Gallet & Co
Gallet & Co was a maker of complicated watches in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland from 1825 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 1825 by Julien Gallet (1806–1849).
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.
Léon's acquisition of the Grumbach & Co watch factory in 1855 expanded Gallet's manufacturing capabilities, consolidating watchmakers from the Jura region to meet the growing European demand for watches.
The company would begin production of its own ebauches in 1907. The company purchased the bankrupt Fabrique Electa, which was managed by Grumbach, and re-started production of chronograph ebauches. 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. 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.
Gallet built a new factory for Electa about 1913. This was located on the opposite side of the railroad line, a new area just being developed, at Rue Jacob Brandt 61. The company would become known as The Electa Gallet & Co watch manufactory after this, reflecting the importance of manufacturing at the time. But Electa faced bankruptcy in 1924. The factory would later be used by Schwarz-Etienne and Eugène Meylan.
American and Asian Expansion
Lucien Gallet settled in America in the 1860s, seeking to establish distribution and trade in the country. This effort resulted in the establishment of a Chicago office in 1864 and a New York City office soon after. It was quite successful, especially once they were joined by Jules Racine, who married Léon's sister Amanda and lived in New York. 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, 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 the 55 year old Louis Courvoisier in 1880 to cement the relationship.
Gallet established the Lyre mark for watch cases and movements in 1881 as brands and trademarks became more important.
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.
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 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". This 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. Gallet's involvement in providing timepieces for the military during World War I further showcased its adaptability and commitment to precision.
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 allowed the company to sustain through two world wars and beyond. It also separated the company from the consolidation that was happening at this time. 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.
World Wars and Innovations
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. The post-war crisis forced the firm to sell the Electa factory in 1924, with Gallet focusing on production of watches, chronographs, and stopwatches for military and sporting use.
The company continued to innovate, introducing the Flight Officer Chronograph in 1938, featuring a rotating 12-hour bezel for longitude calculations. The MultiChron Petite, designed exclusively for women engaged in technical and scientific roles during World War II, showcased Gallet's commitment to diversity and functionality.
World War II witnessed Gallet's contributions to military and industrial clients, surpassing 100,000 units in annual sales. The "MultiChron Navigator" GMT Chronograph, with its 45-minute recording capability and separate 24-hour GMT hand, exemplified Gallet's technological prowess.
Post-War Era and Resilience
In the post-war era, Gallet faced economic challenges as the watch industry experienced a downturn. The company decided to refocus on its core strength—manufacturing high-quality professional timepieces. The introduction of waterproof cases in the late 1940s and continued collaboration with Excelsior Park marked this period.
The 1960s saw the unveiling of innovative models like the "Excel-O-Graph," featuring a rotating bezel with an integrated slide rule for navigation. Gallet weathered the crisis of the 1970s by maintaining its commitment to mechanical watches for military and professional use.
Gallet Today
In the 1990s, Gallet underwent changes in leadership and relocation. Walter Hediger assumed control, and the company moved to Grandson, Vaud, Switzerland. Gallet continued its focus on mechanical watches for professional applications, and under Hediger's leadership, the company survived the challenges posed by the quartz revolution.
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.