There’s also a more expensive Classics range focusing on other models from the archive. That aside, the main lines are designed to be “accessible luxury,” as Rossignol describes it, with the time-only Flying Officers starting at $2,900 for the fabric-strap versions. (The various straps and bracelets can be bought separately and are easily interchangeable.) We say “Gallet archive,” but there’s really no such thing. Much of the revival was based on “this very old picture of one of the very first Flying Officers,” says Rossignol, “with an orange dial and a green [city] rail.” That color scheme was replicated in what might be the coolest model in the release, though the sizing is increased from 35mm to 40mm, and the cities on the display are tweaked, with old-school destinations like Dakar swapped out for modern ones like Dubai.
If just one of the new Gallets will really hit the spot with people looking for an affordable entry point into nice watches—or seasoned collectors wanting to add something fun to their haul—it’ll be the Flying Officer, with its range of dial colors and that distinctive city display. While it might no longer be essential for pilots, the Flying Officer’s ability to track time across multiple cities and its fun-loving orange dial make it the perfect vacation companion.
This is very much what Gallet is aiming for. It’s going big on “wanderlust,” says Rossignol, and assembling a team of “modern adventurers” as ambassadors, including climber Teresa Corti, paraglider Benjamin Kellett, and polar photographer Benjamin Hardman. The message seems to be: Wear a Gallet, and you can get a fraction of the outdoorsy creds (and Instagram followings) of these gnarly men and women.
Even stepping back from the Flying Officer and Gallet’s specific aesthetics, the relaunch “comes at the right time,” says watch writer Scarlett Baker. “Collectors are embracing lesser-known, more obscure and independent watchmaking now more than ever.” A confident design, and “very appealing price point,” she says, make this a launch likely to have an impact far beyond the hardcore enthusiasts. So if you’re after the next big IYKYK watch, get this quick, because it won’t stay IYKYK for long.
This story originally appeared on British GQ.
