EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

1962 Breitling Cosmonaute Navitimer reference 809 Scott Carpenter. This is possibly one of the rarest watches in the world considered by many collectors as one of the “holy grails” of vintage Breitling watches.

The legendary watch came into existence fifty years ago when Lieutenant Commander Scott Carpenter a US Navy test pilot was selected as one of seven astronauts for NASA’s Mercury Program. An avid wearer of the 12-hour Navitimer pilot’s watch for more than a decade he contacted Breitling and suggested they make a 24-hour version of the watch.

In 1961 the Cosmonaute was born a 24-hour version of the popular and enduring Navitimer. Lt Cmdr Carpenter received his own Cosmonaute just three days before his historic space flight on May 24 1962. News photos of Carpenter about to embark on his space mission show the Cosmonaute worn over the glove on his left hand – the first Breitling in space.

Lt Cmdr Carpenter orbited the Earth over three times the five hour flight ending with a splash down in the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately the non-waterproof watch was damaged and although it was sent to Breitling for repair it was never returned. To this day its whereabouts remains a mystery.

This watch comes to Watch Seller from an impressive private collection of rare timepieces.

The case number dates this piece to 1962 and it has the distinctive extra wide sloping “beads of rice” bezel. 

The watch comes with box and booklets.

A true collector’s piece.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST