Another retro themed watch from Breitling? Who’d have thought it? The brand we love to love, but that itself hates the Internet (just visit their website and you’ll know what I mean) brings us a new watch with the Breitling Cosmonaute Automatic Chronograph. Sort of an overly simplistic name if you ask me, but I like the whole connection with space travel. Interestingly enough, the watch has the word “cosmonaute” (cosmonaut) in it that I at least associate with Russian astronauts, but the watch is meant to celebrate an American feat. So what exactly is going on here in the Breitling marketing department? It used to be that watch companies mostly focused on the American space industry, but now you have an incredible shift in focusing on the Russian – and to smaller extent Japanese – space programs. I believe it is because Omega has the US market cornered with the Speedmaster Moonwatch, and Russians are buying watches like mad (and will again as soon as the economy rounds itself out a bit). Just some speculation though.
Going back to what the watch is meant to celebrate. Breitling says that for its (Breitling’s) 125th anniversary, and they are making this watch to celebrate Scott Carpenter’s 1962 mission aboard the Aurora 7 capsule where he first tested out a chronograph watch in space. It was basically an orbital flight around the Earth. I believe he was wearing a Breitling at the time. OK, so that is cool, but what about the watch itself?
The watch does something interesting that you won’t easily be able to decipher just from looking at it. See how the dial has 24 hours and not 12? Well the watch goes slower that your normal watch. Actually half as fast only. The hour hand makes its way once around the dial each 24 hours. Why? Cause this is Breitling’s way of having a day/night watch. Making it possible to know if it is day or night, especially important in space where it is hard to know whether it is day or night. I like that instead of just redressing another watch, Breitling actually did something different with the Cosmonaute Automatic Chronograph watch.
The 41.50mm wide steel case has a Breitling Caliber 22 automatic chronograph movement that has been COSC Chronometer certified. It is a flyback chronograph and it has a date complication as well. The dial is attractive with plenty of lume, and you get Beitling’s signature sliderule bezel for the 3 people on the planet that actually use it. Its value is far more steeped in looking cool than anything else these days. You also have the newer “Steel Air Racer” bracelet that is rigid metal and perforated as you can see. I’ve never worn this type of bracelet and have no idea if it just looks cool, or maybe actually is cool. Good news is that if you don’t like it, Breitling has a universe of other straps and bracelets to choose from.
Like all good Breitling watches, the case is water resistant to 300 meters and the sapphire crystal has been AR coated on both sides. If Breitling is able to achieve 300 meters of water resistant on a chronograph without screwed down pushers, why aren’t other companies able to more often? Breitling is further known for having highly polished watch cases, which is no exception here. Putting a little bling back into orbital flight right? The Cosmonaute Automatic Chronograph watch will be limited to just 1000 pieces.
See Breitling chronograph watches on eBay here.
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