Partly due to military requirements, the late 1930's and early 1940's were an important period for the development of technically advanced chronographs. As a mid-sized watch manufacturer Gallet & Co. was a specialist, focusing on creating chronographs of superior quality. Her Majesty put Britain's timing needs during World War I into the hands of the company's wristwatches, selecting them as its first chronograph supplier in 1916.
Building on the success of their wartime timepieces, the Swiss firm grew into a significant supplier to the world's armed forces.
The cool midsized Gallet "Regulator chronograph featured here is a wonderful and classic original vintage example of one of the company's civilian chronographs made for the U.S. market.
It is patterned after a regulator clock, a precision pendulum clock that served as the timekeeping standard for adjusting watch's and other clocks.
It features the hour and minute telling portion of the watch in a small off-center dial at the top of the face, while the large outer seconds track with is reserved exclusively for the chronograph. With its 1/5 second markings around the periphery of the face, this watch was designed for the extremely precise timing needed by men in demanding technical, sporting, and professional uses. While medical uses didn't require measuring to 1/5 of a second, this watch would have made taking someone's pulse easier than most other watches of the era.
It is midsized for a chronograph, measuring only just under 34mm in diameter without the crown. Unlike many similar chronographs it is all steel rather than chrome with only a steel back.
Its two-tone dial is truly fantastic. Not only does the tone strongly shift as the angle of light changes, the subdials are a great tonneau shape, rather than round.
It is all-original down to the dial, all hands, pushers, and even the winding crown. It is a very honest original watch.
Its case presents beautifully, better than near mint with only light wear. It has never been polished.
Its distinctive dial is original and untouched. And its movement is clean. Photos of the inside available upon request.
One of our Master Watchmakers, who used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealer and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center to be an authorized Rolex watchmaker, has fully serviced the watch which consists of fully disassembling the movement, carefully inspecting each part, polishing the pivots, installing a correct new mainspring, reassembling and lubricating the movement, and extensive timing testing and regulation (a $995 value).
The chronograph works perfectly and crisply resets to exact zero. We have also timed it on a machine that simulates it being worn on the wrist. It is keeping very accurate time.
For the finishing touch we have equipped it with a brand new leather strap making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. warranty on the movement and its function and a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity.
Manufacturer: Gallet
Country of origin: Switzerland
Year built: c. 1940's
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Regulator Chronograph, Subsidiary Seconds
Model: Ref. 580
Designed for: Men
Case material: Stainless steel
Case condition: Beautiful better than near mint condition with only light wear and one pin prick hole of oxidation on the extreme edge of the back that doesn't affect its serviceableness.
Dimensions: 34mm wide (excluding crowns), 38mm long lug tip-to-tip
Dial: Silver, signed Gallet, black painted Arabic indices, 1/5 graduations on outer edge, tonneau subdials for the hours and minutes and the elapsed chronograph graph minutes up to 30, original and untouched
Hands: Original, blue steel "epees" and lozenges with counterweighted sweep hand, excellent condition
Movement type: Gallet caliber, 15 jewels, rhodium plated, fausses cotes decoration, small balance wheel, self-compensating flat balance spring, index regulator
Movement markings: Gallet & Co. Swiss, 15 Jewels
Jewels: 15 rubies
Band: Leather, remborde, brand new and unworn
Crystal: Acrylic, likely original, very good condition with a few stress marks visible when viewed at just the right angle. Please inquire if you would like a new one installed.
Serviced: One of our Master Watchmakers, who used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealer and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center to be an authorized Rolex watchmaker, has fully serviced the watch which consists of fully disassembling the movement, carefully inspecting each part, polishing the pivots, installing a correct new mainspring, reassembling and lubricating the movement, and extensive timing testing and regulation (a $995 value).
Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system. We have also timed it on a machine that simulates it being worn on the wrist. It is keeping very accurate time.
Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please email [email protected] for details. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts.
Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity
Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee
