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I just realized I hadn't shown this one for awhile , if ever here ?

one of the hardest cosmo's to find
The lume is redone on this dial but it doesnt bother me too much. If I ever find another 1962 809 in a better condition it might get replaced but for now its the best I have

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

Waow René, the dial is relumed, what a shame, you would feel better throwing it away, I have a special bin for that
Seriously a highly desirable Cosmo!

Looks great Rene. A query, why do some 809's called the Scott Carpenter have no "Cosmonaute" written on the dial? So it doesn't matter if Cosmonaute is written or not on a 62 809 to be called a Scott Carpenter 809? Also that's a wide bezel, correct?

Another stunning watch, Rene. I'm in awe of the near flawless case condition. Had to be NOS?

Is there no end to your list of grails?!?

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Dave

Thats probably the same Bin I have it in ?



I think the ones without Cosmonaute are a little younger ? due to the bad connotation it may have had in the USA as Cosmonaut was the Russian word for Astronaut the word Cosmonaute was removed from the dial ?

From BillShaine, a well known Ebay seller:

IN 1962, BREITLING INTRODUCED A 24 HOUR VERSION OF THE NAVITIMER CALLED THE COSMONAUTE WHICH WAS FRENCH FOR "ASTRONAUT". THE 1962 MODEL INCLUDED A UNIQUE SECOND HAND, WHICH WAS ABANDONED SOME TIME IN 1963 IN FAVOR OF THE NEW HAND SETS THAT WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN THE 12 HOUR VERSION IN OR POSSIBLE DECEMBER OF 1963. LATE (DECEMBER) 1963, BREITLING INTRODUCED WHITE SUBDIALS WHILE CONTINUING WITH THE BEADED BEZEL. THESE ARE VERY SCARCE. SOME HAVE SHOWN UP WITH 1964 HANDS, WHILE OTHERS HAVE THE EARLIER HANDS IN USE SINCE 1954. IN JANUARY 0F 1964, BREITLING INTRODUCED A COIN EDGE BEZEL WHILE CONTINUING WITH THE LATE 1963 DIAL WITH SMALL WHITE SUBDDIALS AND THE 24 HOUR AOPA OR AOPA STYLE INSIGNIA. THE DOUBLE WING INSIGNIA, IN GREY, WAS INTRODUCED IN EITHER JANUARY OR FEBRUARY OF 1964, AND THE 24K GOLD AOPA AND AOPA TYPE INSIGNIA DISAPPEARED IN FAVOR OF A GOLD PRINTED AOPA INSIGNIA IN FEBRUARY OF 1964. THIS INSIGNIA CONTINUED IN USE FOR AOPA WATCHES UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED IN 1965 WITH THE A SILVER AOPA INSIGNIA WHICH CONTINUED IN USE TOGETHER WITH THE THE DOUBLE PLANE INSIGNIA FOR NON AOPA 806 NAVITIMERS FOR THE BALANCE OF THE 806'S PRODUCTION YEARS.

WAKMANN MADE ONE OTHER LITTLE KNOWN CHANGE IN THE MARKETING OF THE 24 HOUR NAVITIMER. THERE ARE ERRORS IN THE PUBLISHED WAKMANN HISTORY THAT MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE CHANGE HAPPENED, BUT I BELIEVE IT TO BE 1964 OR 1965. THE CHANGE HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN BY COLLECTORS TODAY. THE WORD"COSMONAUTE" (WITH AN E) IS FRENCH, AND HAS THE SAME MEANING AS THE ENGLISH WORD "ASTRONAUT". IN THE EARLY AND MID 60'S HOWEVER, THE WORD "COSMONAUT" (WITH NO E) WAS THE ANGLICIZED WORD FOR A RUSSIAN ASTRONAUT AND PRONOUNCED THE SAME WAY AS THE FRENCH WORD.

THERE WAS STILL A BIG RED SCARE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THE FRENCH WORD "COSMONAUTE" WAS TOO EASILY CONFUSED WITH THE RUSSIAN. RUSSIA WAS BRIEFLY AHEAD OF THE UNITED STATES IN WHAT WAS CALLED "THE SPACE RACE" IN THE UNITED STATES. THE OBSTACLE WAS A BIG MARKETING HURDLE, AND WAKMANN INTRODUCED THE NEW NAME, ASTRO-TIMER, FOR THE 24 HOUR WATCH. THIS ALSO EXPLAINS WHY THE WORD "NAVITIMER" STAYED ON THE DIAL OF THE 809 COSMONAUTE, AND WHY THE WORD "COSMONAUTE" WAS SELDOM SEEN, ALTHOUGH IT APPEARS ON SOME OF THE EARLY DIALS FROM 1962 AND IN THE FAMOUS ADVERTISEMENT WITH THE MESH BRACELET. IF YOU WANT AN EMAILED COPY OF THE WAKMANN CATALOG LISTING WITH THE ASTRO-TIMER NAME, LET ME KNOW. THE WORD "COSMONAUTE" IS CONSPICUOUSLY ABSENT IN THE WAKMANN LITERATURE.



Yes this is the wide bezel



I didnt realize Fred had one as well ?
But its not NOS , it is however in good enough condition to be cherished for now

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

Thanks for the explanation Rene!

Oops! Sorry about that, Rene! Not enough coffee yet today.

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Dave

nope, not Freds, though I would not mind at all, would gladly live with that reliumed dial for a while ...