The history of the Breitling Replica 809 Cosmonaute is one that perfectly mates with its aviation-inspired design. Breitling launched the Navitimer in 1954 and aviators – from commercial to those in the armed forces, heavily used this watch.Breitling responded and they paired the dial with a modified Venus 178 – just as in the Navitimer – but geared to move the hour hand around the dial at half speed to correspond to 24-hours. The watch officially debuted in 1961 as the Cosmonaute and Carpenter famously – Breitling Replica Swiss Movement would go on to advertise the feat of the Cossie being the first watch on the wrist of an American astronaut– wore the watch on the Mercury-Aurora 7 program launch in 1962.
Aside from a touch of green found on the outer ring of the slide rule – likely caused by perspiration entering through the edge of the crystal or rotating bezel – this Fake Breitling Watches 809 Cosmonaute is in wonderful condition. Notably, the applied lume numerals are showing a lovely aged tritium instead of the typical “black” that also points to prior moisture entry. The lugs on this example are also in fantastically sharp shape with their signature chamfers and a transition to perfectly matte sides. The big, fat signed crown and stubby pushers also speak to the production date of somewhere between 1966-1968.
I’ve been highly impressed with the Breitling Swiss Replica. As a “beaded bezel” owner, I was excited to take ownership of a ridged or straight cut bezel. It gives the watch a less jeweled, more modern look versus earlier executions and also gives the appearance of more height. Likewise, this is my first Breitling with the twin planes – much like the 806 Navitimer worn by World Champion Jim Clark and I like that as well. In one’s collection, variety is a lovely thing.
