Breitling buys the historical watch brand Gallet and plans its revival

The watchmaker, to whom the Wright brothers trusted Kitty Hawk and who, according to President Harry S. Truman, “the most elaborate wristwatch I have ever seen” is now part of the Breitling family.

Breitling announced on Tuesday that it bought it and maintained the historical brand, founded in 1826, and was known for the use of expeditions of races, aviation and off -road.

Gallet will be Breitlings second revitalization: In 2023 it bought it Universal Genève, a watch line that rested after a heyday in the first half of the 20th century. Breitling is positioned with these two venerable companies under its roof to grow their influence within the luxury watch sector, the company said in a statement.

“Our vision is included as a strong brand for watch production and at the same time honor its legacy of adventure and innovation in chronographs,” said Georges Kern, CEO von Breitling.

Julien Gallet founded his watch brand of the same name in the Swiss city of La Chaux-de-Fonds and tried to create time measurement instruments, embodied the trips and the spirit of the adventure. Gallet expanded to the US market in 1856. In 1890 Jules Racine & Co. became the main market of Gallet to his sole distributor in North America.

A stopwatch that was marketed as “The Sun” brought Gallet to her first big milestone in aviation history when Wilbur and Orville Wright used him with the first aircraft flights in Kitty Hawk, NC, 1903 (their best time: 852 feet in 59 seconds).

Gallet acquired the Swiss watch manufacturer Electa in 1907; The combined company, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co., focused on patents and international recognition for their precision time measurement for the next two decades, said Breitling.

Another significant moment in Gallet's story came with his Flying Officer from 1939, a waterproof chronograph, the pilots and passengers used in the early days of the intercontinental flight to persecute several time zones. President Truman received a flying officer because a Christmas present wears it regularly.

Gallet's fame decreased over time. Like other companies in the Swiss Watch industry, it was injured by the quartz crisis of the 1970s and 1980s and an emerging Swiss franc.

Breitling said Gallet will return to the market in 2026. Although no further details were published, the new owner indicated in his testimony that Gallet is positioned for Breitling as a luxury and entry-level siblings, his heir and the name keeps safe. Marketing for gallet will probably highlight his commitment to quality and his legacy of the adventure.

“We still have strong trust in Breitling, which is well positioned to expand its market share in the luxury watch sector,” said Alfred Gantner, Chairman of Breitling, Alfred Gantner (co -founder of private equity companies Partners Group). “Buying gallet is the second key train that underlines the long -term strategy that we have built up.”

TOP: President Harry S. Trumans Flying Officer is one of the most sought -after watches from Gallet. (Photo with the kind permission of the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum and Breitling; other photos with the kind permission of Breitling)