zelin0802 / June 8, 2022

In the 1960s, Breitling’s aviation chronograph was known as the king of pilot luxury fake watches. At the same time, however, the world is moving beyond air travel and into space exploration. This has prompted another kind of competition among watch brands, trying to see who can get their brands into the arms of astronauts on arduous space missions.

We all know about Omega’s Speedmaster and the legacy it left behind when the first watch went to the moon, but there’s actually another watch that actually made it to space first, and that’s the famous Swiss brand Breitling. watch. Breitling’s extensive experience with pilot watches helped them stand out when picking a brand for space missions. On May 24, 1962, during the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission, Breitling earned the title of “the first Swiss space watch” as astronaut Scott Carpenter orbited the Earth three times wearing a Navitimer Cosmonaute model.

Carpenter was so familiar with the Breitling pilot model during the flight that he personally asked to buy the Navitimer Cosmonaute. The Navitimer Cosmonaute is a variant of the Aviator timepiece with a 24-hour dial that distinguishes between day and night in space.

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the famous Mercury-Atlas 7 mission, and to commemorate this special occasion, Breitling has released not only Carpenter’s original Navitimer Cosmonaute, but also a special modern version of the timepiece. The Breitling 2022 Navitimer Cosmonaute is limited to 362 pieces. The three represent the number of times they orbited the Earth, while 62 represent the year 1962 when the mission took place.

The Navitimer Cosmonaute has all the iconic details that make the Navitimer what it is today. From a circular slide rule for mathematical calculations, to the “wings” logo of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, to a panda dial design with three sub-dials in contrasting colors. The main ingredient that sets the Cosmonaute apart from other Navitimers is the 24-hour clock. The Breitling Manufacture Caliber B02 is a brand new movement designed to carry a 24-hour time.

This latest version of Cosmonaute is as faithful to the original as possible. Appearance and design, the new Cosmonaute replicates the original with an all-black dial and strap options with a black alligator leather strap and seven-row stainless steel bracelet. The main difference is the use of materials, now the 41mm case has a platinum bezel. This timepiece features a beige super luminous material that adds even more color to the monochromatic dial in addition to the red on the bezel inscription. Breitling fake

As mentioned earlier, the movement inside is a Breitling-made Calibre B02 movement. This is a mechanical hand (manual) winding movement that operates at 28,800 VpH (4hz). This COSC-certified movement also offers a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. The difference between the original 1962 Cosmonaute and this 2022 version is the caseback. There is now an open sapphire crystal case back, showing a glimpse of the B02 movement. The movement decoration features a special bridge engraving to commemorate the 60th anniversary. Engravings such as “Carpenter”, “Aurora 7”, “3 Circles the Earth” and “Mercury 7”.

This latest version of the Cosmonaute pays homage to the original timepiece from 1962 while giving it a very modern update. The Cosmonaute is a true testament to the Breitling aviation watch that carries a piece of watch history that not many can boast about. Carpenter’s Cosmonaute was named “the first Swiss watch to go into space,” and the model that was released to the public shortly after maintained the same design and specifications, allowing collectors to be a part of the groundbreaking history.

Delighted with this latest creation, Breitling CEO Georges Kern said as he celebrated the 60th anniversary of the space mission: “When we launched the redesigned Navitimer earlier this year, everyone’s mouth was on it. The question always asks, ‘What about Cosmonaute?’ Today, I’m delighted to finally announce two Cosmonaute revealings: the first public view of a watch worn by Scott Carpenter in space, and a limited-edition 60th anniversary wristwatch that pays homage to his history-making pioneer. surface.”