Breitling Cosmonaute Ref. 809
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1960s
Maker / issuer
BreitlingThis Breitling Cosmonaute is a manually wound chronograph watch featuring a 24-hour dial scale, which ensures the hour hand completes a full rotation once every 24 hours.
The watch is housed in a 41mm stainless steel case and is powered by the Venus 178 column-wheel chronograph movement. The black dial includes three contrasting chronograph registers and a circular slide rule, designed as a professional instrument. The watch features luminous Arabic numerals and markers that have aged to a warm tone. A gilt "Cosmonaute" signature and Breitling’s twin-plane emblem are located on the dial.
The watch is presented with a Plexiglass crystal. This reference was developed following the requirements of astronaut Malcolm Scott Carpenter for the Aurora 7 mission in May 1962, intended for environments where traditional day and night rhythms are not applicable.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Chronograph
- Maker
- Breitling
- Model
- Cosmonaute
- Movement
- Venus 178
- Reference
- 809
- Dial feature
- 24-hour scale
- Case diameter
- 41mm
- Associated mission
- Aurora 7
- Maker / attribution
- Breitling
Design
- Visible features
- • 24-hour dial scale with Arabic numerals • Contrasting chronograph registers at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock • Circular slide rule integrated into the dial bezel • Stainless steel case with manual winding pushers
- Case and Movement
- The watch is constructed with a 41mm stainless steel case, noted as a large dimension for the era in which it was produced. The case includes standard chronograph pushers and a crown on the side for manual operation. Internally, the timepiece is powered by the Venus 178 movement. This is a manually wound, column-wheel chronograph caliber, which served as the mechanical basis for several of the manufacturer's chronographs during this period.
- Historical Context
- The Cosmonaute model emerged from the early development of American spaceflight programs. Its specific layout was developed after consultation with astronaut Malcolm Scott Carpenter, who sought a watch adapted for environments where traditional day and night cycles were not present. A specialized version of this watch was worn during the Aurora 7 mission in May 1962. The design intended to serve as a professional instrument, reflected in the density of information provided on the dial and the specific movement choice.
- Design and Dial Configuration
- The Breitling Cosmonaute is distinguished by its 24-hour dial layout, a departure from standard 12-hour watch displays. This configuration requires the hour hand to travel the circumference of the dial only once every twenty-four hours. The dial is black and incorporates three contrasting chronograph registers. Included on the dial is a circular slide rule, a component carried over from the Navitimer model. The dial elements include Arabic numerals and markers that have acquired a warm patina over time. A gilt "Cosmonaute" signature and the Breitling twin-plane emblem are present on the dial surface. The entire assembly is protected by a Plexiglass crystal.
Identification
- Reference
- 809
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The exact year of manufacture is not provided, only a general 1960s attribution.
- Research required: Specific serial numbers are not disclosed in the provided source.