After several weeks of speculation, Breitling has made an official announcement that they have acquired Gallett, the Swiss watchmaker that traces its roots back to 1826. The news was first reported by Tony Traina and a small handful of other outlets back in February, but this is the first time Breitling has acknowledged the deal in a public way.

Breitling had previously announced their acquisition of Universal Genéve in 2023, a move that immediately led many to wonder of Georges Kern, Breitling’s CEO, might be looking to make additional expansions to bolster his business. Now, with the Gallett acquisition, his plans and those of the Partners Group (the investment firm which has had a stake in Breitling since 2017) appear to be coming into focus. 

“This acquisition is a natural next step in Breitling’s expansion,” Kern said in a statement. “We are reviving Gallett under the umbrella of Breitling’s expertise and craftsmanship. Our vision is long-term – reviving Gallett as a strong brand in watchmaking, while honoring its legacy and innovation in chronographs.” 

Unlike watches in the upcoming Universal Genéve collection, it is expected that Gallett will be sold alongside Breitling in the brand’s boutiques and, presumably, other authorized channels. This will provide potential Breitling customers with a lower priced option and is something of a  tacit admission that the asking price of a new Breitling has crept up to a level that some new customers might not be willing to pay. The addition of Gallett, then, provides Breitling with an opportunity to claw back some of those missed sales opportunities without diluting the Breitling brand through heavy discounts or lowering of retail price points. 

Gallett has a strong reputation among vintage watch experts but they are far from a household name. That said, they have plenty of watches with real historical merit that Breitling can draw on as the brand is relaunched. Among their most famous references is the Flying Officer, introduced in 1939 and worn by Harry Truman. This was an early water resistant chronograph conceived for tracking the time in multiple time zones. Similarly, the Multichron Clamshell, first launched in 1938, was marketed as one of the first waterproof chronographs, meant to withstand “dust, humidity, and heavy rains.” These are early examples of purpose built tool watches, and seem to be in clear conversation with much of what the Breitling brand is about. 

Breitling is now positioned as its own “mini group,” with a mass market luxury watch brand sitting in a middle tier, an entry point using a vintage marque just below, and a higher end option in Universal Genéve that will cater to what might amount to a completely different type of customer. It will be interesting to see how consumers respond as new watches from Gallett and UG hit the market, which is expected sometime in 2026. Breitling