Lot 208

Breitling

Cosmonaute Chrono-Matic

A large vintage aviation wrist chronograph in near mint condition, with 24h indicator, 30 min. and 12h counter, date and slide rule function via turnable bezel

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The Cosmonaute with 24-hour display was launched in 1952; it rose to fame when it travelled space during the Mercury 7 mission on the wrist of Scott Carpenter, who orbited Earth three times in the spaceship Aurora 7 on May 24, 1962 – the second American to orbit Earth. For the mission Breitling fitted their prestigious Navitimer with a 24-hour dial to guarantee the most precise time data in space. When Breitling introduced the Chrono-Matic in 1969 as one of their first automatic chronograph movements, it was the first major update for the Navitimer since its launch in 1954. The next step in the evolution, Navitimer Ref. 1806 eventually developed into the next generation through its "sister" reference 1809, the Cosmonaute Chrono-Matic with 24-hour dial. This piece is the second execution of the model and catches the eye with its distinctive orange-coloured hour and minute hands.
The watch dates from 1970 and is in extremely good condition: the edges of the case are sharp, the black dial with the silvered chronograph registers is immaculate; the luminous material of the 24 hour display is perfect and has acquired a beautiful patina over time.