Breitling has introduced two manual-wind chronographs, the Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 and the Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute, drawing on the design and technical heritage of its 1960s Twin Jet Navitimer models. Both watches feature the period-inspired Twin Jet logo and will become permanent additions to the brand’s core collection
Originally developed in 1952, the Navitimer combined a chronograph with a circular slide rule, allowing pilots to perform flight-related calculations using the rotating bezel. In 1962, Breitling adapted the design for astronaut Scott Carpenter, introducing a 24-hour display for his Mercury-Atlas 7 orbital mission.
The two new models revisit these distinct chapters in the Navitimer’s history, incorporating manually wound manufacture movements and design elements associated with the original watches.
Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute
The Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute traces its origins to the watch developed under Willy Breitling for Scott Carpenter’s Mercury-Atlas 7 mission. Its 24-hour display was designed to help astronauts distinguish time during spaceflight, where the conventional cycle of day and night was no longer a reliable reference.
Carpenter wore the original Cosmonaute during his orbital flight on May 24, 1962, making it the first Swiss wristwatch to travel into space.
The contemporary Cosmonaute features a 41-mm stainless-steel case housing the manually wound Breitling Manufacture Caliber B02, a 24-hour chronograph movement exclusive to the Cosmonaute collection.
The watch incorporates a date display within the lower subdial, colour-matched to the dial to maintain visual consistency and symmetry.
It is available with a brown gradient calfskin-leather strap featuring a folding clasp or a seven-row stainless-steel bracelet with alternating satin and polished finishes.
“Creating the Cosmonaute for the core collection is an important moment for Breitling,” says Jean-Marc Pontroué, CEO of Breitling. “This is a watch with an incredible history, but we don’t see it as something that belongs only to the past. The manual-wind 24-hour movement combined with the unmistakable Navitimer design set it apart from all other chronographs in our collection.”
Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41
The Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 introduces Breitling’s manually wound Manufacture Caliber B09 into the permanent Navitimer collection for the first time. Previous Navitimer models equipped with this movement were produced as limited editions or commemorative releases, including the Navitimer Tribute to Miles Davis.
Its design references the 1960s Navitimer watches associated with racing drivers Jim Clark and Graham Hill, both of whom were also pilots.
The model is housed in a 41-mm case and offered with either a black or blue dial, each featuring contrasting white subdials in a reverse-panda configuration. The signature circular slide rule remains part of the design.
The manually wound movement and absence of a date display allow for a slimmer case profile, with proportions influenced by earlier Navitimer chronographs.
The black-dial version is paired with a brown gradient calfskin-leather strap, while the blue-dial model comes with a matching blue gradient leather strap. Both feature folding clasps with release buttons and are also available with seven-row stainless-steel bracelets.
Manual-Wind Movements and the Twin Jet Logo
Both chronographs incorporate manually wound manufacture movements, referencing an important period in mechanical watchmaking before the introduction of automatic chronographs in 1969.
The Cosmonaute uses the Caliber B02 with its 24-hour display, while the B09 Chronograph features a conventional 12-hour configuration. The movements combine traditional manual winding with contemporary mechanical specifications.
The two watches also feature Breitling’s Twin Jet logo, introduced by the brand in 1957 and first appearing on the Navitimer dial in 1965.
The emblem was associated with civilian Navitimer models, distinguishing them from versions bearing the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) insignia. It subsequently became an established element of Breitling’s visual identity.
On the new models, the Twin Jet logo appears in gold against the dials.
“The Navitimer has always evolved with the people who wear it,” says Georges Kern, CEO of House of Brands. “The B09 brings the look and feel of the classic 1960s Navitimer into the modern collection, and the Cosmonaute tells the story of how the Navitimer went from the cockpit to space. These modern-retro pieces show just how much history is built into the Navitimer collection.”
Permanent Additions to the Navitimer Collection
The introduction of the Navitimer B09 Chronograph 41 and Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute marks the inclusion of two historically influenced, manually wound models in Breitling’s regular production range.
The B09 draws on the design conventions of 1960s mechanical chronographs, while the Cosmonaute retains the distinctive 24-hour configuration originally developed for spaceflight. Both models will be available as part of the permanent Navitimer collection, extending the range beyond the limited-edition and commemorative releases previously associated with these configurations.
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