Breitling
Navitimer Cosmonaute, Ref. 809 Stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with 24 hour dial Circa 1962
Lot Closed
February 10, 02:31 PM GMT
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Breitling
Navitimer Cosmonaute, Ref. 809
Stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with 24 hour dial
Circa 1962
Dial: black
Calibre: cal. 176 manual winding, 17 jewels
Case: stainless steel, snap-on back
Case number: 1'073'669
Closure: Breitling genuine leather strap and stainless steel buckle
Dimensions:
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: none
In 1959 NASA announced its preliminary lineup of astronauts for the space program, choosing a group of the USA's best scientists, and fighter and test pilots among the elite. Astronaut Malcolm Scott Carpenter, having served as a combat pilot in the Korean War, apparently reached out to Breitling with a formal request - to install a 24-hour dial to their trusted Navitimers.
Breitling registered the name Cosmonaute in 1961, and modified the Navitimer to include a 24-hour dial. In 1962, the Navitimer Cosmonaute became the first Breitling wristwatch to go to space on the wrist of Mr Carpenter who orbited the Earth three times aboard the Aurora 7.