Gallet MultiChron 45M Navigator 'GMT' Chronograph (RARE)

SOLD

Brand: Gallet & Co.

Model: MultiChron 45M Navigator "GMT" Chronograph (RARE); Swiss Made circa 1940s

Case: Solid stainless steel case with snap-back is approximately 35.5mm excluding the original unsigned crowns and rectangular pushers

Bracelet: 19mm vintage-style stainless steel mesh bracelet (adjustable size via sliding clasp)

Movement: Excelsior Park cal. 4 manual-winding chronograph movement (17 jewels); modified for hacking-seconds synchronization and additional 24-hour hand; column-wheel activation; 18,000 BPH; Swiss Made

Features: Stunning original non-luminous silver dial with art-deco numerals; original non-luminous blued-steel handset; red 24-hour "North" compass hand; in-house EP4 movement (serviced) with 45-minute chronograph recording capability and unique hacking-seconds synchronization (via 9 o'clock crown); blue tachymeter scale for timing the average speed of a moving object (i.e. racing, aviation, etc.); red telemeter scale for timing the distance that an object travels over time (i.e. military artillery timing); 35.5mm stainless steel case with original crowns and pushers; domed acrylic crystal; extremely rare and important Gallet model

Condition: Nice original condition overall with honest wear consistent with age and use; 35.5mm stainless steel case has been lightly polished in the past, but remains thick and symmetrical; crisp caseback with some of the vertical brushing still visible; beautiful original non-luminous silver dial exhibits some light wear (most notably on the lower edge); excellent blued-steel hands and red 24-hour "North" hand; new replacement domed acrylic crystal

Other: With rich history dating all the way back to 1466, Gallet instruments have long been the primary choice for many of the world's most important timekeeping applications. The brand has truly paved the way for the chronograph wristwatch as we know it today with many innovations including (but not limited to): the world's first true wrist-worn chronograph, the first chronograph wristwatch with a waterproof case, the first chronograph wristwatch with multiple time zones, the first chronograph wristwatch with yachting regatta countdown, and the first chronograph wristwatch to simultaneously display 12- and 24-hour time (as seen here on this extraordinary Gallet Navigator). If you're a fan of chronograph watches, it's hard not to love and appreciate all that Gallet has contributed to watchmaking. You can read more about their company history, innovations, and famous timepieces over at GalletWorld.com. Speaking of famous timepieces, Gallet chronographs were worn by celebrated icons like President Harry S. Truman, Colonel Don Blakeslee, and Jim Clark.

The Gallet MultiChron Navigator is very special due to the overall rarity of the model as well as the technical advancements of the movement. Our friends at Fratello Magazine even listed it in their TOP 5 Vintage GMT Watches. The red "N" hand continuously tracks AM/PM time as it rotates around the dial once every 24 hours. It cannot be set independently, but it doubles as a compass hand. The wearer can point the regular blued-steel hour hand toward the sun to quickly determine due north via the red compass hand. How cool is that? Perhaps the most unique aspect of this watch comes from the extra crown located at 9 o'clock. A patented design allows the wearer to push in the crown to hack (stop) the small running seconds hand. If you rotate the crown while pushed in, the wearer can quick-set the seconds hand for precise synchronization (all while the watch continues to run). To our knowledge, no watch in history has ever featured this seconds-synchronization system...

Although the Gallet Navigator was very popular among pilots, navigators, explorers, and military/civilian paratroopers, production and sales were extremely limited due to the high cost of this complicated, specialty timepiece. As an added bonus, the in-house Excelsior Park movement has just been completely overhauled by our watchmaker with a new mainspring and domed acrylic crystal installed at the time of service (the old mainspring and crystal will be included). Considering Gallet's countless historical achievements and famed connections, we believe that their professional-use chronographs present incredible value and tremendous upside in the marketplace - Once you strap one to your wrist, you'll understand!

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