Astronaut Reid Wiseman and other crew members wore the new Cosmonaute model on the Artemis II mission.
Breitling has scored a major public relations and marketing coup after several of its Cosmonaute watches traveled to space and were worn by astronauts during NASA’s Artemis II mission orbiting the moon. While the unreleased Cosmonaute models weren’t the only watches worn on the mission, NASA issued Omega X-33 Speedmasters, and a Speedmaster Professional was also spotted in mission photos and identified by internet sleuths, including Nick Gould (aka niccoloy on Instagram). The fact that all four crew members, including mission commander Reid Wiseman, wore the new Breitling Cosmonaute watches at some point during the voyage marks a significant win for the Grenchen, Switzerland-based brand, underscoring its long association as a maker of mission-ready instrument tool watches.
Today, in a well-orchestrated bid to make the most of the associated publicity, Breitling is confirming the new Cosmonaute’s use on the space flight and releasing a limited edition version of the same watch model. Featuring a blue meteorite dial, the new Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Artemis II will be available in just 450 pieces, Breitling says.
Featuring the Cosmonaute’s well-established 24-hour dial layout, the 41-millimeter case of the new Artemis II is offered in practical stainless steel, a nod to the material used for the original watch that the model line is based on. That was, of course, a custom Navitimer created for astronaut Scott Carpenter in 1962 with a 24-hour dial to help distinguish day from night while in orbit. It was worn by Carpenter on Mercury 7 as he orbited Earth three times, giving the Navitimer the distinction of being the first Swiss wristwatch to make it to space.
In updated versions, it was later called the Cosmonaute and featuring Carpenter’s requested attributes, most notably the 24-hour display that’s suited for mission timing duties, the Cosmonaute is heralded as the first Swiss watch designed specifically for space flight.
The Artemis II Cosmonaute is updated to feature a black, circular slide rule bezel. The ‘galaxy blue’ meteorite dial offers the three subdial counters in the same color and material that are framed by white hours, minutes, and seconds markers. Powered by the same B02 movement used in current-generation Cosmonaute models, the chronograph seconds hand and accents are red.
The watch continues the typical Cosmonaute layout with white indexes and hour markers that are filled with Super-LumiNova. The hours and minutes hands are also lumed. With a lug-to-lug measurement of 47mm and a lug width of 22mm, the new Cosmonaute is paired with an alligator blue leather strap and stainless steel folding buckle.
Save for the dial color, steel case, and black slide rule, the special Artemis II limited edition generally keeps to the Cosmonaute Navitimer playbook. The link to theArtemis II mission is noted only on the caseback with the mission logo placed in the middle of the sapphire display window. ‘Artemis II’ and ‘One of 450’ are also engraved on the steel ring surrounding the sapphire window.
The Navitimer Cosmonaute’s historical role and continued utility as a NASA mission-designed and ready instrument were given a massive boost being worn in space by the astronauts of Artemis II. The mission commander Wiseman even talked about the watch and the reason for its use in a comment on the @niccoloy Instagram post about it. Wiseman said the watch was used to track ‘mission elapsed time’ or MET while onboard and noted that the 24-display was “extremely helpful.”
Image credit: Instagram @niccoloy
When it comes to winning an endorsement on the merits of a watch designed for use in space, it simply doesn’t get much better than that. With a distinct dial, slide rule bezel, and mission logo on the caseback, the 450-piece limited edition Breitling Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Artemis II offers the chance to experience the same timepiece that played a role in the historic mission.
Brand: Breitling
Model: Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Artemis II
Reference Number: AB02307A1C1P1
Diameter: 41mm
Thickness: 13mm
Case Material: Steel
Dial Color: Blue meterorite
Indexes: Applied
Lume: Super-LumiNova luminescent indexes, hour and minute hand
Water Resistance: 3 bar (30 meters)
Strap/Bracelet: Blue alligator leather strap 22mm width with a stainless-steel folding buckle.
Caliber: Breitling Manufacture Caliber B02
Functions: Hours (24), minutes, seconds, chronograph with 30 minute and 12 hour counters.
Diameter: 30mm
Thickness: 6.83mm
Power Reserve: 66 hours approximate
Winding: Mechanical hand-wound
Frequency: 28,800 vph or 4 hertz
Jewels: 39
Chronometer Certified: Yes, COSC certified.
Price: $11,900
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: Limited to 450 pieces.
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