A piece of space history was shown to the public for the first time at a dedicated event that brought together journalists, collectors and enthusiasts from all over the world in Zurich on 24 May: it was the Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute worn by astronaut Scott Carpenter who, on 24 May 1962, aboard the Aurora 7 spacecraft, orbited the Earth before sinking without incident into the Atlantic Ocean five hours after its launch.
Today, exactly 60 years after that mission (the Mercury-Atlas 7), the legendary 24-hour dial watch is back in the news with a special edition presented at the same event and faithful at first glance to the original. Inevitable on the new Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Limited Edition are the circular slide rule for performing mathematical calculations, the "wings" of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association logo, the three chronograph counters and, of course, the 24-hour display.
Also unchanged are the all-black dial and the matching leather strap, or, alternatively, the steel bracelet. A closer look, however, reveals all the new features that distinguish the current watch with its elegantly proportioned 41 mm steel case: first and foremost, the platinum bezel, a touch of excellence that makes this numbered edition of 362 pieces (equal to the number of circumnavigations the spacecraft made around the Earth) an even more coveted collector's item.
Another new feature is the sapphire crystal case back that allows one to admire the movement used, a hand-wound B02 calibre, embellished with special commemorative engravings on the bridge: the words "Carpenter", "Aurora 7" and "3 orbits around the Earth", together with the name of the original group of seven astronauts selected by NASA for the first tourist flights in space, "Mercury 7". And, as a final tribute, the engraving of the date of Carpenter's mission, the relevant watch number from among the 362 pieces and the phrase 'First Swiss wristwatch in space'.
