Gallet Tribute to Silverlight Watch Review
Two centuries after its 1826 debut, Gallet re-enters the horological fray, under the stewardship of Breitling, with its new Classics collection. While Gallet’s portfolio encompasses rugged aviation and all-adventure collections, the ultimate choice for purists is the Gallet Tribute to Silverlight. Housed within a 38 mm steel case, this classic two-counter chronograph is equipped with Breitling’s hand-wound Calibre B09 manufacture movement, offering mid-century charm backed by modern mechanics.
Gallet depuis 1826
Before digital cockpits took over, an aviator’s life hung on the steady oscillation of a balance wheel. If you were plotting a flight path or working out your fuel burn across the Atlantic, you needed absolute precision. There was simply no room for error. This is exactly where Gallet earned its stripes. Founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds back in 1826, the brand specialised in producing purpose-built chronographs trusted by pilots, racing car drivers and intrepid explorers alike. Sadly, like so many great old Swiss names, Gallet eventually ran out of steam and quietly disappeared, leaving collectors to battle over surviving vintage references in auction rooms.
Image – the Gallet Flying Officer collection
Now, precisely two centuries after it first opened its doors, Gallet has returned, drawing upon the vast manufacturing infrastructure and technical prowess of aviation chrono experts, Breitling. Amidst this impressive relaunch, the Gallet Classics collection stands out for its purist appeal, and the Tribute to Silverlight, in particular, captures the romantic essence of early navigation.
Gallet Tribute to Silverlight – case
To accommodate the demands of the modern purist, Gallet has scaled the Tribute to Silverlight to a classical 38 mm diameter. The stainless steel housing measures a sensible 12.50 mm in thickness, giving it enough presence to feel substantial without appearing cumbersome on the wrist. Furthermore, despite its elegant demeanour, the case boasts 100 metres of water resistance, ensuring it can easily withstand the rigours of daily wear.
A cambered sapphire crystal, glare-proofed on both sides, protects the dial, while a sapphire crystal caseback affords glorious views of the mechanical theatre performing within. An ingenious touch unifying this bicentennial relaunch of the brand relates to its wearability. All Gallet models share the same 20 mm lug width coupled with an integrated quick-release system. Rather than burdening the owner with spring-bar tools and the inevitable risk of scratched lugs, straps can be swapped in mere seconds without tools.
Speaking of straps, the Tribute to Silverlight is offered with a fantastic choice, allowing wearers to personalise their timepiece instantly. Options range from supple calfskin leather, complete with vibrant orange lining, to durable rubber, textured field canvas and fabric straps in an array of earthy tones, allowing the wearer to completely transform the watch’s character.
Gallet Tribute to Silverlight – dial
With the Tribute to Silverlight, Gallet has pivoted away from the highly technical layouts of its motorsport and aviation siblings. Taking design cues from the historic Multichron Navigator, this timepiece provides a wonderfully clean dial, sidestepping the clutter of tachymeter or telemeter scales to deliver a high quotient of classical elegance. The dial is a shimmering silver-toned canvas, enlivened with a sunray motif and features tone-on-tone snailed subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock, granting harmonious symmetry. Meanwhile, crisp and legible Arabic numerals, slightly irregular in appearance, exude retro-modern charm, evoking thoughts of the golden age of travel when a watch was a useful navigation tool. Furthermore, the various hands gracing the dial are all super fine, imparting information with unambiguous clarity.
Gallet Tribute to Silverlight – the movement
While the habillage speaks of historic adventure, the mechanical heart beating within the Tribute to Silverlight is resolutely modern. By leveraging its newfound relationship with Breitling, Gallet has equipped this classic-looking chronograph with the Manufacture Calibre B09. My colleague, Angus Davies, recently discussed this movement in detail in an article on the Breitling Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 Miles Davis should you yearn for some additional bedtime reading.
This hand-wound mechanical chronograph movement is a tactile delight. For the true enthusiast, the daily ritual of rotating the crown and energising the mainspring provides an emotional connection with the watch. The Calibre B09, manufactured in-house at Breitling, beats at a brisk 28,800 vph (4Hz) and proffers a highly impressive 70-hour power reserve. It’s also chronometer-certified, meeting COSC’s stated 7 ‘eliminatory criteria’, one of which stipulates an average daily rate of (-4) to (+6) seconds per day. By tucking this hand-wound manufacture movement into a compact 38 mm case, Gallet unites mid-century proportions with the notable precision of a modern Swiss Manufacture movement.
Closing thoughts
On the wrist, the 38 mm Tribute to Silverlight chronograph, with its classic bi-compax layout and stylised numerals, delivers the romance and charm of a period navigator’s tool. But beneath the sapphire caseback resides Breitling’s modern, hand-wound, chronometer-certified B09 calibre, a highly specified movement that has been subjected to the independent scrutiny of COSC. Ultimately, this chronograph is made for purists who appreciate classic proportions and period styling and who relish the tactile joy of winding a watch, but without the annoying fragility that sometimes comes with vintage ownership. With a keen asking price of £5,300 (RRP as of 7.11.2026), this timepiece proves an auspicious start for the newly revived brand.
Further reading
Technical specifications
- Model: Gallet Tribute to Silverlight
- Reference: AG0910121G1X1
- Case: stainless steel, diameter 38 mm, height 12.50 mm, water resistant to 10 bar (100 metres); sapphire crystal to front and exhibition caseback.
- Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph
- Movement: Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09, hand-wound movement, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz), power reserve approximately 70 hours
- Strap: various options, including leather (light brown, brown, and black), rubber (green, blue, and black), field
(green, brown, blue, and anthracite), and fabric (green, black, beige) – all paired with a pin buckle
- Price: £5,300 (RRP as of 7.11.2026)