The Breitling Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Limited Edition celebrates the Manufacture’s connection with space flight. Today, Breitling is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Mercury Atlas 7 mission, during which astronaut Scott Carpenter wore a special Navitimer on his wrist as he circumnavigated the Earth three times. In fact, Breitling has therefore officially claimed the title of “First Swiss Wristwatch in Space” since 24 May 1962. Carpenter’s watch was a modified Navitimer that offered a 24-hour display so that the astronaut could distinguish day from night. Now Breitling is presenting a modern update, released as a limited edition of 362 pieces. At the same time, the brand is unveiling the astronauts’s original Cosmonaute and showing the severely damaged watch to a select audience.
With this special edition, Breitling wants to highlight the connection between Swiss watchmaking and the conquest of space. The fact that the watch is also attacking OMEGA’s dominance in this thematic niche is not an issue for Breitling’s CEO Georges Kern, however. He says: “We are not attacking anyone. […] we did it simply because this watch is so historically significant: it is and remains the first Swiss wristwatch in space.
The case of the Breitling Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Limited Edition remains faithful to the archetype. The body is of stainless steel, but Breitling equips this special edition with a platinum bezel. This is also where the most obvious difference to the original Cosmonaute becomes apparent. The new bezel is fluted and is intended to improve operability. The watch measures 41 mm in diameter and 13 mm in height and features both satin-finished and polished surfaces.
On the side are the chronograph push-pieces and the crown. The latter is not screwed down, which is why the watch can only guarantee water resistance to 3 bar or 30 metres. The case back has a window that allows a look at the mechanics. Around the crystal, Breitling also engraves the date of Carpenter’s mission, a reference to the limitation of 362 pieces and the phrase “First Swiss Wristwatch In Space”.
The dial features a 24-hour display that makes it possible to distinguish between day and night. The Arabic numerals are accompanied by rectangular indices, all of which have vintage Super-LumiNova. The white main hands are also luminescent and are thus legible even in the the dark.
A tachymeter scale winds around the dial, which, together with the white slide rule, can be used for simple calculations. As befits a Navitimer, the wing logo of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) appears on the dial at 12 o’clock. Last but not least, there is a small seconds at 9 o’clock, while totalisers are found at 3 and 6 o’clock. Also included is a date window, whose black number disc is integrated into the 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock.
Inside is the watch is the B02 manufacture calibre with manual winding. In the version used here, the hour hand completes only one revolution per day instead of two to enable the 24-hour display. The movement has a power reserve of 70 hours and operates at a frequency of 4 hertz.
It also integrates a chronograph that uses a column wheel. Meanwhile, the vertical clutch ensures that the hand starts smoothly. The COSC certificate, which guarantees the corresponding accuracy, also testifies to the performance of the mechanism. On this watch, the movement features a number of decorations that allude to the Mercury 7 mission. In addition, the name Carpenter is engraved in the metal.
The Breitling Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Limited Edition comes on the seven-row Navitimer stainless steel bracelet. Alternatively, there is a black alligator strap with a folding clasp. The watch is a limited edition of 362 pieces. The price is 10,200 euros on the strap and 10,550 euros on the bracelet.
