Breitling Celebrate Scott Carpenter’s Centenary With Platinum…

Breitling celebrate 100 years since the birth of the American spaceflight pioneer, unveiling 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.

Astronaut Scott Carpenter, wearing his Mercury spacesuit in 1962, died Oct. 10, 2013. (Image credit: NASA)

Its chronograph and signature slide rule 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.

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. 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.”
Georges Kern, CEO, Breitling

The Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute celebrates astronaut Scott Carpenter and the legacy of space exploration. Powered by the Breitling Manufacture Caliber B02, this manual chronograph features a 24-hour display — a practical nod to its spacefaring origins. Unlike automatic movements, the hand-wound B02 can operate reliably in zero gravity. It boasts a COSC-certified accuracy and a 70-hour power reserve, visible through a sapphire crystal caseback.

The caseback is engraved with special tributes: “Carpenter,” his capsule “Aurora 7,” “3 orbits around the Earth,” and “Mercury 7,” NASA’s first astronaut group. Additional engravings include “First Swiss wristwatch in space,” “One of 50,” and “Scott Carpenter Centenary 1925–2025.”

At 12 o’clock, the dial features the winged logo of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), reflecting the Navitimer’s roots as the official watch for the world’s largest pilots’ club since 1952. The dial includes three subdials for running seconds, chronograph minutes, and hours, plus a date window at 6 o’clock. Mushroom-style pushers allow smooth chronograph operation, and a bright red seconds hand ensures excellent legibility.

The watch comes in an elegant wooden presentation box, inscribed with “First Swiss wristwatch in space. May 24th, 1962,” and includes a replica of the Mercury 7 name badge from Carpenter’s space suit.

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.

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.

Technical Specifications:

NAVITIMER B02 CHRONOGRAPH 41 COSMONAUTE SCOTT CARPENTER CENTENARY

Reference: LB0240211C1P1

WATCH MOVEMENT

Caliber: Breitling Manufacture Caliber B02

Diameter: 30 millimeters

Thickness: 6.83 millimeters

Winder: mechanical hand-wound

Power reserve: approximately 70 hours

Number of components: 273

Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz

Chronograph: column-wheel, vertical clutch, 1/4th second, 30-minute and 12-hour totalizers