Gallet Watches 2026: The Great Comeback
Introduction
I have been in the market for a new chronograph for quite a while now, especially somewhere around the CHF 3,000 to CHF 4,000 mark. At that price, I do not just want a nice vintage-inspired dial or another brand story. I want a watch that feels well made, has a real identity and actually feels worth spending that kind of money on.
That is why the upcoming Gallet watches have my attention more than most new releases this year. Gallet is preparing its return under Breitling, and the brand has already started teasing new releases on Instagram ahead of the full relaunch expected on September 3, 2026.
What makes this interesting is that Gallet is not just a random historic name. The brand has real roots in chronographs, aviation and professional timing. So before the watches are officially released, I wanted to look at what Gallet was about, why the Breitling connection matters, and which models I expect to see return in the relaunch.
Who Is Gallet? Key Milestones in the Brand’s History
Gallet is one of the older names in Swiss watchmaking. Founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1826, the brand built its reputation around practical timing instruments rather than luxury status watches. Its story is closely connected to aviation, exploration, motorsport and professional chronographs.
One of the earliest important moments came in 1903, when the Wright brothers made their historic powered flights at Kitty Hawk. The best flight lasted 59 seconds and was timed with a Gallet stopwatch known as “The Sun.” That detail says a lot about the brand: Gallet was connected to timing real moments of progress, not just making watches for display.
The exploration side of the brand also has a Swiss connection. Gallet’s history includes links to alpine routes in the Bernese Oberland, including the Galletgrat. This makes the modern “Wanderlust” identity feel more connected to the brand’s past, especially with its links to travel, mountains and exploration.
In 1938, Gallet introduced the MultiChron Clamshell, one of the first waterproof chronographs. At a time when dust, rain and humidity were serious problems for mechanical watches, this was an important step. It showed that a chronograph could be more than a delicate timing instrument; it could also be built for tougher conditions.
Then came the Flying Officer in 1939, a chronograph designed for pilots and long-distance travellers who needed to keep track of time across different locations. The watch also has one of the best stories in Gallet’s history: President Harry S. Truman reportedly wore one after receiving it as a Christmas gift in 1939, and called it “the most elaborate wristwatch I ever saw.” That detail gives the Flying Officer even more character, because it was not only built for aviation and travel, but also became connected to one of the most important political figures of the 20th century.
Later models such as the MultiChron Regulator and MultiChron Yachting continued the same idea: making chronographs and timing instruments more useful for professionals, racers and sailors. That is the main reason Gallet’s comeback matters today. If the new watches can capture even part of that practical timing spirit, the relaunch could feel like a real continuation of the brand’s story.
The Four Gallet Watches That Could Define the New Era
After looking at the teasers, I would not be surprised if the new era of Gallet starts with four important names: the MultiChron Clamshell, MultiChron Regulator, MultiChron Navigator and Flying Officer. These are not random models from the archive. They represent the strongest parts of Gallet’s identity: waterproof chronographs, professional timing, travel functionality and aviation history.
The Gallet watches I expect to see in the relaunch are:
MultiChron Clamshell
Probably the most important one from a technical-history perspective. It connects directly to Gallet’s reputation for robust chronographs and would make a lot of sense as a modern tool chronograph.
Flying Officer
This might be the emotional highlight of the relaunch. With its connection to aviation, long-distance travel and President Truman, the Flying Officer has one of the strongest stories in Gallet’s archive.
MultiChron Regulator
This would bring back the brand’s focus on clear chronograph readability. A modern Regulator could be a very interesting option if Gallet keeps the dial clean, functional and easy to read.
MultiChron Navigator
The Navigator is the one I am most curious about, even though I could not find an official image for it yet in Gallet’s current press material. The name would fit perfectly with the new “Wanderlust” identity and could bring a stronger travel-watch angle to the collection, connecting Gallet’s past with modern adventure and exploration.
There is also one bonus model I would love to see return:
Wildcard: MultiChron Sub
The MultiChron Sub is more of a wildcard for me. Produced under the “Galco” name, short for Gallet & Co., it showed that Gallet was also active in dive watches as scuba diving became more popular in the 1960s. I have not seen this one clearly teased yet, but from a business perspective it would make a lot of sense. Dive watches remain one of the strongest categories in the watch market.
Why the Gallet Watches Relaunch Under Breitling Matters
The Gallet comeback matters not only because of the history, but because Breitling is bringing the brand back. That gives the relaunch more credibility, with proper manufacturing, retail strength and industry experience behind it.
It also makes sense from Breitling’s side. Breitling has clearly moved further upmarket in recent years, so Gallet could become a more accessible sister brand without making Breitling itself feel less premium. Early reports suggest that the new Gallet watches could sit around the CHF 3,000 to CHF 5,000 range, which would place them below most modern Breitling models while still keeping them in Swiss luxury territory.
For collectors, that could be a very interesting position. Gallet brings the vintage chronograph credibility, while Breitling adds modern production quality. If the new watches manage to capture Gallet’s old professional timing spirit at a more approachable price point, this could become one of the more exciting watch comebacks of 2026.
Final Thoughts
As a big fan of Breitling watches and someone who is still missing a chronograph in my collection, I am genuinely looking forward to the Gallet relaunch. After seeing what Breitling did with Universal Genève, I expect a well-thought-out lineup, even though Gallet should sit in a much more approachable price range.
What I hope to see is not a simple copy of the vintage watches, but a modern interpretation that keeps the spirit of the originals. Wearable case sizes, clean chronograph layouts, strong water resistance and a proper tool-watch personality would make a lot of sense.
Gallet has the history, the stories and now the support of Breitling behind it. If models like the MultiChron Clamshell, MultiChron Regulator, MultiChron Navigator and Flying Officer really return, Gallet could come back with a clear identity from day one.
For someone like me, who has been looking for a chronograph, the new Gallet watches are definitely worth watching.
If you enjoy discovering lesser-known Swiss names, you might also like my article about lesser-known Swiss watch brands worth discovering.
Disclaimer: All images used in this article are sourced from the official Gallet website and Gallet press materials. The images belong to their respective rights holders and are used here for editorial and informational purposes only.
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