Breitling celebrates the centenary of the birth of American astronaut Scott Carpenter with an exclusive Navitimer, equipped with a platinum case and available in only 50 pieces.
To celebrate 100 years since the birth of American spaceflight pioneer Scott Carpenter, Breitling presents a new Navitimer Cosmonaute, the first Swiss wristwatch to be used in space. This new version with a 41 mm platinum case is limited to only 50 pieces.
On 24 May 1962, during the NASA Mercury-Atlas 7 mission, Scott Carpenter orbited the Earth three times: he was only the second American to do so. On his wrist he wore a unique Breitling Navitimer, specially made for that legendary journey into space. With its chronograph and characteristic slide rule, the Navitimer had already become a very useful instrument for aviators. However, something more was needed for a space mission. Before leaving, Carpenter wrote to Breitling, asking for a customised Navitimer with some special modifications.
These modifications included a wider bezel that could also be used with astronaut gloves, an elastic metal bracelet so it could be worn on the suit and, above all, a 24-hour dial to tell the time even in orbit, where the Sun rises and sets every 90 minutes. It was a challenge that Willy Breitling, grandson of the watchmaker's founder, could not fail to take up. So it was that, just days before the mission began, Carpenter was delivered the Navitimer Cosmonaute, the first Swiss wristwatch to travel into space.
Breitling Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Scott Carpenter Centenary
This exclusive Navitimer employs Breitling's custom-made B02 calibre, visible through the sapphire glass porthole on the caseback.
Today, sixty years later, Breitling pays tribute to that historic adventure and to the man who made it possible with an exclusive Navitimer in platinum. The new Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaut Scott Carpenter Centenary celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of the American astronaut on May 1st 1925. The intense blue of the dial evokes the colour of the Earth as seen from space, while the white of the counters and slide rule recalls the swirls drawn by clouds.
The same shade of blue characterises the alligator strap, closed by a white gold folding clasp. This watch, produced in a limited edition of only 50 pieces, is the perfect tribute to Carpenter and his historic Mercury-Atlas 7 mission.
"Breitling has been involved in some of the most important moments in watchmaking history, but sending the first Swiss wristwatch into space is one of the achievements we are most proud of," said Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling. "When Scott Carpenter asked for a watch designed specifically for space, Willy Breitling had no hesitation and made it. That same spirit of innovation, which drives us to take risks and push the limits, still animates us today'.
A special Breitling B02 calibre
The hand-wound mechanical movement used on this special Navitimer is personalised with various engravings, in homage to Scott Carpenter.
The Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Scott Carpenter Centenary is powered by Breitling's in-house B02 calibre (28,800 vibrations per hour, column wheel, vertical coupling), a hand-wound mechanical movement. This Cosc-certified chronometer movement, with approximately 70 hours of power reserve, is visible through the sapphire crystal back, decorated with the engravings 'First Swiss wristwatch in space', 'One of 50' and 'Scott Carpenter Centenary 1925-2025'.
The bridge bears the engravings 'Carpenter', 'Aurora 7', '3 orbits around the Earth' and 'Mercury 7', in homage to Carpenter, his capsule, the mission that made him famous and the group of early NASA astronauts of which he was a member. At 12 o'clock, on the dial, is the winged logo of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), underlining the pioneering role played by the Navitimer as the official watch of the world's largest pilots' club since its inception in 1952. The watch has three counters for continuous seconds, chrono minutes and chrono hours, as well as a date window at 6 o'clock.
Finally, a curiosity: the original Cosmonaute used by Carpenter during the space mission was damaged during the ditching. After ending up 250 nautical miles (460 km) off course in the middle of the Atlantic, Carpenter spent three hours on a life raft waiting for rescue, and salt water eventually corroded the watch face. The watch was replaced by Willy Breitling and the original remained in the brand's archives until 2022, the year of its first public appearance for the 60th anniversary of Carpenter's mission. It was later exhibited at Breitling's Then & Now pop-up museum in Zurich, on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the company's founding. The corrosion on the dial is still visible and, interestingly, has taken on a planetary surface-like appearance.
Price42,000 euro.
