile Courvoisier]] is born | |||
* 1858 - Julien, son of Léon L. Gallet, is born | |||
* 1865 - Louise Gallet, wife of Julien Gallet and mother of Léon L. Gallet, dies | |||
* 1865, March 14 - Georges, son of Léon L. Gallet, is born | |||
* 1880 (about) - Henriette, daughter of Léon L. Gallet, marries [[Emile Courvoisier-Gallet|Emile Courvoisier]], son of prominent La Chaux-de-Fonds businessman Louis Courvoisier of [[Courvoisier Frères]] | |||
===Julien Gallet & Cie=== | |||
* 1883, January 1 - Julien Louis Gallet (from Geneva, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) and Jules Racine (from Tramelan, of New York) form '''Julien Gallet & Cie''' in La Chaux-de-Fonds to produce, handle, and sell horology at Rue du Parc 27. The firm confers procuration on Léon L. Gallet (from Geneva, of Chaux-de-Fonds) | |||
* 1886 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Bridgeport Watch Co and Harlem Watch Co brands | |||
* 1887 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Bradford Watch Co brand | |||
* 1888 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers The Patriot and Lady Racine brands | |||
* 1889 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Commodore, The Chief, The Warrior, Burlington Watch Co, Enterprise, and Seeland brands | |||
* 1889, May 3 - Julien Gallet & Cie confers production on Georges-Léon Gallet (from Geneva, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) | * 1889, May 3 - Julien Gallet & Cie confers production on Georges-Léon Gallet (from Geneva, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) | ||
* 1889 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Park National Watch Co, The Duchess, Passwang, and Fairy brands | |||
* 1889, July - [[Léon L. Gallet|Léon L. Gallet]] officially moves to La Chaux-de-Fonds along with his sons [[Julien Gallet-Rieckel]], his wife Louise, and his brother George Gallet-Courvoisier; Julien had already established his business there in 1883 but he and his family had remained residents of Geneva | |||
* 1893 - George Gallet, son of Léon L. Gallet, marries Berthe Courvoisier, daughter of Louis Courvoisier and sister of Henriette's husband [[Emile Courvoisier-Gallet|Emile]] | |||
* 1891, January 7 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers The Lily, Epsom Timer, Success, Jerome Park, and The Rival brands | |||
* 1891, January 1 - Georges-Léon Gallet is made a partner in the firm of Julien Gallet & Cie in La Chaux-de-Fonds | * 1891, January 1 - Georges-Léon Gallet is made a partner in the firm of Julien Gallet & Cie in La Chaux-de-Fonds | ||
* 1891, November 7 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers Continental, Jerome Park, Lady Racine, Governor, National Park, Epsom-Timer, Union Square, Enterprise, Passing, Commodore, Warrior, Eureka, Patriot, Lily, Chief, and Fairy brands | |||
* 1892 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Select and The Tyndall brands | |||
* 1895 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Defender brand | |||
* 1896 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers a bird in a circle and butterfly fan logos | |||
* 1897 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Trotter and Majesty brands | |||
* 1897, March 5 - Julien Gallet is treasurer of the new [[Société des Fabricants d'Horlogerie de La Chaux-de-Fonds]] | * 1897, March 5 - Julien Gallet is treasurer of the new [[Société des Fabricants d'Horlogerie de La Chaux-de-Fonds]] | ||
* 1897, November 4 - Albert Mossimann replaces Gallet as treasurer of the Société des Fabricants d'Horlogerie de La Chaux-de-Fonds | * 1897, November 4 - Albert Mossimann replaces Gallet as treasurer of the Société des Fabricants d'Horlogerie de La Chaux-de-Fonds | ||
* 1898, July 4 - Louis Courvoisier (from Le Locle, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) is given procuration of Julien Gallet & Cie | * 1898, July 4 - Louis Courvoisier (from Le Locle, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) is given procuration of Julien Gallet & Cie | ||
* 1900, January 1 - A new | * 1899, May 9 - Léon L. Gallet dies in New York at the apartment of Jules Racine | ||
* 1902, July 12 - A new [[Société Anonyme]], [[Société d'Horlogerie Electa]], former [[Société d'Horlogerie de Genève]], is created in La Chaux-de-Fonds to produce and sell horology; the company has 240,000 francs share capital; [[Jules Grumbach]] (from Morteau, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) is administrator; the office is Rue du Ravin 17 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. | * 1899, June 19-22 - A son is born to George and Berthe Gallet-Courvoisier named Léon-Louis like is recently-deceased grandfather | ||
===Gallet & Co=== | |||
* 1900, January 1 - A new general partnership, '''Gallet & Co''', is created to replace Julien Gallet & Cie with Julien-Louis Gallet and Georges-Léon Gallet as directors; the company is focused on fabrication of watches with an office at Rue du Parc 27 in La Chaux-de-Fonds; Louis Courvoisier is given procuration. Julien Gallet & Cie is deleted and the procuration to Léon L. Gallet and Louis Courvoisier is removed. | |||
* 1900 - The following brands are transferred from Julien Gallet & Cie to Gallet & Co: Lady Racine, Commodore, The Chief, The Warrior, Success, The Rival, Jerome-Park, Governor, National Park, Enterprise, Eureka, Fairy, Select, The Chancellor, The Ruler, Security, Defender, and Trotter; Gallet & Co registers the Continental Time Keeper brand | |||
* 1900, March 8 - The [[Electa]] brand is registered by [[Société d'Horlogerie de Genève]] | |||
* 1902, July 12 - A new [[Société Anonyme]], '''[[Société d'Horlogerie Electa]]''', former [[Société d'Horlogerie de Genève]], is created in La Chaux-de-Fonds to produce and sell horology; the company has 240,000 francs share capital; [[Jules Grumbach]] (from Morteau, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) is administrator; the office is Rue du Ravin 17 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. | |||
* 1902, November 6 - [[Société d'Horlogerie Electa]] registers the Aurea brand | |||
* 1902, December 31 - The general partnership Gallet & Co is dissolved and replaced by a limited partnership also called '''Gallet & Co''' starting on January 1, 1903; Georges-Léon Gallet is the indefinitely responsible partner while Julien-Louis Gallet becomes a limited partner at 1,000 francs; The office is Rue du Parc 27; Julien-Louis Gallet and Louis Courvoisier are given power of attorney. | |||
* 1904, December 8 - [[William Favre-Bulle]] transfers his patent CH26945 to [[Société d'Horlogerie Electa]] | |||
* 1905, December 8 - Louis Courvoisier is removed from management of Gallet & Co. | |||
* 1906, December 31 - The administrators of Electa (Jules Grumbach, Georges Bernheim, and Maurice Grumbach) declare that the company is to be dissolved and liquidated. | * 1906, December 31 - The administrators of Electa (Jules Grumbach, Georges Bernheim, and Maurice Grumbach) declare that the company is to be dissolved and liquidated. | ||
* 1907, January 14 - Gallet & Co modifies their name to become Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa. | |||
===Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa=== | |||
* 1907, January 14 - Gallet & Co modifies their name to become '''Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa'''. | |||
* 1907, January 27 - The liquidation of Société d'Horlogerie Electa is completed | * 1907, January 27 - The liquidation of Société d'Horlogerie Electa is completed | ||
* 1912, December 10 - The company Gallet et Co. Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa is dissolved and will be liquidated by Georges-Léon Gallet; Emile-Julien Courvoisier and Georges Bernheim are removed from procuration. | * 1907, February 21 - Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa receives the design registrations of Société d'Horlogerie Electa. | ||
* 1912, December 12 - A new [[Société Anonyme]], Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co SA, is created in La Chaux-de-Fonds; it acquires the assets of the former Gallet et Co. Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, and will fabricate watches and related products; the capital is set at 155,000 francs; the directors are Georges Gallet, Emile-Julien Courvoisier, and Georges Bernheim; the company is located at Rue Jacob Brandt 61 in La Chaux-de-Fonds | * 1907, February 23 - Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa receives the Electa and Aurea brands from Société d'Horlogerie Electa. | ||
* 1907, December 28 - Georges Bernheim (from Neuilly s. Seine, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) joins management of Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa | |||
* 1908, November 24 - Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa registers the Elbico brand | |||
* 1910, June 3 - Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa registers the Interocean brand | |||
* 1912, December 10 - The company Gallet et Co. Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa is dissolved and will be liquidated by Georges-Léon Gallet; [[Emile Courvoisier-Gallet|Emile-Julien Courvoisier]] and Georges Bernheim are removed from procuration. | |||
===Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co SA=== | |||
* 1912, December 12 - A new [[Société Anonyme]], '''Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co SA''', is created in La Chaux-de-Fonds; it acquires the assets of the former Gallet et Co. Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, and will fabricate watches and related products; the capital is set at 155,000 francs; the directors are Georges Gallet, [[Emile Courvoisier-Gallet|Emile-Julien Courvoisier]], and Georges Bernheim; the company is located at Rue Jacob Brandt 61 in La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
* 1913, January 16 - Julien Gallet (from La Chaux-de-Fonds, of Bex) is given procuration at Electa, Gallet & Co SA. | * 1913, January 16 - Julien Gallet (from La Chaux-de-Fonds, of Bex) is given procuration at Electa, Gallet & Co SA. | ||
* 1913 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co registers the Hiclass and Ben Nevis brands | |||
* 1913, April 26 - The following brands are transferred from Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa to Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co: Lady Racine, Commodore, The Chief, Success, The Rival, Eureka, Select, The Chancellor, The Ruler, Security, Defender, Continental Time Keeper, Electa, Aurea, Interocean | |||
* 1914, May 4 - The liquidation of the former Gallet et Co. Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, is completed | * 1914, May 4 - The liquidation of the former Gallet et Co. Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, is completed | ||
* 1916 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co registers the Galco brand | |||
* 1919 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co renews the Electa and Galco brands | |||
* 1920, March 2 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co registers the Gallet brand | |||
* 1921, January 9 - Electa, Gallet & Co. increases share capital to 1,600,000 francs. | * 1921, January 9 - Electa, Gallet & Co. increases share capital to 1,600,000 francs. | ||
* 1921 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co registers the Delecta brand and cancels the Aurea brand | |||
* 1923, November 28 - Electa, Gallet & Co. reduces share capital from 1,600,000 francs to 586,250 francs. | * 1923, November 28 - Electa, Gallet & Co. reduces share capital from 1,600,000 francs to 586,250 francs. | ||
* 1924, January 3 - Georges Bernheim retires from the board and the company. | * 1924, January 3 - Georges Bernheim retires from the board and the company. | ||
* 1924, March - Electa is facing bankruptcy proceedings | * 1924, March - Electa is facing bankruptcy proceedings | ||
* 1924, May 10 - A new watchmaking company, Léon L. Gallet, is created by Léon-Louis Gallet at Rue Léopold-Robert 66 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. | * 1924, April 1 - [[Emile Courvoisier-Gallet|Emile Courvoisier]] is removed from Electa management | ||
* 1924, September 1 - A new corporation, L. Gallet et Co, is created, absorbing the recently-created Léon L. Gallet firm; the company was founded by Léon-Louis Gallet (from and of La Chaux-de-Fonds) with Madeline Montandon née Gallet (from La Brévine, of Geneva) a partner limited to 10,000 francs; the company remains at Rue Léopold-Robert 66; Ernest Augsburger (from and of La Chaux-de-Fonds) is given procuration. | |||
* 1928, May 19 - The corporation L. Gallet et Co is renamed Gallet & Co. | ===Léon L. Gallet=== | ||
* 1924, May 10 - A new watchmaking company, '''Léon L. Gallet''', is created by Léon-Louis Gallet at Rue Léopold-Robert 66 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. | |||
* 1924, September 1 - A new corporation, '''L. Gallet et Co''', is created, absorbing the recently-created Léon L. Gallet firm; the company was founded by Léon-Louis Gallet (from and of La Chaux-de-Fonds) with Madeline Montandon née Gallet (from La Brévine, of Geneva) a partner limited to 10,000 francs; the company remains at Rue Léopold-Robert 66; Ernest Augsburger (from and of La Chaux-de-Fonds) is given procuration. | |||
* 1925, March 14 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa Gallet & Co cancels the Galco and Gallet brands | |||
* 1925, January 5 - Léon Gallet marries Paulette Jeanneret-Grosjean | |||
* 1926, February 23 - Adèle Nicolet, wife of Léon L. Gallet and mother of Julien, Henriette, Georges, Amélie, and Louis Gallet, dies | |||
* 1926, August 10 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa Gallet & Co transfers the Eureka and Electa brands to Rotherham and Sons, Overseas Limited of London | |||
* 1926, November 5-6 - Pierre-Auguste, son of Léon and Paulette Gallet-Jeanneret, is born | |||
* 1928, May 19 - The corporation L. Gallet et Co is renamed '''Gallet & Co'''. | |||
* 1929, December 18 - The liquidation of Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co SA is completed and the company is terminated. | * 1929, December 18 - The liquidation of Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co SA is completed and the company is terminated. | ||
* 1930 - Bernard Gallet, son of Léon, is born | |||
* 1934, February 20 - Julien Gallet-Rieckel dies | |||
* 1937, November 1 - [[Emile Courvoisier-Gallet|Emile Courvoisier]], husband of Henriette Courvoisier-Gallet, dies | |||
* 1940, September 3 - Madeline Montandon née Gallet has died and is removed from management of Gallet et Co; Paulette Gallet née Jeanneret (of and from La Chaux-de-Fonds), spouse of Léon-Louis Gallet, is made a director with 10,000 francs capital; Georges Augsburger (from La Chaux-de-Fonds and of Corcelles) is given procuration. | * 1940, September 3 - Madeline Montandon née Gallet has died and is removed from management of Gallet et Co; Paulette Gallet née Jeanneret (of and from La Chaux-de-Fonds), spouse of Léon-Louis Gallet, is made a director with 10,000 francs capital; Georges Augsburger (from La Chaux-de-Fonds and of Corcelles) is given procuration. | ||
===Gallet et Co Société Anonyme=== | |||
* 1944, March 20 - The limited partnership Gallet & Co SA is dissolved, replaced by a new public company also called '''Gallet et Co Société Anonyme'''; the new firm continues to focus on the manufacture and trade of watchmaking and everything related to this industry; it took over the liabilities of the limited partnership "Gallet et Co" including 391,312 francs in assets and 221,312 francs in liabilities for a net of 170,000 francs, which was the takeover price paid to Léon-Louis Gallet plus a remainder of 30,000 francs for other creditors; the new company had 200,000 francs of share capital, fully paid up; the board of directors consisted of Léon-Louis Gallet, president, and Ernest-Gérald Augsburger, (from La Chaux-de-Fonds, of Peseux), secretary; Georges-Ernest Augsburger was appointed director; the office remained at Rue Léopold-Robert 66 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. | |||
* 1945, February - Gallet & Co SA receives the Gallet, Select, Security, Lady Racine, and Success trademarks from the former entity. | |||
* 1946, June 11 - George Gallet-Courvoisier, son of Léon L. and father of Léon Gallet, dies | |||
* 1949, December 7 - Georges-Ernest Augsburger is appointed director with individual signature. | |||
* 1951, February 9 - Pierre-Auguste Gallet (from and of La Chaux-de-Fonds) is appointed proxy. | |||
* 1954, February 20 - Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet (from and of La Chaux-de-Fonds) is appointed proxy agent. | |||
* 1955, March 11 - Gérald-Ernest Augsburger, secretary of the board of directors, has died and is replaced by Georges-Ernest Augsburger. | |||
* 1958, February 13 - The board of directors is composed of Léon-Louis Gallet, president, Georges-Ernest Augsburger, secretary, Pierre-Auguste Gallet, and Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet. | |||
* 1959, December 9 - Gallet et Co registers the Jarco brand name. | |||
* 1960, March 16 - Gallet et Co registers the Racine Royale brand and logo. | |||
* 1961, March 4 - It is noted that Léon-Louis Gallet has moved to Geneva. | |||
* 1964, December 7 - Gallet & Co renews the Gallet and Galco trademarks. | |||
* 1965, October 29 - Gallet & Co renews the Lady Racine, Success, Select, and Security trademarks. | |||
* 1966, December 29 - Léon-Louis Gallet, is replaced as president by Pierre-Auguste Gallet, with Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet becoming vice-president. | |||
* 1968, May 9 - Gallet & Co registers a new Gallet logo with a clock face in the "G" as well as the Flying Officer brand. | |||
* 1971, January 22 - Board secretary Georges-Ernest Augsburger resigns as Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet becomes president and Pierre-Auguste Gallet becomes a director. | |||
* 1971, June 2 - Pierre-Auguste Gallet resigns, leaving Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet as sole remaining director. | |||
===Gallet & Guinand=== | |||
* 1977, September 8 - The merger of Gallet and Co SA with Guinand Watch Co SA of Les Brenets, with Guinand paying 362,476 francs to the shareholders of Gallet; share capital of the combine firm increases from 150,000 to 275,000 francs; the company is now called '''Gallet & Guinand SA'''; the board of directors is composed of Jean Guinand, president, Hélène-Lucienne Gallet, secretary, Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet, and Michel Guinand; Charles-Henri Aubert resigned; the new company is located at Rue Pierre-Seitz 1 in Les Brenets. | |||
* 1979, August 20 - The merger of Gallet and Guinand is complete and Gallet & Co SA is deleted from the commercial register. | |||
* 1980, December 20 - A new [[Société Anonyme]] called Gallet SA is created to re-start the brand once again; 100,000 francs share capital is raised and the firm takes on 190,000 francs of watchmaking supplies and 5 brands for 10,000 francs at a nearly 50% discount; Bernard Gallet is named president, Hélène Gallet is vice-president, and Laurent Gallet is secretary. | |||
* 1982, April 14 - The board of Gallet & Guinand SA decides to liquidate the company. | |||
* 1982, September 1 - The Council of State of the Republic and Canton of Neuchâtel decrees that Gallet & Guinand SA can be dissolved. | |||
* 1982, December 19 - Liquidation of Gallet & Guinand SA begins. | |||
* 1984, November 30 - Gallet SA registers the Gallet brand once again. | |||
* 1985, January 7 - Gallet SA registers the Galco brand once again. | |||
* 1985, October 25 - Liquidation of Gallet & Guinand SA is complete and the company is deleted from the commercial register. | |||
* 1991, June 5 - Management of Gallet SA is renewed with Rose-Marie Chapuis (from Bonfol, of Lausanne), Jean-Claude Vrolixs (from France, of La Chaux-de-Fonds), Michael Vrolixs (from and of La Chaux-de-Fonds), and Jean-Bernard Horisberger (from Auswil, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) joining Bernard Gallet and Hélène Gallet (currently living in the Hauts-Geneveys) on the board. | |||
* 1993, June 7 - The Civil Court of the District of La Chaux-de-Fonds decides to dissolve Gallet SA as a result of bankruptcy. | |||
* 1995, May 18 - Hélène Gallet is forced to sell her villa in Hauts-Geneveys due to the bankruptcy. | |||
* 1996, January 5 - The liquidation of Gallet SA is complete and the company is deleted from the commercial register. | |||
===Gallet AG=== | |||
* 1996, May 8 - The existing firm of B. Neresheimer AG of Zollikon is renamed Gallet AG; the firm is to develop, produce, and trade in watches and electronic devices, luxury goods, precious metals, and precious stones, as well as patents, trademarks, know-how, and other intellectual property rights; it has 500,000 francs of share capital; Fritz Neresheimer and Hermann Neresheimer are removed while Walter Hediger takes over. | |||
* 1998, February 19 - Robert Ochsner retires from Gallet AG and is replaced by Kurt H. Widmayer. | |||
* 1999, March 26 - Kurt H. Widmayer retires from Gallet AG. | |||
* 2000, October 26 - 100,000 francs is raised with a new share issue in Gallet AG. | |||
* 2001, March 6 - 200,000 francs is raised with a new share issue in Gallet AG. | |||
* 2006, February 9 - Gallet Group AG of Zollikon raises 250,000 francs in a share offer (it previously had 1 million francs capital) | |||
* 2006, November 25 - Bernard Gallet, son of Léon, dies in Fontainemelon | |||
* 2007, June 2 - Pierre-Auguste Gallet, son of Léon, dies | |||
* 2019, April 17 - Palmer Invest AG of Zollikon is reorganized as Gallet Watches AG with 100,000 francs share capital | |||
==Gallet Family== | ==Gallet Family== | ||
Note: Owners and managers of Gallet & Co in '''bold''' | |||
* Julien Gallet (1806-1849) married Louise Gallet (1808–1865) | * '''Julien Gallet''' (1806-1849) married Louise Gallet (1808–1865) | ||
** [[Léon L. Gallet]] ( | ** '''[[Léon L. Gallet|Léon-Louis "Léon L." Gallet]]''' (December 31 1832–May 9 1899) married Adèle Nicolet (about November 1837-February 23, 1926) - arrived in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1889 | ||
*** George Gallet | *** '''Julien-Louis "Julien" Gallet-Rieckel''' (1858-February 20, 1934) married Louise Rieckel (about 1861-September 26, 1946) - lived in La Chaux-de-Fonds, retired to Bex | ||
*** Julien Louis Gallet | *** Henriette Courvoisier-Gallet (-after 1937) married before 1889 '''[[Emile Courvoisier-Gallet|Emile-Julien "Emile" Courvoisier]]''' (about 1858-November 1, 1937) - lived in St-Légier and La Chaux-de-Fonds | ||
** Lucien F. Gallet (1834–1879) | **** Children Emile Courvoisier-Ferrou, ? Detmers-Courvoisier | ||
*** '''Georges-Léon "George" Gallet-Courvoisier''' (March 14, 1865-June 11, 1946) married 1893 August-September 1891 Berthe-Julie "Berthe" Courvoisier (1868-April 7, 1936) - lived in La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
**** Georges-Emile Gallet (born February 14-15, 1895) | |||
**** Julien-Jacques "Jacques" Gallet-Robert (March 8, 1898-?) married before 1926 ? Robert - lived in Paris | |||
***** Daughters Jacqueline and Claudine - lived in Paris | |||
**** '''Léon-Louis "Léon" Gallet-Jeanneret''' (June 19-22, 1899-?) married January 5, 1925 '''Jeanne-Paulette "Paulette" Jeanneret-Grosjean''' - (called Léon-Albert in one announcement) | |||
***** '''Pierre-Auguste Gallet''' (November 5-6, 1926-June 2, 2007) married June 8, 1950 Anne-Marie-Marthe Perret | |||
***** '''Bernard-Georges-Léon "Bernard" Gallet''' (1930-November 25, 2006) married June 8, 1954 Hélène Gallet-Stehlin - lived in Fontainemelon | |||
****** Hélène-Lucienne Gallet | |||
***** Francine Gallet (February 20, 1934-died after 2006) | |||
**** Florence Montandon-Gallet married before 1926 Jules Montanton - lived in Geneva - could be '''Madeline Montandon née Gallet''' (died in Rome on April 22, 1937) | |||
**** Jean-Pierre "J. P." Gallet married after 1926 ? - lived in Cernier and Rovray | |||
***** Children Rémy, Pierrette, Olivier, Eric | |||
*** Amélie-Adèle "Amélie" Pettavel-Gallet (about 1870-December 12, 1952) married 1894 Pastor Paul-Albert "Paul" Pettavel (about 1861-July 9, 1934) - lived in La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||
**** Daughter Paulette Pettavel | |||
*** Louis-Jacques "Louis" Gallet-Golay married 1909 Louise-Elisa Golay - sculptor, lived in Geneva | |||
**** Jean-Jacques Gallet - lived in Geneva | |||
** Lucien F. Gallet (1834–1879) or (1830-1891) | |||
** Amanda Gallet married Jules Racine | |||
[[Category:La Chaux-de-Fonds]] | [[Category:La Chaux-de-Fonds]] | ||
[[Category:Watch brands]] | [[Category:Watch brands]] |
Latest revision as of 20:52, 24 January 2024
Gallet & Co was a maker of complicated watches in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland from 1826 through the present day. The company traces its roots to 1466 with the birth of Humbertus Gallet in Geneva. However, the formal establishment of Gallet & Co. occurred in 1826 by Julien Gallet (1806–1849), and the company was re-formed multiple times, notably in 1924 after the failure of Fabrique Electa and in 1980 after the failed merger with Guinand. The Gallet family remained with the firm this whole time, however, until the death of Bernard Gallet in 2006.
Although a very influential company, Gallet has focused on packaging and distributing watches for most of its history. The company was a true manufacture during the time they owned Fabrique Electa (1907-1924) but even then many Gallet watches were sourced from other manufacturers. Apart from Electa, Gallet never filed a patent on any technical aspect of their watches, though the company had many design and brand registrations. But Gallet was often at the forefront of innovation, being among the first to market with waterproof cases, wristwatches for men, automatic winding, and many innovations in chronographs.
Foundations and Family Legacy
The Gallet family traces its roots to Humbertus Gallet, who became a "bourgeois de Genève" (or citizen) on April 18, 1466. The family's involvement in gold, jewelry, and watch production is documented in 1702 as Philippe Gallet (1679–1739), son of Jacques Gallet (1649–1700) and Marie Bouvier Gallet, is listed in the Geneva Registry of Jewelers and Watchmakers. In 1742 his son Pierre Gallet (1719-1768) marries noblewoman Jeanne Renée de Rabours and is noted to be a master goldsmith like his father. This suggests that the family was involved in the trade perhaps even before the 18th century. Jacques Gallet (1744/5-1806) continues the family's trade, as does his son Jean-Louis Gallet (1774-1809), who becomes a French citizen after Napoleon annexes Geneva. The premature death of Jean-Louis Gallet interrupts the family's father-to-son tradition and severs the ties to Geneva, as his son, then just 3 years old, moves to La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Julien Gallet (1806-1849) set up a jewelry and watch assembly workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1826 known as Julien Gallet & Cie. This was quite early in the watchmaking city's ascendency, and suggests that he moved to the city to help establish the trade there and was perhaps not included in the Gallet family's Geneva operation. His widow Louise Gallet (1808–1865) and sons, Léon L. Gallet (1832–1899) and Lucien F. Gallet (1834–1879), continued the company after Julien's untimely death.
American and Asian Expansion
Julien Gallet's sons were just 16 and 14 years old when he died, but his widow Louise proved capable to continue his legacy. She helped to prepare her sons Léon and Lucien to take over management when they were ready. Léon L. Gallet was especially adept at building the relationships he would need to produce and sell watches worldwide.
In 1856 Léon L. Gallet established a relationship with a Mr. Kupfer to distribute Gallet watches in the United States. When Kupfer died in 1864, Léon personally traveled to America to take over. Thus an American branch of the company was established in New York, taking over Kupfer's business.
Léon L. Gallet worked tirelessly to build the family firm's reputation, capitalizing on the capabilities of Swiss craftsmen to produce and assemble high-end watches in the etablisseur tradition. He avoided the bulk watchmaking business which was disastrously impacted by American industrial manufacturing in the 1870s.
When Léon L. Gallet retired in 1883 he turned over the firm to his eldest son Julien. The company was re-registered as Julien Gallet & Cie as of January 1, 1883 and would continue to use this name until younger brother George became a full partner in 1900. The company was located at Rue du Parc 27 in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Julien Gallet saw the opportunity in selling high-end complicated watches in America and established a partnership with his cousin Jules Racine. Racine was originally from Tramelan and was said to be "the nephew of the founder", presumably Léon L. Gallet. The American arm of this importing business, called Julien Gallet & Co of New York had offices at 25 John St. The company later moved to 1 Maiden Lane, home to many watch importation businesses, and in 1884 established a Chicago office. The market for fine and complicated watches in America was quite successful, and the branch there separated on October 24, 1890, becoming known simply as Jules Racine & Co. Racine partnered with Charles Perret, relocating to 180 Broadway and, later in the decade, back to 37 Maiden Lane. The brand introduced diverse watch lines tailored to American preferences, and demand for Gallet watches continued to expand for decades.
As American watchmaking industrialized, prominent watchmaking firms in the Swiss Jura joined forces as the Societe Intercantonale des Industries du Jura in 1876. In addition to Gallet this group included Courvoisier Frères, Longines, and Girard-Perregaux. The group focused on distribution, marketing, and sales in Europe, especially England. Léon's 20 year old daughter Henriette would marry Emile Courvoisier in 1880 to cement the relationship: It is claimed that this was 55 year old Louis Courvoisier but records show that she married his 22 year old son Emile.
Gallet established the Lyre mark for watch cases and movements in 1881 as brands and trademarks became more important.
Julien's younger brother, Georges-Léon Gallet, became a manager of Julien Gallet & Cie in 1889. He joined the board with his brother in 1891 but was not a full partner in the business until 1900, when the firm was renamed Gallet & Co. Léon L. Gallet frequently traveled to America even after he retired in 1883 and it was there that he died in 1899 at Jules Racine's home in New York. Just one month later Georges Gallet's wife gave birth to a son, which the couple named Léon-Louis after his famous and successful grandfather. Young Léon would be instrumental in reorganizing the family firm after its 1924 bankruptcy and would lead the company through World War II.
One popular product for the company was The Lady Racine, a brand name registered in 1888 and marketed as "the best chatelaine watch." It was a line of watches for American women, designed to be attached to a chatelaine or set of short chains used for keys and other items. It was available for many years from 10 to 13 sizes in hunting or open face and was frequently updated. The watch was distributed by Jules Racine in New York and was available from jewelry stores across the country. The watch used the Lady Racine name on the dial, with the only indicator of its origin being the initials "J. G." for Julien Gallet.
Jules Racine & Co. remained the Gallet representative in America even after partner Charles Perret died in 1916. The company expanded, operating a large showroom at 37-39 Maiden Lane and distributing other brands, notably Guinand. In 1919 distribution of Gallet watches was turned over to a new firm: Efrus and Harry C. Cohen formed a new company, Lorraine Watch Co., Inc. at 206 Broadway to import fine Swiss watches. They gained exclusive rights to distribute Gallet and Electa watches, including ladies bracelet watches, chronographs, and horse timers.
Fabrique Electa
It is claimed that Léon Gallet acquired the Grumbach & Co watch factory in 1855 but there is little evidence of this. Instead, it appears that the Grumbach family became involved when Gallet purchased the Electa factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1907. Gallet appears to have used Electa ebauches in complicated watches for a few years by then, and this purchase was an opportunistic way to enter manufacturing. Electa was an evolution of American businessman Prosper Nordmann's Société d'Horlogerie de Genève, which produced ultra-thin and chronograph movements for the Waltham Watch company based on the designs of Henry-Alfred Lugrin and Prosper Nordmann. The company moved to La Chaux-de-Fonds, establishing the Fabrique du Ravin at Rue du Ravin 17 in 1904. Gallet was an enthusiastic buyer of Electa's movements and purchased the company when it went bankrupt and renamed the firm Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa in January 1907.
Starting in 1912, one of the Gallet sons traveled through India, China, and Japan, seeking to expand trade in Asia. This lead to connections with the Hattori family in Japan who would create Seiko.
Gallet became a public company in 1912, offering shares as Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co SA. This provided the funding to build a new factory, known as Fabrique Electa, which was completed in 1913. This factory was located on the opposite side of the railroad line, a new area just being developed, at Rue Jacob Brandt 61. Although not as large as depicted in advertising, the factory gave Gallet a modern manufacturing capability and the firm produced thin and complicated watch movements in-house, reducing the need to source these from other suppliers like long-time partners the Jeanneret family of Saint-Imier.
World War I prompted Gallet to shift its focus to the production of military watches, including hand and cockpit timers for the British Royal Air Force. One important product in this period was the MultiChron chronograph, which would be a signature model for the company through today. The original "30M" model was a monopusher chronograph with a 30 minute counter at 3 using the Valjoux Cal. 15 ligne (with crown pusher) in the 1910s, but this was updated to use the Minerva Cal. 13/20 (with pusher at 2) movement in the 1920s. The Valjoux version saw some use during World War I, helping make wristwatches acceptable for men.
But the post-war bust hit Gallet hard. The Electa faced bankruptcy in 1924. The factory was closed and would later be used by Schwarz-Etienne and Eugène Meylan. After the failure of the Electa factory, Gallet returned to the Jeanneret family factory (now known as Excelsior Park) for complicated watches.
Partnership with Excelsior Park
Gallet began working with the Jeanneret family of Saint-Imier in the 1880s, giving the company access to stopwatch and chronograph mechanisms. This would continue for many decades, with Albert Jeanneret & Frères becoming Jeanneret-Brehm and later Excelsior Park. It seems that Gallet was the largest customer of Excelsior Park for the first half of the 20th century, and many Gallet chronographs were manufactured by them in Saint-Imier.
It is said that Gallet supplied the funds to enable Henri Jeanneret-Brehm to purchase the Magnenat-LeCoultre factory in Le Sentier and that the company's strong English and American market caused the Jeannerets to use the name "Excelsior Park". But this is unproven, and seems doubtful since Gallet merged with Electa in 1907 to build their own manufacturing capability, went public and built the Fabrique Electa in 1912, the same year Jeanneret-Brehm purchased Magnenat-LeCoultre. Gallet would no longer need to source complicated movements from Jeanneret-Brehm since they had their own factory until its 1924 bankruptcy. As for the Excelsior Park brand name, this was adopted that same year by Jeanneret-Brehm (who had previously just used "Excelsior") and aligns with Gallet's brands National Park and Jerome Park, so perhaps Gallet had an influence there.
Regardless of the situation during the Electa years, it is obvious that Gallet and Jeanneret-Brehm/Excelsior Park had a long relationship. The Saint-Imier firm solidified Gallet's position as a premier watchmaker, as it gave the firm access to high-end chronograph movements. The collaboration led to the production of railroad pocket watches and chronograph movements.
The partnership between Gallet and Excelsior Park was critical for both firms. For Gallet, the burgeoning demand for stopwatches and chronographs for military, scientific, and sport gave the company a new market through World War II and beyond. It also separated the company from the consolidation that was happening at this time, which mainly focused on mainstream watches with simple movements. The Excelsior Park factory in Saint-Imier gained access to Gallet's vast international markets and a reliable customer for their complicated watch movements. Although they also supplied others (notably Zenith and Girard-Perregaux in the post-war period), Excelsior Park was reliant on Gallet for much of its sales.
Léon Gallet
As the Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co SA proceeded with bankruptcy in 1924 the next generation of the Gallet family rose to the rescue. Léon-Louis Gallet, son of George Gallet, registered a new company in his own name at Rue Léopold-Robert 66 in La Chaux-de-Fonds on May 10. This was the historic Minerva Palace, an iconic and upscale office block directly across Rue Léopold-Robert (the main boulevard in they city) from the Hôtel des Postes. The company would remain at this address until 1977.
Gallet became a corporation, L. Gallet et Co, on September 1, with Léon Gallet as director with Madeline Montandon née Gallet as limited partner and Ernest Augsburger as manager. This new company took over the Gallet name as soon as it was released by the bankrupt predecessor in 1925 and began re-establishing Gallet in the market. It was renamed Gallet & Co in 1928, re-claiming the heritage of Léon's grandfather and namesake.
Among the products introduced by Léon Gallet was a MultiChron "Regulator" using the new Venus Cal. 140. Introduced in 1935 and produced through the 1940s this unusual watch had an offset dial with a central chronograph seconds hand, 30 minute counter at 6, and smaller timekeeping dial at 12. Gallet also introduced an updated version of the MultiChron 30M in 1936 with two chronograph pushers thanks to the latest Valjoux and (in 1938) Venus Cal. 150 movements.
Another notable product in the pre-war period was the MultiChron "Petit" which used the tiny Valjoux Cal. 69. Introduced in 1936, this tiny chronograph measured just 26.3 mm in diameter and was intended as a dress watch for military officers but soon found its way onto the wrists of the "Flying Niety-Nines", an organization of women pilots organized by Emilia Earhart. It remained in sporadic production through the 1960s, though the high cost of the movement made production very low.
World War II dramatically accelerated Gallet's rebirth, with Allied military orders forcing the company to diversify suppliers. Indeed, Gallet sourced watches from Excelsior Park, Venus, Universal/Martel, and Valjoux in this period!
The first to be introduced in 1938 was the Excelsior Park-powered Gallet Commander. This leveraged the newly-introduced Cal. 42, an unusual oval-shaped movement designed to reduce the size of chronograph watches. Gallet's Commander models were produced through the war and included the first-ever 45 minute counter.
In 1939 Gallet responded to a request from the United States Army Air Force for a rugged chronograph for pilots. The Flight Officer introduced numerous innovations, including printed world cities around the dial, which could be switched out for different "home time" indication. It also had a rotating 12 hour bezel to show local time and was based on the compact 34.5 mm water-resistant MultiChron 30M Clamshell case and used the new Venus Cal. 150. The first Flight Officer was produced from 1939 through 1945 and issued to American and British pilots during World War II. The similar MultiChron Pilot was introduced at the same time for civilian pilots, featuring the same movement.
Two MultiChron 12 models featuring a 12-hour counter were introduced at the same time, both using the new Universal/Martel Cal. 281. A "petit" model had a 30.5 mm case while the standard MultiChron 12 had a 34.5 mm case with tachymeter and telemeter scales. A MultiChron 12 using the Valjoux 71 movement followed in 1941 using a larger 36 mm case.
The rare MultiChron Officer was also introduced in 1939. This chronograph leveraged the same tiny Valjoux Cal. 69 as the MultiChron "Petit" but in a square case. Few were sold, making it highly collectible today. A slightly larger MultiChron Pilot Petit model was introduced in 1942 with a 28 mm case, making room for a tachymeter scale and rotating triangle bezel, still using the Valjoux Cal. 69. All of these war-related models made Gallet a huge success, surpassing 100,000 units in annual sales.
Post-War Era and Resilience
Gallet began to turn to post-war sales in the 1940s in a deepening partnership with Excelsior Park. In 1942 they introduced a model for industrial use, the MultiChron Decimal, with a tenth-of-a-minute scale around the dial using Excelsior Park's highly-accurate Cal. 40. The MultiChron Medigraph followed in 1943, a doctor's chronograph with pulsation scale, 45 minute counter and the similar Excelsior Park Cal. 4. Another specialized model was the MultiChron Navigator GMT, introduced the same year and using a modified version of the same Excelsior Park movement. This chronograph included a small 24 hour hand in the center with the letter "N", which showed north when the 12 was aligned to the sun. This was also invented, patented, and produced by Excelsior Park.
On March 20, 1944, the limited partnership Gallet & Co SA was replaced by a new public company of the same name. The firm bought was directed by Léon Gallet (who received a significant cash windfall) who was named president with Ernest-Gérald Augsburger as secretary. Georges-Ernest Augsburger was appointed director. The office remained at Rue Léopold-Robert 66 in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
As athletic pursuits picked up after the war Excelsior Park introduced a yacht timing concept, which Gallet produced as the MultiChron Yachting in 1945. It had was a 30 minute chronograph with 15-10-5 countdown markings and a clear 60 minute outer scale using their Cal. 4. A wristwatch version of Excelsior Park's stopwatches was even offered: The Yachting Stopwatch had no time-keeping function and a pocket watch style crown at 3 but the specialized 5 minute counter was appealing to some. The MultiChron line also gained a 45-minute option that year with the 45M, a water-resistant chronograph using Cal. 4, while the larger 38 mm MultiChron 12 "Waterproof", introduced in 1952, added a 12 hour counter, tachymeter and telemeter scales, and more waterproof case. The MultiChron 12 "Waterproof" used either the Excelsior Park Cal. 40 or rival Valjoux Cal. 72.
Gallet continued to work with Venus as well during this period. The MultiChron 12 "Clamshell" was a waterproof chronograph produced for a short time in the mid-1940s in a 34.6 mm case using the new Venus Cal. 152. The Flight Officer Military used a similarly-sized case and added a rotating 12-hour bezel and fixed world time markings around the dial, using the Venus Cal. 150. And Gallet even produced a rattrapante wristwatch between 1945 and 1955, the MultiChron Duo-Timer, using the Venus Cal. 179. Venus' odd "up-down" Cal. 170 was also used in the late 1940s in a Gallet MultiChron with 30 minute counter at 12 and running seconds at 6.
Valjoux-powered models were also widely offered in this period. The popular Valjoux Cal. 72C found its way into the high-end MultiChron Calendar by 1946, including day and date windows at 12 and date by pointer. This was produced into the 1970s. The ultimate Gallet model, apart from the rattrapante, appeared in 1955: The MultiChron Astronomic Chronograph used the Valjoux Cal. 88, which added a moon phase at 6, day and month windows at 12, and date by pointer.
Léon's sons Pierre-Auguste and Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet joined the firm in 1951 and 1954, respectively, and the two would take over on December 29, 1966.
Interest in travel and aviation lead to the 1953 introduction of the MultiChron 24HR, which sported a 24 hour dial. Initially produced by Excelsior Park with their Cal. 4.68, Gallet later used the cheaper Venus Cal. 188 and Valjoux Cal. 7730 during a long production run lasting into the 1980s. But the appeal of 24 hour dials was extremely limited in this era, making these models quite rare today.
Gallet in the 1960s
The chronograph market collapsed in the 1950s, leaving Gallet struggling for the small aviation, professional, and scientific market. The company responded to Breitling's Navitimer in 1959 with a slide rule bezel of their own on the Excel-O-Graph, which used the specialized Excelsior Park Cal. 40.68 with a Glucydur balance wheel for accuracy and was produced through the 1970s, but was extremely large for the time, measuring 43 mm in diameter. A "high accuracy" version of the MultiChron 12, introduced in 1968, used this same movement.
Gallet entered the dive watch market in 1960 with the MultiChron Diver, which included a tachymeter scale and rotating 60-increment bezel. It was produced until 1974 and used the less-expensive Landeron 149/51 or Valjoux 7733 movements. The high-end MultiChron Diver Military was added in 1967 using the Excelsior Park Cal. 40. This was supplied to military divers through 1979. The sale of Martel to Zenith made Excelsior Park movements more attractive after 1960 but the rise of the automatic chronograph in the 1970s caused customers to look elsewhere.
The Gallet Aviation offerings were enhanced thanks to the new Valjoux movement offerings. A new MultiChron 12 aviation chronograph was produced through the 1960s and 1970s in larger 37.4 mm case with 30 minute and 12 hour counters, a telemeter/tachymeter scale on the dial, and the respected Valjoux Cal. 72. The long-running MultiChron Pilot line gained both the Valjoux 72 and cheaper 7736 during the 1960s, allowing the company to offer this model at different price points through the 1980s.
A new MultiChron 45M appeared in 1962 as the Landeron Cal. 149 added a 45 minute counter. And the MultiChron Yachting model was revived from 1968 through 1976 using the cheaper Valjoux 7730 and 7733.
Focus on Military
Gallet weathered the crisis of the 1970s by maintaining its commitment to mechanical watches for military and professional use. The 1969 Flight Officer Swiss Military chronograph returned to the signature world time dial which could be swapped out for other locations, and used the Landeron Cal. 149. A specialized MultiChron Pilot for the United States Air Force was also produced in the mid-1970s using the scarce and expensive but highly accurate Excelsior Park Cal. 40.68.
The Swiss Military version of the MultiChron 12 introduced the automatic Valjoux 7750 chronograph movement in 1975. Produced in a blacked-out 38 mm case, it was stylish and functional but limited in reach. A Flying Officer for the Swiss Military was produced in the same period in a smaller 36.3 mm case using the hand-wound Landeron Cal. 149 or Valjoux 7735.
But the rising Swiss franc and declining production volume forced Gallet into a difficult financial situation by the middle of the 1970s. Facing bankruptcy, the company was forced to sell.
Rebirths
On September 8 1977 Gallet was merged with Guinand Watch Co SA of Les Brenets. The new company, called Gallet & Guinand SA, was run by Jean Guinand, president, Hélène-Lucienne Gallet (daughter of Bernard), secretary, Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet, and Michel Guinand. But the combination was ill-timed and faced bankruptcy almost immediately. On April 24, 1982, the board voted to liquidate the firm, a process that was completed on October 25, 1985.
Still, the Gallet family was prepared to re-start once again. They had already formed a new Société Anonyme called Gallet SA on December 20, 1980, and this company was able to purchase watchmaking supplies and the Gallet brands that same year at a 50% discount on their value. The company was run by Bernard Gallet, with Hélène Gallet as vice-president, and Laurent Gallet as secretary. This firm officially registered the Gallet brand once again in 1984.
This iteration of Gallet sought military timekeeping contracts and developed a range of such watches. The company introduced a Ship's Chronometer in 1981 with a quartz movement.
In 1991 Gallet merged with New Trends of Switzerland and moved into a new office at Rue du Nord 176 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. This firm produced Swiss Army branded watches and knives. New Trends was founded in 1987 by Jean-C. Vrolixs and his son Michael after extensive travel in Asia and understanding of that market. The new Gallet SA included Bernard Gallet and Hélène Gallet on the board along with Rose-Marie Chapuis, Jean-Claude and Michael Vrolixs, and Jean-Bernard Horisberger.
By 1992 Gallet SA produced a range of quartz watches, some in ceramic and gold. The company's logo included "Genève 1826". Another model featured a mechanical counter from 0 to 99 at the center of the dial with a small time display at 6. The company promised a resurgence based on mechanical watches exported to European countries and the United States. The company also produced specialized timers, including 8-day clocks for aviation and marine use. One important introduction in 1992 was a "250th anniversary" model of the MultiChron Astronomic, which returned the moon phase indicator to the dial thanks to the ETA 7750 automatic chronograph.
But the combination of Swiss Army and Gallet was an odd one and it was not successful. It faced bankruptcy soon after and on June 7 1993 the Civil Court of the District of La Chaux-de-Fonds decided to dissolve the firm. This bankruptcy hit the Gallet family especially hard, with Hélène Gallet forced to sell her villa in Hauts-Geneveys to raise funds. The company was officially liquidated and deleted on January 5, 1996.
Gallet in Zollikon
In the 1990s, Gallet underwent changes in leadership and relocation. In 1996, shortly after the former company was liquidated, Walter Hediger assumed control of the brand. He renamed the existing firm of B. Neresheimer AG of Zollikon as Gallet AG and sought to re-start production again. The company relocated to Grandson, Vaud, on Lake Neuchâtel in 2002. Gallet continued its focus on mechanical watches for professional applications. It is said that Bernard Gallet remained involved in the company until his death in 2006.
By 2001 Gallet was offering chronographs using the ETA 7751 movement. The logo of the company at this time included "Genève 1742". The company raised successive rounds of funding in 2000, 2001, 2006, and 2019.
The brand's association with the National Watch and Clock Museum and its participation in exhibitions underscore Gallet's commitment to preserving horological heritage. The 2016 celebration of Gallet's 550th anniversary highlighted the brand's resilience and ongoing relevance in the watchmaking industry.
Important Models
- Gallet MultiChron 30M (1910s-1920s) - Monopusher chronograph with 30 minute counter at 3, Valjoux 15 ligne (22 GHT) or later Minerva 13/20 movement
- Gallet MultiChron "Regulator" (1935-1945) - Offset-dial chronograph with 30 minute counter at 6 and timekeeping dial at 12, Venus Cal. 140
- Gallet MultiChron 30M (1936-) - Waterproof chronograph with 30 minute counter at 3, Valjoux or Venus Cal. 150 movement
- Gallet MultiChron Petit (1936-1969) - Small chronograph in 26.3 mm case, 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, Valjoux Cal. 69
- Gallet Commander (1938-1948) - Chronograph with oval Excelsior Park Cal. 42 movement, 45 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9
- Gallet Flight Officer "Truman" (1939-1945) - Chronograph with rotating 12-hour bezel and fixed world time markings around the dial (which could be swapped out for other locations); based on the Gallet MultiChron 30M Clamshell waterproof watch, Venus Cal. 150
- Gallet MultiChron 12 "Petit" (1939-1938) - Chronograph in 30.2 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, and telemeter/tachymeter scale on the dial, Universal/Martel Cal. 281
- Gallet MultiChron 12 (1939-1944) - Chronograph in 34.5 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, and telemeter/tachymeter scale on the dial, Universal/Martel Cal. 281
- Gallet MultiChron Officer (1939-1951) - Square case chronograph, 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, Valjoux Cal. 69
- Gallet MultiChron Pilot (1939-1951) - Pilot's chronograph with tachymeter and telemeter scale and rotating 12 hour bezel, 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, Venus Cal. 150
- Gallet MultiChron 12 "Valjoux 71" (1941-1945) - Chronograph in 36 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, Valjoux Cal. 71
- Gallet MultiChron Decimal (1942-1975) - Chronograph with tenth-of-a-minute scale for industrial use, 45 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, Excelsior Park Cal. 40 movement
- Gallet MultiChron Pilot Petit (1942-1948) - Small pilot's chronograph in 28 mm case with tachymeter scale and rotating triangle bezel, 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, Valjoux Cal. 69
- Gallet MultiChron Medigraph (1943-1952) - Doctor's chronograph with pulsation scale, 45 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, Excelsior Park Cal. 4
- Gallet MultiChron Navigator GMT (1943-) - Chronograph with small 24 hour hand for navigation, 45 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, Excelsior Park Cal. 4
- Gallet MultiChron 12 "Clamshell" (1944-1945) - Waterproof chronograph in 34.6 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, Venus Cal. 152
- Gallet Flight Officer Military (1944-1952) - Chronograph in 34.5 mm case with rotating 12-hour bezel and fixed world time markings around the dial (which could be swapped out for other locations), Venus Cal. 150
- Gallet MultiChron Duo-Timer (1945-1955) - Rattrapante (split seconds) chronograph with 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, Venus Cal. 179
- Gallet MultiChron Yachting (1945-1950s) - Yachting chronograph with 15-10-5 countdown markings on the 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, clear 60 minute outer scale, Excelsior Park Cal. 4
- Gallet MultiChron 45M (1945-1960s) - Waterproof chronograph with 45 minute counter at 3, Excelsior Park Cal. 4
- Gallet MultiChron Calendar (1946-1974) - Chronograph with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, day and date windows at 12, date by pointer, Valjoux Cal. 72C
- Gallet MultiChron 30M Up-Down (1948-1953) - Waterproof chronograph with 30 minute counter at 12, Venus Cal. 170
- Gallet MultiChron Yachting Stopwatch (1950s) - Stopwatch for yacht racing with no timekeeping, 5 minute counter at 3, 60 second scale, Excelsior Park movement
- Gallet MultiChron 12 "Waterproof" (1952-1970s) - Large chronograph in 38 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, and telemeter/tachymeter scale on the dial, Valjoux Cal. 72 or Excelsior Park Cal. 40
- Gallet Flight Officer Military (1953-1955) - Chronograph in 37 mm case with rotating 12-hour bezel and fixed world time markings around the dial (which could be swapped out for other locations), Venus Cal. 150
- Gallet MultiChron 24HR (1953-1983) - Chronograph with 24 hour dial and 30 minute counter at 3, Excelsior Park Cal. 4.68, Venus Cal. 188, Valjoux Cal. 7730
- Gallet MultiChron 30M (1955-1965) - Waterproof chronograph with 30 minute counter at 3, Venus 188 movement
- Gallet MultiChron Astronomic Chronograph (1955-1974) - Chronograph with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour and moon phase at 6, day and month windows at 12, date by pointer, Valjoux Cal. 88
- Gallet Excel-O-Graph (1959-1978) - Chronograph with 30 minute (at 3) and 12 hour (at 6) registers and slide rule bezel, Excelsior Park Cal. 40.68
- Gallet MultiChron 12 "Aviation" (1960-1970s) - Aviation chronograph in 37.4 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, and telemeter/tachymeter scale on the dial, Valjoux Cal. 72
- Gallet MultiChron Diver (1960-1974) - Dive chronograph with tachymeter scale and rotating 60 bezel, 30 minute counter at 3, seconds at 9, Landeron 149/51 or Valjoux 7733
- Gallet MultiChron Pilot (1962-1985) - Pilot's chronograph with tachymeter and telemeter scales and rotating 12 hour bezel, 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, Valjoux Cal. 72/726/7736
- Gallet MultiChron 45M (1962-) - Waterproof chronograph with 45 minute counter at 3, Landeron Cal. 149
- Gallet MultiChron Diver Military (1967-1979) - Dive chronograph with tachymeter scale and rotating 60 bezel, 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, Excelsior Park Cal. 40
- Gallet MultiChron 12 "High Accuracy" (1968-1974) - Chronograph in 35.8 mm case with 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, Excelsior Park Cal. 40.68
- Gallet MultiChron Yachting (1968-1976) - Yachting chronograph with countdown markings on the counter at 3, seconds at 9, clear 60 minute outer scale, Valjoux 7730/7733
- Gallet Flight Officer Swiss Military (1969-1974) - Chronograph in 36.3 mm case with rotating 12-hour bezel and fixed world time markings around the dial (which could be swapped out for other locations), Landeron Cal. 149
- Gallet MultiChron Pilot USAF (1972-1978) - Pilot's chronograph with tachymeter and telemeter scales and rotating 12 hour bezel, 30 minute counter at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, Excelsior Park Cal. 40.68
- Gallet MultiChron 12 Swiss Military (1975-1982) - Automatic chronograph in black 38 mm case with day and date windows at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, 30 minute counter at 12, tachymeter around the dial, Valjoux 7750
- Gallet Flying Officer Swiss Military (1975-1979) - Chronograph in 36.3 mm case with rotating 12-hour bezel and fixed world time markings around the dial (which could be swapped out for other locations), Landeron Cal. 149 or Valjoux 7735
- Gallet MultiChron Astronomic 250 Anniversary (1992) - Chronograph with moon phase at 3, 12 hour at 6, 30 minute counter at 12, date by pointer, ETA 7750
- Gallet MultiChron Diver (1994-present) - Dive chronograph with tachymeter scale and rotating 60 bezel, day and date windows at 3, 12 hour counter at 6, seconds at 9, 30 minute counter at 12, ETA 7750
Gallet Timeline
Offices
- 1859-1861 - Julien Gallet, Grande Rue 21, La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1864-1873 - Julien Gallet, Rue Léopold-Robert 21, La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1875-1887 - Julien Gallet, Rue du Parc 27, La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1883-1910 - Gallet & Cie, Rue du Parc 27, La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1904-1910 - Société Electa, Usine du Ravin, Ravin 13-15-17, La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1911-1924 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet et Cie, Fabrique Electa, Rue Jacob-Brandt 61, La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1926-1977 - Gallet & Co, Rue Léopold-Robert 66, La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1978-1979 - Gallet & Guinand, Rue du Nord 116, La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1980-1981 - Gallet & Guinand, Rue du Nord 69b, La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1982-1991 - Gallet, Rue du Nord 69b, La Chaux-de-Fonds
Julien Gallet
- 1774 - Jean-Louis Gallet, father of Julien Gallet, is born
- 1806 - Julien Gallet is born; Jean-Louis Gallet works as a goldsmith in Geneva
- 1808 - Louise Gallet is born
- 1809 - Jean-Louis Gallet dies; the Gallet family moves to La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1826 - Julien Gallet sets up a jewelry and watch assembly workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1832, December 31 - Léon L. Gallet is born
- 1837, November - Adèle Nicolet is born
- 1858 (about) - Emile Courvoisier is born
- 1858 - Julien, son of Léon L. Gallet, is born
- 1865 - Louise Gallet, wife of Julien Gallet and mother of Léon L. Gallet, dies
- 1865, March 14 - Georges, son of Léon L. Gallet, is born
- 1880 (about) - Henriette, daughter of Léon L. Gallet, marries Emile Courvoisier, son of prominent La Chaux-de-Fonds businessman Louis Courvoisier of Courvoisier Frères
Julien Gallet & Cie
- 1883, January 1 - Julien Louis Gallet (from Geneva, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) and Jules Racine (from Tramelan, of New York) form Julien Gallet & Cie in La Chaux-de-Fonds to produce, handle, and sell horology at Rue du Parc 27. The firm confers procuration on Léon L. Gallet (from Geneva, of Chaux-de-Fonds)
- 1886 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Bridgeport Watch Co and Harlem Watch Co brands
- 1887 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Bradford Watch Co brand
- 1888 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers The Patriot and Lady Racine brands
- 1889 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Commodore, The Chief, The Warrior, Burlington Watch Co, Enterprise, and Seeland brands
- 1889, May 3 - Julien Gallet & Cie confers production on Georges-Léon Gallet (from Geneva, of La Chaux-de-Fonds)
- 1889 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Park National Watch Co, The Duchess, Passwang, and Fairy brands
- 1889, July - Léon L. Gallet officially moves to La Chaux-de-Fonds along with his sons Julien Gallet-Rieckel, his wife Louise, and his brother George Gallet-Courvoisier; Julien had already established his business there in 1883 but he and his family had remained residents of Geneva
- 1893 - George Gallet, son of Léon L. Gallet, marries Berthe Courvoisier, daughter of Louis Courvoisier and sister of Henriette's husband Emile
- 1891, January 7 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers The Lily, Epsom Timer, Success, Jerome Park, and The Rival brands
- 1891, January 1 - Georges-Léon Gallet is made a partner in the firm of Julien Gallet & Cie in La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1891, November 7 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers Continental, Jerome Park, Lady Racine, Governor, National Park, Epsom-Timer, Union Square, Enterprise, Passing, Commodore, Warrior, Eureka, Patriot, Lily, Chief, and Fairy brands
- 1892 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Select and The Tyndall brands
- 1895 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Defender brand
- 1896 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers a bird in a circle and butterfly fan logos
- 1897 - Julien Gallet & Cie registers the Trotter and Majesty brands
- 1897, March 5 - Julien Gallet is treasurer of the new Société des Fabricants d'Horlogerie de La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1897, November 4 - Albert Mossimann replaces Gallet as treasurer of the Société des Fabricants d'Horlogerie de La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1898, July 4 - Louis Courvoisier (from Le Locle, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) is given procuration of Julien Gallet & Cie
- 1899, May 9 - Léon L. Gallet dies in New York at the apartment of Jules Racine
- 1899, June 19-22 - A son is born to George and Berthe Gallet-Courvoisier named Léon-Louis like is recently-deceased grandfather
Gallet & Co
- 1900, January 1 - A new general partnership, Gallet & Co, is created to replace Julien Gallet & Cie with Julien-Louis Gallet and Georges-Léon Gallet as directors; the company is focused on fabrication of watches with an office at Rue du Parc 27 in La Chaux-de-Fonds; Louis Courvoisier is given procuration. Julien Gallet & Cie is deleted and the procuration to Léon L. Gallet and Louis Courvoisier is removed.
- 1900 - The following brands are transferred from Julien Gallet & Cie to Gallet & Co: Lady Racine, Commodore, The Chief, The Warrior, Success, The Rival, Jerome-Park, Governor, National Park, Enterprise, Eureka, Fairy, Select, The Chancellor, The Ruler, Security, Defender, and Trotter; Gallet & Co registers the Continental Time Keeper brand
- 1900, March 8 - The Electa brand is registered by Société d'Horlogerie de Genève
- 1902, July 12 - A new Société Anonyme, Société d'Horlogerie Electa, former Société d'Horlogerie de Genève, is created in La Chaux-de-Fonds to produce and sell horology; the company has 240,000 francs share capital; Jules Grumbach (from Morteau, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) is administrator; the office is Rue du Ravin 17 in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
- 1902, November 6 - Société d'Horlogerie Electa registers the Aurea brand
- 1902, December 31 - The general partnership Gallet & Co is dissolved and replaced by a limited partnership also called Gallet & Co starting on January 1, 1903; Georges-Léon Gallet is the indefinitely responsible partner while Julien-Louis Gallet becomes a limited partner at 1,000 francs; The office is Rue du Parc 27; Julien-Louis Gallet and Louis Courvoisier are given power of attorney.
- 1904, December 8 - William Favre-Bulle transfers his patent CH26945 to Société d'Horlogerie Electa
- 1905, December 8 - Louis Courvoisier is removed from management of Gallet & Co.
- 1906, December 31 - The administrators of Electa (Jules Grumbach, Georges Bernheim, and Maurice Grumbach) declare that the company is to be dissolved and liquidated.
Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa
- 1907, January 14 - Gallet & Co modifies their name to become Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa.
- 1907, January 27 - The liquidation of Société d'Horlogerie Electa is completed
- 1907, February 21 - Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa receives the design registrations of Société d'Horlogerie Electa.
- 1907, February 23 - Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa receives the Electa and Aurea brands from Société d'Horlogerie Electa.
- 1907, December 28 - Georges Bernheim (from Neuilly s. Seine, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) joins management of Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa
- 1908, November 24 - Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa registers the Elbico brand
- 1910, June 3 - Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa registers the Interocean brand
- 1912, December 10 - The company Gallet et Co. Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa is dissolved and will be liquidated by Georges-Léon Gallet; Emile-Julien Courvoisier and Georges Bernheim are removed from procuration.
Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co SA
- 1912, December 12 - A new Société Anonyme, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co SA, is created in La Chaux-de-Fonds; it acquires the assets of the former Gallet et Co. Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, and will fabricate watches and related products; the capital is set at 155,000 francs; the directors are Georges Gallet, Emile-Julien Courvoisier, and Georges Bernheim; the company is located at Rue Jacob Brandt 61 in La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1913, January 16 - Julien Gallet (from La Chaux-de-Fonds, of Bex) is given procuration at Electa, Gallet & Co SA.
- 1913 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co registers the Hiclass and Ben Nevis brands
- 1913, April 26 - The following brands are transferred from Gallet & Co, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa to Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co: Lady Racine, Commodore, The Chief, Success, The Rival, Eureka, Select, The Chancellor, The Ruler, Security, Defender, Continental Time Keeper, Electa, Aurea, Interocean
- 1914, May 4 - The liquidation of the former Gallet et Co. Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, is completed
- 1916 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co registers the Galco brand
- 1919 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co renews the Electa and Galco brands
- 1920, March 2 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co registers the Gallet brand
- 1921, January 9 - Electa, Gallet & Co. increases share capital to 1,600,000 francs.
- 1921 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co registers the Delecta brand and cancels the Aurea brand
- 1923, November 28 - Electa, Gallet & Co. reduces share capital from 1,600,000 francs to 586,250 francs.
- 1924, January 3 - Georges Bernheim retires from the board and the company.
- 1924, March - Electa is facing bankruptcy proceedings
- 1924, April 1 - Emile Courvoisier is removed from Electa management
Léon L. Gallet
- 1924, May 10 - A new watchmaking company, Léon L. Gallet, is created by Léon-Louis Gallet at Rue Léopold-Robert 66 in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
- 1924, September 1 - A new corporation, L. Gallet et Co, is created, absorbing the recently-created Léon L. Gallet firm; the company was founded by Léon-Louis Gallet (from and of La Chaux-de-Fonds) with Madeline Montandon née Gallet (from La Brévine, of Geneva) a partner limited to 10,000 francs; the company remains at Rue Léopold-Robert 66; Ernest Augsburger (from and of La Chaux-de-Fonds) is given procuration.
- 1925, March 14 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa Gallet & Co cancels the Galco and Gallet brands
- 1925, January 5 - Léon Gallet marries Paulette Jeanneret-Grosjean
- 1926, February 23 - Adèle Nicolet, wife of Léon L. Gallet and mother of Julien, Henriette, Georges, Amélie, and Louis Gallet, dies
- 1926, August 10 - Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa Gallet & Co transfers the Eureka and Electa brands to Rotherham and Sons, Overseas Limited of London
- 1926, November 5-6 - Pierre-Auguste, son of Léon and Paulette Gallet-Jeanneret, is born
- 1928, May 19 - The corporation L. Gallet et Co is renamed Gallet & Co.
- 1929, December 18 - The liquidation of Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co SA is completed and the company is terminated.
- 1930 - Bernard Gallet, son of Léon, is born
- 1934, February 20 - Julien Gallet-Rieckel dies
- 1937, November 1 - Emile Courvoisier, husband of Henriette Courvoisier-Gallet, dies
- 1940, September 3 - Madeline Montandon née Gallet has died and is removed from management of Gallet et Co; Paulette Gallet née Jeanneret (of and from La Chaux-de-Fonds), spouse of Léon-Louis Gallet, is made a director with 10,000 francs capital; Georges Augsburger (from La Chaux-de-Fonds and of Corcelles) is given procuration.
Gallet et Co Société Anonyme
- 1944, March 20 - The limited partnership Gallet & Co SA is dissolved, replaced by a new public company also called Gallet et Co Société Anonyme; the new firm continues to focus on the manufacture and trade of watchmaking and everything related to this industry; it took over the liabilities of the limited partnership "Gallet et Co" including 391,312 francs in assets and 221,312 francs in liabilities for a net of 170,000 francs, which was the takeover price paid to Léon-Louis Gallet plus a remainder of 30,000 francs for other creditors; the new company had 200,000 francs of share capital, fully paid up; the board of directors consisted of Léon-Louis Gallet, president, and Ernest-Gérald Augsburger, (from La Chaux-de-Fonds, of Peseux), secretary; Georges-Ernest Augsburger was appointed director; the office remained at Rue Léopold-Robert 66 in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
- 1945, February - Gallet & Co SA receives the Gallet, Select, Security, Lady Racine, and Success trademarks from the former entity.
- 1946, June 11 - George Gallet-Courvoisier, son of Léon L. and father of Léon Gallet, dies
- 1949, December 7 - Georges-Ernest Augsburger is appointed director with individual signature.
- 1951, February 9 - Pierre-Auguste Gallet (from and of La Chaux-de-Fonds) is appointed proxy.
- 1954, February 20 - Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet (from and of La Chaux-de-Fonds) is appointed proxy agent.
- 1955, March 11 - Gérald-Ernest Augsburger, secretary of the board of directors, has died and is replaced by Georges-Ernest Augsburger.
- 1958, February 13 - The board of directors is composed of Léon-Louis Gallet, president, Georges-Ernest Augsburger, secretary, Pierre-Auguste Gallet, and Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet.
- 1959, December 9 - Gallet et Co registers the Jarco brand name.
- 1960, March 16 - Gallet et Co registers the Racine Royale brand and logo.
- 1961, March 4 - It is noted that Léon-Louis Gallet has moved to Geneva.
- 1964, December 7 - Gallet & Co renews the Gallet and Galco trademarks.
- 1965, October 29 - Gallet & Co renews the Lady Racine, Success, Select, and Security trademarks.
- 1966, December 29 - Léon-Louis Gallet, is replaced as president by Pierre-Auguste Gallet, with Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet becoming vice-president.
- 1968, May 9 - Gallet & Co registers a new Gallet logo with a clock face in the "G" as well as the Flying Officer brand.
- 1971, January 22 - Board secretary Georges-Ernest Augsburger resigns as Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet becomes president and Pierre-Auguste Gallet becomes a director.
- 1971, June 2 - Pierre-Auguste Gallet resigns, leaving Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet as sole remaining director.
Gallet & Guinand
- 1977, September 8 - The merger of Gallet and Co SA with Guinand Watch Co SA of Les Brenets, with Guinand paying 362,476 francs to the shareholders of Gallet; share capital of the combine firm increases from 150,000 to 275,000 francs; the company is now called Gallet & Guinand SA; the board of directors is composed of Jean Guinand, president, Hélène-Lucienne Gallet, secretary, Bernard-Georges-Léon Gallet, and Michel Guinand; Charles-Henri Aubert resigned; the new company is located at Rue Pierre-Seitz 1 in Les Brenets.
- 1979, August 20 - The merger of Gallet and Guinand is complete and Gallet & Co SA is deleted from the commercial register.
- 1980, December 20 - A new Société Anonyme called Gallet SA is created to re-start the brand once again; 100,000 francs share capital is raised and the firm takes on 190,000 francs of watchmaking supplies and 5 brands for 10,000 francs at a nearly 50% discount; Bernard Gallet is named president, Hélène Gallet is vice-president, and Laurent Gallet is secretary.
- 1982, April 14 - The board of Gallet & Guinand SA decides to liquidate the company.
- 1982, September 1 - The Council of State of the Republic and Canton of Neuchâtel decrees that Gallet & Guinand SA can be dissolved.
- 1982, December 19 - Liquidation of Gallet & Guinand SA begins.
- 1984, November 30 - Gallet SA registers the Gallet brand once again.
- 1985, January 7 - Gallet SA registers the Galco brand once again.
- 1985, October 25 - Liquidation of Gallet & Guinand SA is complete and the company is deleted from the commercial register.
- 1991, June 5 - Management of Gallet SA is renewed with Rose-Marie Chapuis (from Bonfol, of Lausanne), Jean-Claude Vrolixs (from France, of La Chaux-de-Fonds), Michael Vrolixs (from and of La Chaux-de-Fonds), and Jean-Bernard Horisberger (from Auswil, of La Chaux-de-Fonds) joining Bernard Gallet and Hélène Gallet (currently living in the Hauts-Geneveys) on the board.
- 1993, June 7 - The Civil Court of the District of La Chaux-de-Fonds decides to dissolve Gallet SA as a result of bankruptcy.
- 1995, May 18 - Hélène Gallet is forced to sell her villa in Hauts-Geneveys due to the bankruptcy.
- 1996, January 5 - The liquidation of Gallet SA is complete and the company is deleted from the commercial register.
Gallet AG
- 1996, May 8 - The existing firm of B. Neresheimer AG of Zollikon is renamed Gallet AG; the firm is to develop, produce, and trade in watches and electronic devices, luxury goods, precious metals, and precious stones, as well as patents, trademarks, know-how, and other intellectual property rights; it has 500,000 francs of share capital; Fritz Neresheimer and Hermann Neresheimer are removed while Walter Hediger takes over.
- 1998, February 19 - Robert Ochsner retires from Gallet AG and is replaced by Kurt H. Widmayer.
- 1999, March 26 - Kurt H. Widmayer retires from Gallet AG.
- 2000, October 26 - 100,000 francs is raised with a new share issue in Gallet AG.
- 2001, March 6 - 200,000 francs is raised with a new share issue in Gallet AG.
- 2006, February 9 - Gallet Group AG of Zollikon raises 250,000 francs in a share offer (it previously had 1 million francs capital)
- 2006, November 25 - Bernard Gallet, son of Léon, dies in Fontainemelon
- 2007, June 2 - Pierre-Auguste Gallet, son of Léon, dies
- 2019, April 17 - Palmer Invest AG of Zollikon is reorganized as Gallet Watches AG with 100,000 francs share capital
Gallet Family
Note: Owners and managers of Gallet & Co in bold
- Julien Gallet (1806-1849) married Louise Gallet (1808–1865)
- Léon-Louis "Léon L." Gallet (December 31 1832–May 9 1899) married Adèle Nicolet (about November 1837-February 23, 1926) - arrived in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1889
- Julien-Louis "Julien" Gallet-Rieckel (1858-February 20, 1934) married Louise Rieckel (about 1861-September 26, 1946) - lived in La Chaux-de-Fonds, retired to Bex
- Henriette Courvoisier-Gallet (-after 1937) married before 1889 Emile-Julien "Emile" Courvoisier (about 1858-November 1, 1937) - lived in St-Légier and La Chaux-de-Fonds
- Children Emile Courvoisier-Ferrou, ? Detmers-Courvoisier
- Georges-Léon "George" Gallet-Courvoisier (March 14, 1865-June 11, 1946) married 1893 August-September 1891 Berthe-Julie "Berthe" Courvoisier (1868-April 7, 1936) - lived in La Chaux-de-Fonds
- Georges-Emile Gallet (born February 14-15, 1895)
- Julien-Jacques "Jacques" Gallet-Robert (March 8, 1898-?) married before 1926 ? Robert - lived in Paris
- Daughters Jacqueline and Claudine - lived in Paris
- Léon-Louis "Léon" Gallet-Jeanneret (June 19-22, 1899-?) married January 5, 1925 Jeanne-Paulette "Paulette" Jeanneret-Grosjean - (called Léon-Albert in one announcement)
- Pierre-Auguste Gallet (November 5-6, 1926-June 2, 2007) married June 8, 1950 Anne-Marie-Marthe Perret
- Bernard-Georges-Léon "Bernard" Gallet (1930-November 25, 2006) married June 8, 1954 Hélène Gallet-Stehlin - lived in Fontainemelon
- Hélène-Lucienne Gallet
- Francine Gallet (February 20, 1934-died after 2006)
- Florence Montandon-Gallet married before 1926 Jules Montanton - lived in Geneva - could be Madeline Montandon née Gallet (died in Rome on April 22, 1937)
- Jean-Pierre "J. P." Gallet married after 1926 ? - lived in Cernier and Rovray
- Children Rémy, Pierrette, Olivier, Eric
- Amélie-Adèle "Amélie" Pettavel-Gallet (about 1870-December 12, 1952) married 1894 Pastor Paul-Albert "Paul" Pettavel (about 1861-July 9, 1934) - lived in La Chaux-de-Fonds
- Daughter Paulette Pettavel
- Louis-Jacques "Louis" Gallet-Golay married 1909 Louise-Elisa Golay - sculptor, lived in Geneva
- Jean-Jacques Gallet - lived in Geneva
- Lucien F. Gallet (1834–1879) or (1830-1891)
- Amanda Gallet married Jules Racine
- Léon-Louis "Léon L." Gallet (December 31 1832–May 9 1899) married Adèle Nicolet (about November 1837-February 23, 1926) - arrived in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1889