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Gallet MultiChron 45 Chronograph, 1960s — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Gallet MultiChron 45 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
Stock no.
GLTMC45-2
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (GLTMC45-2)
Catalogue title (original)
1960s Gallet MultiChron 45 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 GLTMC45-2), 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. 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

The name 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 collectors alike and appreciated for its fine attention to detail and wonderfully executed wristwatches. Stock # GLTMC45-2 Brand Gallet Style MultiChron 45 Model N/A Serial N/A Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial White Millimeters 37 Bracelet 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The case of this Multichron 45 measures 37-millimeters. The overall design is very nearly perfectly balanced, simultaneously solid and svelte. The lugs are long and the pump pushers of the chronograph extend far outside the case, giving the watch a certain modular look that serves it well. The Gallet features an oversize crown and a screw-down steel case back. DIAL & HANDS The silver dial features a flat finish that is perfect for the myriad of print it backs. It features two sub-registers, one 60-second counter and one 45-minute counter for the chronograph. While being obviously useful, the registers also act aesthetically on the watch by cutting in half the 2, 4, 8, and 10-hour markers. On the dial's outer edge live the black and blue mixed telemeter and tachymeter scales. To match, the Multichron features blued steel hands as well as a dark blue 2pc leather strap. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is keeping time perfectly, previous service history is unknown.

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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