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Gallet Flying Officer World Time Chronograph, 1960s — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Gallet Flying Officer World Time Chronograph, 1960s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Gallet (maker)
Date
1960s
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 36 mm
Stock no.
GLTFOC
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (GLTFOC)
Catalogue title (original)
1960s Gallet Flying Officer World Time Chronograph (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number GLTFOC), this is a wristwatch by Gallet, made in Switzerland, dated 1960s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 36 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

Gallet & Co. has been synonymous with horology for 550 years dating back to the year 1466 when founded by Humbertus Gallet. Gallet & Co. introduced some of the most useful wristwatch complications of today including the first wrist-worn chronograph, regatta timer, and GMT chronograph. Gallet today remains well respected among vintage enthusiasts alike and appreciated for its fine attention to detail and wonderfully executed wristwatches. The Flying Officer is known as Gallet's most popular model. Boasting a distinct two register chronograph, and an impressive amount of cities from around the globe printed on the outer ring of the dial, which allows the wearer to track the time in various destinations with the rotating bezel. Gallet introduced the Flying Officer watch for US military pilots during WWII, and it is said that the watch was worn by hundreds of American and British aviators in the war. Famously, the 33rd US president, Harry Truman wore one as well and he was not coy about his love for Gallet. Stock # GLTFOC Brand Gallet Style Chronograph Model Flying Officer Serial N/A Size Men's Material SS Dial Glossy Black Millimeters 36mm Bracelet 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The lightly polished case slightly remains strong with full and thick lugs, and is in excellent vintage condition. The bi-directional bezel exhibits honest wear and is functioning smoothly. The case retains its original unsigned crown and pushers. Comes supplied on a two-piece Italian leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The silver satin dial with black and red printing is both beautiful and in excellent condition, exhibiting minimal signs of age. The tritium lume plots have achieved a lovely yellow patina, exhibiting no degradation under U.V. light inspection. The hands match the dial nicely and show no lume loss or degradation under U.V. light inspection. ACCESSORIES

Historical context

Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)

Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.

The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

  • Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
  • Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
  • Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
  • Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

  • Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
  • Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
  • Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph

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