
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Gallet Multichron 12 Automatic Chronograph PVD 'Valjoux Cal. 7750' "Top Gun", 1980s
- Maker / attribution
- Gallet (maker)
- Date
- 1980s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 40 mm
- Stock no.
- GALMC12PVD
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (GALMC12PVD)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1980s Gallet Multichron 12 Automatic Chronograph PVD 'Valjoux Cal. 7750' "Top Gun" (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number GALMC12PVD), this is a wristwatch by Gallet, made in Switzerland, dated 1980s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 40 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
In the hit 1980's movie "Top Gun," LT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (played by Tom Cruise) wears a black PVD-cased watch that became iconic immediately following its release. That particular watch was made by Orfina (branded under Porsche Design). But there have been several other brands that have made their own versions, including LeJour (manufactured by Heuer) and Gallet. These watches featured a 40mm case with screw back, mineral crystal, internal tachymeter bezel, black dial with tritium luminous indexes, and day and date at the 3 o’clock position. They also featured the Valjoux cal. 7750 movement inside. While there are some subtle changes and dial variants between them, they are all instantly recognizable when seen on the wrist. This is a fantastic example of this style of watch. It's in very good condition with almost no rubbing off of the PVD finish and some beautiful aging of the lume plots. It's also a great opportunity to wear one of these iconic watches that's slightly less common than its LeJour and Porsche Design-branded brethren. SPECS Stock # GALMC12PVD Brand Gallet Style Multichron 12 Automatic Chronograph Model N/A Serial N/A Size Men's Material Stainless Steel W/ Factory PVD Finish Dial Matte Black Millimeters 40 Strap 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The unpolished case features its original factory PVD finishing and displays minimal wear from age with crisp and fine edges throughout. The case retains its original PVD finished pump pushers and unsigned crown. The stainless steel case back is clean with only minor marks from wear, and all factory engravings are present and highly legible. The watch comes supplied on a two-piece handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The matte black dial is in excellent vintage condition showing some minor signs of age. The tritium lume plots have taken on a handsome creamy patina and show some minor age marks and no degradation under UV light inspection. The original tritium hands have aged to a slightly lighter patina than the dial and show no degradation when inspected under UV light. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is running and keeping time, previous service history is unknown,
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
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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