It’s hard to believe, but in the watch world there is a brand that is still operating today and has been dating back to the 15th century. We are talking about the Swiss watch brand Gallet Co, with its history dating back to 1466!
The founder of the brand was watchmaker Humbert Galle, who moved to Geneva and became a Swiss citizen.
The brand name “The Gallet Cie” (Gallet Company) was officially registered in 1826 by Julien Gallet and watch production was moved from Geneva to La Chaux-de-Fonds.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the brand gained fame with the production of chronographs, produced initially for the military, and then for civilian needs: industry and auto racing.
One of the most interesting models of the brand, a watch produced by order of Gary Truman. The first watch with a rotating bezel and a waterproof case, with the function of displaying the time in 23 of the world’s largest cities.
Brand Gallet history:
April 8, 1466 Humbert Halle becomes a Swiss citizen and opens a watch workshop in Geneva.
1685 due to the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by King Louis XIV, they were joined by family members from Bourg-en-Bresse who moved to Geneva.
1702 Philippe Galle (1679-1739), son of Jacques Galle (1649-1700) and Marie Bouvier Galle, registered in the Geneva Register among jewelers and watchmakers.
1804 Napoleon turns Geneva into the Republic of Lemanique, which then joins the Helvetic Republic. Jean-Louis Galle (1774-1809), son of Jacques Galle (1745-1806), becomes a French citizen and continues his father’s business.
1826 Julien Gallet (1806-1849), son of Jean Louis, moves the company to La Chaux-de-Fonds, a watchmaking mecca for wristwatch production, and registers a new company name: “Gallet Cie” (Gallet Company).
1848 Julien Gallet dies at the age of 43, and the company is headed by his sons Leon and Lucien.
1855 Leon Gallet (1832-1899) becomes the patriarchal figure of Gallet Cie.
1864 Leon Galle’s brother, Lucien Galle, established the first American headquarters in Chicago and then an office in New York; Together with Jules Racine, the company expands to the US market. Together with Jules Racine, cousin of the Galle brothers, the company’s activities expand to the American market.
April 30, 1876 In response to the growing production of watches in America, Léon Galle with Louis and Jules Courvoisier, Ernest Francillon of Longines and Constant Girard-Galle of Girard-Perregaux founded the Societe Intercantonale des Industries du Jura (Intercantonal Society for the Industry of the Jura Region). By ensuring the efficiency of combined resources, the company maintains its dominance in the European market, with a particular concentration in the UK.
1880 Henriette Galle (1860-1939), daughter of Leon Galle, marries Emile Courvoisier (1858-1937), son of Louis Courvoisier (1825-1885); Thus, the relationship between the two major companies of La Chaux-de-Fonds becomes familiar.
1881 Léon Galle registers the Galle trademark, printed on the components and bodies of La Chaux-de-Fonds products.
1882 Partnership formed with Jules Jeanneret Fils, which provides components and movements for professional manual chronographs and timers created by Gallet.
1883 Leon gives leadership of the company to his eldest son Julien (1862-1934), although he continues to contribute until his death in New York. The company name was temporarily changed to Julien Gallet Cie and the initials “JG” were added to the brand. Georges Gallet (1865-1946), Julien’s younger brother, helps his brother when he works part-time at Courvoisier Frères. The company now produces 100,000 watches a year.
1892 Gallet first introduces a series of wristwatches for the mass consumer on the American market. Wristwatch models that are considered unusual for women and too “feminine” for men do not resonate with buyers and many watches are brought to the Swiss headquarters for dismantling. However, wristwatches later became in demand for soldiers during the war, and so they were returned to the market.
1893 Berthe Courvoisier (1868-1936), daughter of Louis Philippe Courvoisier, marries Georges Galle. Berthe Courvoisier and her brother Emile, along with Georges and sister Henriette, continue to manage Courvoisier Frères, while Georges simultaneously occupies the Fabrique Electa division of Julien Gallet Cie.
1896 Pocket watches with patented chronometers and regulators are manufactured under the Interocean brand and distributed by Timothy Eaton (T. Eaton’s department store) for railroad use.
1899 Leon bequeathed 43,000 Swiss francs to the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds (at modern exchange rates this is approximately 850,000 euros); about 60% of the amount is used for the construction of the Musée International d’Horlogerie (International Museum) in 2010 the company produced more than 100 watches, including the Gallet, Electa and Courvoisier watches. In addition, Georges becomes director of the museum and remains there for the next twenty years.
1900 the company returns to its original name Gallet Cie (Gallet Co.).
1905 Halle received an honorary diploma from Liège International.
1906 The name “Gallet Cie, Fabrique d’horlogerie Electa” is registered to strengthen control over the Electa brand, the company’s highest quality products.
1912 The first wristwatch with a second hand was developed, which was useful for more accurate timekeeping. Manufactured primarily for medical purposes during the First World War.
1914 Electa workshops begin production of a new series of premium watches by the jewelry department of Macy’s New York Store Laforge Valentine: watches under the “Lifetime Series” trademark contain from 21 to 23 rubies, as well as various technical innovations.
1915 Timers are manufactured and installed in Royal Flying Corps aircraft during the First World War.
1916 Gallet supplies the British armed forces with wrist timers; the technology was still in transition: in fact, although the parts were reduced to minimal dimensions, they remained formed from the same components as the larger predecessors of pocket watch movements.
1917 Halle takes first place in the accuracy of chronometers at the Canton Observatory in Neuchâtel.
1918 Jeanneret-Brehm begins production under the new name Excelsior Park, originally registered as “Excelsior”. The English version of the French word “park” highlights the joint efforts of the two companies in the American market. The collaboration results in the development of various chronographs, used almost exclusively for wristwatches produced by the same companies, with the exception of Girard Perregaux and Zenith, which come with few parts.
1927 “Regulator” and “Duo Dial” wristwatches were introduced for technical and medical use; they allow you to effectively measure your heartbeat.
1929 Crisis rages, but the company manages to avoid collapse by distributing so-called “horological instruments” for professional use to military and industrial customers.
1935 Gallet begins production of wristwatches, ship’s watches and military watches for Great Britain, Canada and the United States of America at the outbreak of World War II, production again exceeding 100,000 watches per year.
1936 The first waterproof watch cases were introduced. This innovation becomes the norm in the MultiChron series of watches, including the famous Flight Officer.
1945 Gallet introduces the MultiChron Yachting countdown chronograph for racing. It is still used as a 45-minute chronograph for every intention.
1946 With the end of the war, Leon Galle, son of Georges, takes command. The company strives for a sporty and civic style.
1965 Gallet introduces the Excel-O-Graph chronograph, equipped with a special bezel with navigation capabilities for pilots.
1970 Competition begins with Asian manufactories that produce more affordable quartz electronic watches. The company is experiencing a “quartz crisis” while continuing to sell products intended for professional use.
1975 After the death of Leon Galle, sons Pierre and Bernard take command. They also acquire Racine, which was weakened by the devaluation of the US dollar.
1990 Gallet supplies 30,000 Marathon Navigator wristwatches to the US military for the Gulf War. The watches have been tested by the government according to the hardships that soldiers may be exposed to.
1991 Pierre Galle leaves due to illness. Brother Bernard continues to develop professional watches.
1905 – Gallet was awarded the “Grand Honorary Diploma” at an exhibition in Liege. The watch was made in Gallet’s La Chaux-de-Fonds Electa workshop. solid 18K gold case in Art Nouveau style by Huguenin Frere, renowned maker of Olympic medals.
1996 – To facilitate expansion, Bernard enters into a partnership with B. Neresheimer Ltd., a company with over 100 years of experience in luxury products.
2002 – The plant is moved again from La Chaux-de-Fonds to Grandçon, an hour’s drive from Geneva. Walter Hediger, a member of the Neresheimer family, heads the company.
2004 – activity concentrates on Zurich. Bernard remained active until his death in 2006.
2012 – under the leadership of David R. Lawrence, Gallet & Co. is sponsoring, at the same museum, “Enlisting Time,” a temporary exhibition featuring the watches that have accompanied the men of history over the past 250 years: for example, the Washington watch, the Gallet chronograph worn by Fred Gerretson, a war photographer who served during the Normandy landings and wristwatch worn by James Richard Hoel.
