Breitling Buys Historic Watch Brand Gallet and Plans Its Revival

By Karen Dybis | March 18, 2025

The watchmaker that the Wright brothers trusted at Kitty Hawk and that produced, according to President Harry S. Truman, “the most elaborate wristwatch I ever saw” is now a part of the Breitling family.

Breitling on Tuesday announced it had acquired Gallet and would soon relaunch the historic brand, founded in 1826 and well-known for its use in racing, aviation, and off-road expeditions.

Gallet will be Breitling’s second such revival: In 2023 it purchased Universal Genève, a watch line that had been dormant for decades following a heyday in the first half of the 20th century. With these two venerable companies now under its umbrella, Breitling is positioned to grow in its influence within the luxury watch sector, the company said in a statement.

“Our vision is long-term—reviving Gallet as a strong brand in watchmaking while honoring its legacy of adventure and innovation in chronographs,” Breitling CEO Georges Kern said.

Gallet watches — *These circa 1938 Gallet Multichron Clamshell watches personify the spirit of adventure and travel the watchmaker is known for, said new owner Breitling.*

Julien Gallet founded his eponymous watch brand in the Swiss city of La Chaux-de-Fonds, seeking to make timekeeping instruments that embodied travel and the spirit of adventure. Gallet expanded into the U.S. market in 1856. In 1890, Jules Racine & Co. became its sole distributor in North America, by then Gallet’s main market.

A stopwatch marketed as “The Sun” brought Gallet its first major milestone in aviation history, when Wilbur and Orville Wright used it to time the first-ever powered airplane flights, at Kitty Hawk, N.C., in 1903 (their best time: 852 feet in 59 seconds).

Gallet acquired Swiss watch manufacturer Electa in 1907; the combined company, Fabrique d’Horlogerie Electa, Gallet & Co., focused for the next two decades on gaining patents and international recognition for its precision timekeeping, Breitling said.

Gallet Wright Brothers — *The Wright Brothers used the Gallet stopwatch known as “The Sun” to time their famous Kitty Hawk flights.*

Another significant moment in Gallet’s history came with its 1939 Flying Officer, a waterproof chronograph that pilots and passengers used in the early days of intercontinental flight to track multiple time zones. President Truman received a Flying Officer as a Christmas gift was known to wear it regularly.

Gallet’s fame diminished over time. Like other companies in the Swiss watch industry, it was hurt by the quartz crisis of the 1970s and ’80s and by a soaring Swiss franc.

Breitling said Gallet will return to the marketplace in 2026. While no further details were released, the new owner hinted in its statement that Gallet will be positioned as a luxury yet entry-level sibling brand to Breitling, keeping its legacy and name secure. Marketing for Gallet will likely highlight its commitment to quality and its heritage of adventure.

“We continue to have strong confidence in Breitling, which is well positioned to expand its market share in the luxury watch sector,” said Breitling chairman Alfred Gantner (a cofounder of private equity firm Partners Group ) in a statement. “Acquiring Gallet is the second key move that underscores the long-term strategy we’ve been building.”

Top: President Harry S. Truman’s Flying Officer is one of Gallet’s most sought-after timepieces. (Photo courtesy of the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum and Breitling; other photos courtesy of Breitling)