In the competitive arena of horological space heritage, Breitling holds a unique distinction—creating the first Swiss wristwatch to venture beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
The story begins in 1962 when U.S. astronaut Scott Carpenter wore a specially modified Navitimer during his three-orbit Mercury-Atlas 7 mission, requesting crucial modifications including a 24-hour dial and wider bezel to accommodate operation over his spacesuit.
This historic timepiece inspired the commercial Cosmonaute model, and now Breitling honors both the watch and its wearer with the Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Scott Carpenter Centenary—a platinum limited edition marking 100 years since Carpenter’s birth.
Platinum Pioneer
This premium tribute maintains the Cosmonaute’s essential space-ready features while elevating materials and finishing to extraordinary levels. The signature 24-hour dial remains central to the design, allowing astronauts to track day and night cycles during rapid orbital transitions where traditional sunrise and sunset become meaningless.
The requisite Navitimer slide rule provides calculation capabilities without electronic assistance, while the chronograph enables precise timing—all critical functions for space missions operating on split-second schedules.
The deep blue dial creates striking contrast against white elements including the slide rule, Arabic numerals, and chronograph subdials. Bright red accents highlight the chronograph timing hand and select numerals, adding visual drama that enhances legibility in various lighting conditions.
While Breitling has previously employed blue dials for Cosmonaute models, this particular shade represents a rarer aesthetic choice compared to the traditional black of the original space-flown piece.
The defining characteristic of this centenary edition lies in its platinum case construction. Limited to just 50 pieces worldwide, the precious metal housing dramatically increases both weight and exclusivity while maintaining the proven 41mm diameter and 13mm thickness that ensure wearability.
The substantial platinum construction commands a corresponding premium, with pricing set at $42,000—a significant increase over steel variants but appropriate for the precious metal content and limited production.
Space Heritage Engravings
Completing the luxury package is a dark blue alligator leather strap secured by an 18-karat white gold folding buckle, creating material harmony throughout the piece. The platinum screw-in exhibition caseback features engravings commemorating Breitling’s space heritage, limited production numbers, and Carpenter’s centenary spanning 1925 to 2025.
Visible through the sapphire crystal caseback, the hand-wound Breitling Manufacture Caliber B02 chronograph movement receives special decorative treatment honoring Carpenter’s historic mission.
Bridge engravings reference the astronaut, his “Aurora 7” capsule, the three Earth orbits achieved, and NASA’s pioneering “Mercury 7” astronaut group. These same commemorative engravings appeared on a 2022 steel Cosmonaute limited edition marking the mission’s 60th anniversary, though that model commanded a more accessible $14,900 price point.
The B02 movement delivers impressive specifications including approximately 70-hour power reserve, 28,800 beats per hour frequency, and COSC chronometer certification. As a hand-wound caliber, it connects wearers to traditional watchmaking rituals while providing the reliability essential for precision timekeeping.
For collectors seeking ultimate expressions of space exploration heritage combined with platinum luxury, the Carpenter Centenary Cosmonaute represents the pinnacle of Breitling’s aerospace legacy.
The combination of historical significance, precious metal construction, limited availability, and authentic space pedigree creates a compelling proposition for enthusiasts who appreciate both horological excellence and pioneering human achievement beyond Earth’s boundaries.
