If I had to acknowledge one of the most popular groups of watches in niche vintage collecting in the past year or two, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include Gallet chronographs somewhere toward the top.

There have gotten to be a fair number of Gallet collectors out and about, so the rarer of the models tend to be the crux of largely “complete” collections. This late model Gallet MultiChron Pilot would be one of those that few have in their collection, much less in excellent condition.

Between the 1970’s MultiChron Pilot and Diver models (nearly identical, but different bezels for their purposes), these are likely the last of Gallet’s vintage chronographs that were produced until their fairly modern resurgence. Of additional interest is that Excelsior Park, who made the beautiful 40-68 caliber column wheel movement inside this piece, closed down within only a handful of years of the production of this watch. The Girard Perregaux Olimpico and the Jules Racine variants of this watch are the only cousins of note, being quite desirable themselves.

Speculated to have been made as late as 1978, along with being mentioned as a model that was supposedly (?) used in U.S. Air Force ranks at the time, this is one of the few models that deviated in earlier styling and brought significant queues of the “funky” decade of its production. With a broad array of popping colors on a more subtle reverse panda-esque dial, a thick coin-edge bezel with 12 hour resin insert for dual timekeeping, a dual polished/brushed case, and paired with a very appropriate field-style leather band — you won’t find this watch being confused with many others!

If you’re looking for a Gallet chrono that isn’t going to reside in many collections (especially one that held out by continuing to use Excelsior Park movements and not ceding to the Valjoux calibers that were replacing many of the column/pillar wheel chrono’s), this is your chance.