Breitling Marks Scott Carpenter’s Centenary With Platinum Navitimer Cosmonaute

Centenary Tribute to Cosmonaute

PRESS RELEASE | 962 WORDS | 9 MINUTE READ

To celebrate 100 years since the birth of the American spaceflight pioneer, Breitling unveils the 50-piece limited-edition Navitimer Cosmonaute – the first Swiss wristwatch in space.

On May 24, 1962, Scott Carpenter orbited the Earth three times as part of NASA’s Mercury-Atlas 7 mission – becoming only the second American to do so. On his wrist: a one-of-a-kind Navitimer, custom-built by Breitling for space.

Its chronograph and signature slide rule had made it an indispensable tool in the cockpit. But space called for something different. Prior to his mission, Carpenter wrote to Breitling asking for a custom Navitimer with a few special modifications: a wider bezel for use with gloved hands, a stretch-metal bracelet to fit over his space suit, and, most famously – a 24-hour dial. In orbit, where the sun rises and sets every 90 minutes, this 24-hour display would keep him grounded in time.

Photo Courtsey: Breitling

It was a challenge that third-generation founder Willy Breitling couldn’t refuse. The result was the Navitimer Cosmonaute. Delivered just days before lift-off, it became the first Swiss wristwatch in space.

Now, six decades later, Breitling honors that era-defining journey – and the man behind it – with a platinum tribute to one of the great names in space exploration.

The new Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Scott Carpenter Centenary celebrates 100 years since the late astronaut’s birth on May 1, 1925. The deep blue dial evokes the color of Earth as seen from space – vivid, saturated, and unforgettable – while the crisp white slide rule recalls its swirling cloud cover. That same blue carries through to the matching alligator leather strap, secured with a white-gold folding buckle. Limited to just 50 pieces, this edition is the ultimate tribute to Carpenter and his historic Mercury-Atlas 7 mission.

“Breitling has been part of some of the most important moments in watchmaking, but sending the first Swiss wristwatch into space is one of our proudest achievements,” said Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling. “Willy Breitling didn’t hesitate when Scott Carpenter asked for a watch built for space; he made it happen. That spirit – being innovative, taking risks, pushing limits – is how we still operate today.”

THE CENTENARY COSMONAUTE

The Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Scott Carpenter Centenary is powered by the Breitling Manufacture Caliber B02, a manual chronograph with a 24-hour display. The hand wound movement isn’t just a tribute to the original – it also performs where automatics may falter. Not essential for most, but reassuring if the next trip involves zero gravity.

The COSC-certified movement offers approximately 70 hours of power reserve and is visible through the sapphire crystal caseback. Unique bridge engravings commemorate Carpenter with the inscriptions “Carpenter,” his capsule “Aurora 7,” “3 orbits around the Earth,” and the name of NASA’s first astronaut group “Mercury 7.” Additional caseback engravings read “First Swiss wristwatch in space,” “One of 50,” and “Scott Carpenter Centenary 1925-2025.”

At 12 o’clock, the dial bears the winged logo of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) – highlighting the Navitimer’s historic role as the official watch of the world’s largest pilots’ club since its development in 1952. The watch features three subdials for running seconds, chronograph minutes, and hours, along with a discreet date window at 6 o’clock. Mushroom pushers ensure smooth operation, while a bright red chronograph seconds hand enhances legibility when measuring elapsed times.

The timepiece is presented in a luxurious wooden box, with the interior marked “First Swiss wristwatch in space. May 24th, 1962.” Accompanying the display is a replica of Carpenter’s Mercury 7 name badge.

CUSTOM-MADE FOR CARPENTER

The original Cosmonaute was damaged upon splashdown. After landing 250 nautical miles (460 km) off course in the Atlantic, Carpenter spent three hours in a life raft awaiting rescue. During that time, salt water corroded the dial.

Willy Breitling replaced the watch, and the original remained in the brand’s archives – untouched and unseen – until 2022, when it made its first public appearance for the 60th anniversary of Carpenter’s mission. It was later displayed at Breitling’s Then & Now pop-up museum in Zurich as part of the brand’s 140th anniversary. Fittingly, the corrosion on the dial has taken on the appearance of a distant planetary surface.

To celebrate the new limited edition and the final week of Breitling’s 140th-anniversary pop-up museum, a special event was held on site. There, Willy Breitling’s son Gregory – who had been just a boy when the Cosmonaute was created – shared the story. His recollections offered a rare glimpse into the decision-making, creativity, and sheer speed with which his father responded to Scott Carpenter’s request.

Though damaged, that original endures as a powerful artifact from the dawn of space exploration and a bold new direction in Swiss watchmaking. With the new centenary edition, Breitling revives a pioneering timepiece, while inviting a new generation to rediscover the spirit of adventure that carried Scott Carpenter into orbit, and into history.

ABOUT BREITLING

Founded in 1884, Breitling is a leading Swiss watchmaker. The innovative company invented the modern chronograph and pioneered the navigational tool watch. Today, it is still breaking new ground as a casual, inclusive, and sustainable luxury brand with more than 290 industrial loft-inspired retail locations around the world. Breitling’s collections center around air, land, and sea pursuits, all captured in the brand’s unmistakable modern-retro style. The exceptional quality of every watch movement is confirmed by its status as a COSC-certified chronometer, and the brand remains one of only a handful of independent watchmakers to produce its own manufacture calibers. Today, Breitling is on a mission to do better, by creating beautiful products and experiences with better materials, better manufacturing, better packaging, and end-to-end traceability. Combining classic watchmaking with the latest and most sustainable innovations, Breitling is both a company with history and one that is ahead of its time.

For further information visit breitling.com