Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Gallet Multichron Navigator GMT Steel Chronograph, mid 1940s
- Maker / attribution
- Gallet (maker)
- Date
- mid 1940s
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- steel
- Dimensions
- Case 36 mm
- Stock no.
- W-927
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-927)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Gallet Multichron Navigator GMT Steel Chronograph (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-927), this is a wristwatch by Gallet, made in Switzerland, dated mid 1940s. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: steel. 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 — Bulang & Sons
Time yourself in two time zones… Combining a chronograph and GMT -24 hours function in a watch in the 1940s was very forward thinking of Gallet – (actually they were the first that have been granted a Patent for this !) This Extremely seldom seen Multichron does both these things and is housed in a great sized 36mm steel case. The dial has a bi-compax layout with painted radium Arabic numerals. The blued steel hands are in great condition with matching lume in the hour and minute hands. There is a small red 24-hour hand that can be reference against red font 24-hour quarter markers at 24, 6, 12 and 18. True to its Navigator name, the 24-hour hand has a small letter N on, which allows the watch to be used to make compass readings! This is a very cool watch that also has a second crown on the left side of the case for setting the running seconds hand in the left subdial. The watch features square pushers and a large size winding crown. The watch will come on a Bulang and Sons beads of rice steel bracelet and has been fully serviced by our watchmaker. Specifications - Gallet Multichron Navigator GMT - Dates to the mid 1940s - 36mm steel case - hack setting second crown on the left - Cool dial with red 24-hour quarter markings - Radium hands - Bulang and Sons beads of rice steel bracelet - Fully serviced by our watchmaker - Includes a Bulang and Sons strap - Includes a handmade single leather watch pouch
Historical context
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.
The wristwatch overtook the pocket watch. Military use in the First World War, aviation, water-resistant cases (1926), automatic winding (1923–31), rectangular Art Deco designs and early chronographs and calendars defined the period.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution
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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