Breitling Navitimer 24 Hour “Space” Edition: Buy Luxury Watches Online

A little-known fact is that Breitling, not Omega, was the first Swiss mechanical watch to journey into space, and its collaboration with NASA predates Omega’s partnership.

On May 24, 1962, NASA astronaut Scott Carpenter wore a Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute, a 24-hour timepiece, as he orbited the Earth three times aboard the Aurora 7 spacecraft. This remarkable feat cemented the Breitling Cosmonaute as the first Swiss wristwatch to reach the cosmos.

It wasn’t until March 1, 1965, that Omega’s Speedmaster became officially designated by NASA as the standard timepiece for all manned space missions.

The origins of the Breitling Cosmonaute trace back to 1959 when Scott Carpenter was selected as one of the seven astronauts for NASA’s pioneering Mercury program, America’s first human spaceflight initiative.

Carpenter, a former U.S. Navy test pilot, had already been wearing a 12-hour version of the Breitling Navitimer in the late 1950s. He approached Breitling with the idea of creating a 24-hour timepiece specifically tailored for the unique demands of space exploration.

In June 1961, Breitling registered the name “Cosmonaute” with the Swiss Intellectual Property Office. By 1962, they unveiled the 24-hour Navitimer, known as the Cosmonaute, under model number 809. In 1969, Breitling introduced an automatic version, the Cosmonaute Chrono-Matic 1809.

The Cosmonaute 1809 features a 24-hour dial designed to meet astronauts’ specific needs in space. Equipped with a circular slide rule, it allows for rapid calculations such as fuel consumption and climb rates via a rotating bezel. The watch offers various dial designs, including an all-black face and silver subdials.

This iconic piece is currently available through antique watch dealer watchpool. Crafted from stainless steel, the case measures a substantial 48mm in diameter, making it ideal for pilots operating in challenging environments.

Powered by the groundbreaking Caliber 12 automatic chronograph movement, Breitling crafted a specialized 24-hour dial for this model. It features a central seconds hand, a 30-minute counter, and a 12-hour recorder. Due to the movement’s layout, the crown is positioned on the left side of the case—a distinctive design feature of this exceptional timepiece.