Gallet Multichron 12 'Jim Clark'

Gallet & Cie has been around for so long that archaeologists have probably dug up a fossilized Gallet clock right next to trilobites. Okay, that’s exaggerated — but when a watchmaker can trace its roots back to 1466, it’s fair to say they’ve earned a little respect. What’s more surprising is how often Gallet still flies under the radar, even among serious collectors, despite being responsible for a handful of genuinely industry-shaping firsts: early waterproof chronographs, early high-beat escapements, rotating bezels, and chronographs with true 24-hour/GMT functionality. In other words, a lot of what we consider “normal” now was once Gallet territory. Among the brand’s most important 20th-century output are the MultiChron chronographs — refined enough to pass as dress watches, but built as real tools for military, industrial, and sporting professionals. The MultiChron 12 is one of the best of the bunch, distinguished by its third register and ability to record up to twelve hours. That feature alone places it firmly in the world of aviation, endurance timing, and motorsport — where a 30-minute counter simply doesn’t cut it. And then there’s the “Jim Clark” connection. This particular configuration — the darker dial variant that collectors obsess over — is closely associated with the legendary Formula One driver. It’s one of those rare vintage watches where the nickname isn’t marketing fluff; it’s an actual collector shorthand for a specific, correct, historically resonant execution. From the sharp steel case with its clean, confident lines, to the barrel pushers, to the beautifully legible dial with its multi-scale outer tracks, the MultiChron 12 is everything we love about mid-century chronographs: purposeful, balanced, and effortlessly cool. Inside, you get the real payoff: a serious hand-wound chronograph movement (Valjoux 72 or Excelsior Park, depending on the example), which means this isn’t just a pretty face — it’s a mechanically significant watch from a brand that deserves far more attention than it gets. With tremendous looks, real racing-adjacent history, and legitimate horological substance, the Gallet MultiChron 12 is one of those watches that feels like a “next big thing” — the kind you’ll wish you’d bought before the rest of the world caught on.