Post by GLADIATOR on Aug 12, 2013 8:59:57 GMT -6
I realize more and more in Horology that more and more in Horology,t its not what you see, but what you miss that are sometimes the most important aspect of a timepiece. I have so many early time pieces and it was only after a recent thread on WUS forum did I realize they all had 'sub seconds' dials rather than center sweep seconds.
Of course the mechanical design to make center sweep seconds was more complicated, that said many (most) pocket watches had center sweep seconds.
After researching, I truly realized these were rare pieces back in the 1910s.
Therefore I was delighted to find here in Spain of all places a very early GALLET with center sweep seconds and in great condition.
The dial movement and hour hand are all 100% original and correct, but due to the second hand being of a different lume (colour) and size I suspected that was a later replacement, therefore I was delighted to learn from David Laurence – Managing Director of Gallet Group, that it was surely original. Thinking to it, it makes sense for this was an important early (new) feature on wristwatches – therefore ‘big and bold’ would be understandable. I do suspect though its been re-lumed.
Before posting some pictures of this piece, I let you read David Laurence comments on it:
QUOTE
Hi Adam,
Nice Gallet with an Electa factory movement, produced between 1915 and 1924. You will be very surprised to see where our Electa movements turn up in watches from this period, including with other brand names stamped on the plates including Rolex and IWC. We had the largest and most prolific factory in the La chaux-de-fonds during these years, doing lots of contract work for our watch valley neighbors. Yesterday, I sent David B. an image of an Electa movement signed by IWC.
Your images are nice but you neglected to provide one of the inner case back showing how the case is signed. This will help in pinning down the year or production.
We are working on digitizing a large group of Gallet-Electa catalogs from this era and I am certain that I saw this watch during our scanning work. I plan on providing you and David B. with these files as soon as they are ready to go.
The second hand is original, only the luminous was replaced at a later date. As you know, Gallet-Electa was the first to engineer the sweep hand for wristwatches beginning in 1912. This innovation fit the requirements or our medical and military clients just prior to WWI.
Congratulations again on your nice acquisition.
Talk with you soon.
David R. Laurence
Managing Director
The Gallet Group SA
Unquote
So no exact dating of mine movements started 1915 to 1924.
Inline images 1
Inline images 2
Inline images 3
Inline images 4
Notice the early mechanical method for center sweep sweep seconds, using an additional wheel off the 2nd (center wheel). Termed 'Indirect Center Seconds' - This was rated a 'complication' in its own right. This complicated design was only perfected in 1948 (Don't ask me to explain it!)
Inline images 5
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
David Laurence - Gallet
Walt Odets - Pursuit of the Center Seconds Hand
Of course the mechanical design to make center sweep seconds was more complicated, that said many (most) pocket watches had center sweep seconds.
After researching, I truly realized these were rare pieces back in the 1910s.
Therefore I was delighted to find here in Spain of all places a very early GALLET with center sweep seconds and in great condition.
The dial movement and hour hand are all 100% original and correct, but due to the second hand being of a different lume (colour) and size I suspected that was a later replacement, therefore I was delighted to learn from David Laurence – Managing Director of Gallet Group, that it was surely original. Thinking to it, it makes sense for this was an important early (new) feature on wristwatches – therefore ‘big and bold’ would be understandable. I do suspect though its been re-lumed.
Before posting some pictures of this piece, I let you read David Laurence comments on it:
QUOTE
Hi Adam,
Nice Gallet with an Electa factory movement, produced between 1915 and 1924. You will be very surprised to see where our Electa movements turn up in watches from this period, including with other brand names stamped on the plates including Rolex and IWC. We had the largest and most prolific factory in the La chaux-de-fonds during these years, doing lots of contract work for our watch valley neighbors. Yesterday, I sent David B. an image of an Electa movement signed by IWC.
Your images are nice but you neglected to provide one of the inner case back showing how the case is signed. This will help in pinning down the year or production.
We are working on digitizing a large group of Gallet-Electa catalogs from this era and I am certain that I saw this watch during our scanning work. I plan on providing you and David B. with these files as soon as they are ready to go.
The second hand is original, only the luminous was replaced at a later date. As you know, Gallet-Electa was the first to engineer the sweep hand for wristwatches beginning in 1912. This innovation fit the requirements or our medical and military clients just prior to WWI.
Congratulations again on your nice acquisition.
Talk with you soon.
David R. Laurence
Managing Director
The Gallet Group SA
Unquote
So no exact dating of mine movements started 1915 to 1924.
Inline images 1
Inline images 2
Inline images 3
Inline images 4
Notice the early mechanical method for center sweep sweep seconds, using an additional wheel off the 2nd (center wheel). Termed 'Indirect Center Seconds' - This was rated a 'complication' in its own right. This complicated design was only perfected in 1948 (Don't ask me to explain it!)
Inline images 5
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
David Laurence - Gallet
Walt Odets - Pursuit of the Center Seconds Hand
