Home > Watches > Breitling > Rare 1966 Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute 809

Rare 1966 Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute 809

Details

Brand:Breitling
Model:Cosmonaute
Reference:809
Year:1966
Papers inlcuded:No
Box included:No
Sold

Enquire

Description

Here we have an extremely rare and original 1966 Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute reference 809.

The Breitling Cosmonaute will always hold a sacred place in history…..

On May 24th 1962, Scott Carpenter, an astronaut for NASA on the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission orbited the Earth three times aboard the Aurora 7 capsule.

Recognizing that his tasks in space would involve timekeeping, and having been introduced to the Breitling Navitimer as a trusted watch used by his fellow test pilots and associates in the Air Force, Carpenter approached Breitling to produce a modified version of the timepiece for his orbital flight.

The astronaut suggested Breitling keep the Navitimer’s unique circular slide rule for making flight calculations but replace its tachymeter dial with a 24-hour display.

The watch only arrived with him 3 days before lift-off but on his wrist when he went into space in 1962 was a unique Breitling Navitimer with a 24-hour graduation dial – a vital necessity in being able to distinguish day from night and for astronauts to ‘say what they read’ .

And so the Breitling Cosmonaute became the first chronograph wristwatch to ever be worn in space and orbit the earth.

 

This 1966 watch has an all original ‘twin planes’ dial and hands with all original lume and the case appears unpolished, being huge with sharp edges to the case profile and lugs. It still retains it’s original domed crystal.

The original Venus 178 powered chronograph movement is clean, fully serviced with warranty and works correctly with all chronograph functions working as they should.

The case is correctly engraved 809 on the rear and with a 1.0m serial number inside. The bracelet is a non Breitling one but with straight ends and suits the style of the watch perfectly.

It is really rare to find such an original piece like this, especially of a watch that is already rare in itself.

More watch brands to browse

If you are looking to sell your Breitling watch or for a Breitling watch buyer in the UK then please get in touch. We can help with your Breitling watch valuation, offer the best price and organise purchase of your Breitling watch quickly and with immediate payment. Many references available from satisfied clients worldwide.

Copyright sweepinghand.co.uk 2024

Website built and designed by dotjuice.co.uk