1939 Gallet Truman Chronograph Flying Officer Snail Dial WWII Pilot Grail Watch
Original 1st Generation 1939 Gallet Truman Chronograph Flying Officer Snail Dial WWII Pilot Grail Watch. Gallet Clamshell Case, Gay Freres Expanding Link Oyster Bracelet, will come with its original leather band as well but it's very small and being 1940's brown leather, it was removed to prevent deterioration. Dial is in outstanding condition, original Radium lume, crystal is original, scratched, but fairly clear. Watch was just serviced, mainspring was replaced, it's now keeping good time and is ready to use. This is a very rare watch, I know of only four other including Truman's watch, which is unfortunately now a redial.
These were very expensive and available only to Flight Officers who had to request them and then had to fly into Switzerland to pick them up at the factory. Exerpt from Wikipedia on this Gallet. The Flying Officer chronograph wristwatch (1939-present), designed and manufactured inLa Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland by Gallet & Co. Commissioned by Senator Harry S Truman from Missouri in 1939 for pilots and navigators of theUnited States Army Air Museum.
Originally known as the "Flight Officer", a rank in the early Army Air Forces, the watch's unique rotating 12-hour bezel and 23 cities printed on the periphery of the dial (face) made it possible to calculate changes in the time as a pilot flew across lines of longitude. The Gallet Flying Officer Chronograph holds distinctions as the world's first time zone calculating wristwatch. It is also the second wrist-worn chronograph, preceded only byGallet's Clamshell, to have a water-resistant case.
The Flying Officer was initially available only toFlight Officers and pilots of the allied forces during World War II. After the war, Gallet began to sell the Flying Officer commercially, and it remained as a popular watch for military, commercial, and civilian aviators. Truman himself wore a Gallet Flying Officer during his terms as 33rd president of the United States (19451953), now housed in the collection of the Harry S.
Truman Presidential Library and Museum. This historic watch was also featured in "Time in Office", an exhibit held at theNational Watch and Clock Museum that showcased the actual timepieces used by past American presidents dating back to George Washington. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Watches, Parts & Accessories\Watches\Wristwatches".
The seller is "sun_belt_estate_sale" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States, Japan.
- Bezel Color: steel
- Closure: Fold Over Clasp
- Number of Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Dial Pattern: Snail Chronograph
- Indices: Arabic Numerals
- Year Manufactured: 1940-1949
- Vintage: Yes
- Band/Strap: Bracelet
- Case Color: Silver
- Handedness: Right
- Department: Men
- Caseback: Solid
- Lug Width: 17 mm
- Bezel Type: Bidirectional Rotating
- Escapement Type: Lever
- Watch Shape: Round
- Style: Military, Pilot/Aviator, Sport
- Features: Chronograph
- Case Size: 34 mm
- Case Material: Stainless Steel
- Handmade: Yes
- Water Resistance: 10 m (1 ATM)
- Movement: Mechanical (Manual)
- Seller Warranty: No
- With Papers: No
- With Service Records: No
- Brand: Gallet
- Type: Wristwatch
- Band Color: Silver
- Band Material: Stainless Steel
- Dial Color: Black
- Model: Flight Officer
- Band Width: 16 mm
- Theme: Flags & Political
- With Original Box/Packaging: No
- Case Finish: Satin-Finished
- With Manual/Booklet: No
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Switzerland
- Display: Analog