The First Swiss Watch In Space Is Relaunching, and It’s Not the One You’re Thinking Of

Omega and Bulova are the watches most often associated with early space flights, but it was Breitling that produced the first Swiss wristwatch to travel outside Earth’s atmosphere.

In 1962, NASA astronaut Scott Carpenter orbited the Earth three times during the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission, becoming only the second American to do so.

Breitling

On Carpenter’s wrist was a custom-built Breitling Navitimer, featuring details he requested personally in a letter to Breitling’s then-CEO Willy Breitling.

The slide rule bezel was widened to allow easier operation with gloved hands, a stretch metal bracelet was added to fit over a space suit and the dial was adjusted to a 24-hour display.

Breitling

That final request was the most challenging to accommodate, requiring a retooled manual movement, but Breitling delivered mere days before the Mercury-Atlas 7 launch.

Breitling released a faithful reproduction of the original Navitimer Cosmonaute in 2022 with a steel case and black dial.

Breitling

Now, celebrating Carpenter’s 100th birthday, it is back as a special edition model upgraded with a platinum case, commemorative engraved movement bridge and alligator strap with a white gold buckle.

The original space watch

Breitling designed the Navitimer Chronograph as a tool watch for pilots, with a slide rule bezel to assist with calculations on the fly. It was introduced in 1954, after years of development in partnership with the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association.

Breitling

The watch’s tools for tracking elapsed time and calculating speed and distance also made it attractive to NASA’s budding space flight program in the early 1960s.

Carpenter’s customized dial request was the most notable change that made the pilot’s watch fit for space travel. Since there is no day and night while orbiting Earth, a 24-hour dial allowed Carpenter to easily stay on track with the time at NASA’s Mission Control Center.

Breitling

Early Navitimers were powered by manual movements, before an automatic chronograph was invented, so it was not affected by the lack of gravity in space.

The bridge plate of the Breitling caliber B02 in the Navitimer Cosmonaute Scott Carpenter Centenary is engraved with the logo from Carpenter’s ship, the Aurora 7, a logo celebrating the Mercury mission and Carpenter’s name.

A luxurious upgrade

Carpenter was blown off course on his return to Earth and ended up stranded in a life raft in the Atlantic Ocean for several hours before NASA was able to retrieve him.

Breitling

Seawater damaged his custom Navitimer, so Willy Breitling replaced it with a replica and stashed the original in the brand’s archives, where it sat untouched for decades.

When Breitling reintroduced Carpenter’s Navitimer Cosmonaute design in 2022, it matched the original with a steel case and black dial. However, celebrating the late NASA pioneer’s 100th birthday required something more prestigious.

The Scott Carpenter Centenary edition of the Navitimer Cosmonaute has a platinum case with a platinum case back ring holding a sapphire crystal exhibition window.

A deep blue was chosen for the dial and matching strap to represent the view of Earth’s surface from space.

Breitling

As only the second reappearance of the 24-hour dial Navitimer Cosmonaute, this special edition upgrade is a rare treat for fans of Breitling and horological history.

The Navitimer is iconic but familiar. However, a 24-hour dial version designed by one of the first Americans in space is exceptional and bursting with character.

Availability and pricing

The Breitling Navitimer Chronograph Cosmonaute Scott Carpenter Centenary is available now from Breitling for $42,000.

Breitling

Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute Scott Carpenter Centenary

Specs

Case Size	41mm
Movement	Breitling caliber B02 manual-wound
Water Resistance	30m

• $42,000 at Breitling

Related Topics