Thanks Roff, Rene. I guess I mean the Scott Carpenter verion instead of first gen Scott Carpenter:). Any idea if the all black dial cosmo came first serially and the white subdialed version was released simultaneously or later? This is quite confusing unlike with the 806's.

I have done som "research" here, since this is something that interests me too. You'll find it in a lengthy article on my blog about the Cosmonaute and the Mercury Space Program. At the end of it there's a list of sites that you may find interesting. Unfortunately the article is in Norwegian, but here's a short summary:

The all black 24 hr version was the one Carpenter used when travelling in the Aurora-capsule 24 May 1962. But this was a prototype supplied by Breitling and was lost after the mission. It was submerged in water and was sent to Breitling for repairs. It was never returned and never found. As such it is a proper "grail".

Here's a somewhat bad picture of Carpenter with the watch inside the capsule:



Since it was a prototype I would assume that the only "Carpenter version" would be Carpenter's personal piece. And that one is lost, unfortunately. So if you want at piece as close as possible to Carpenter's, I would guess you should go for the all-black version from 1962, i.e. 1st generation 24hr Cosmonaute, with Navitimer reference 806 and not 809. The first Cosmonautes weren't called Cosmonautes and they had ref. 806. Personally, I opt for the transitional model from 1962/63 with white sub-dials and beaded bezel:



This is a rare one, but personally I like this configuration better than the original all black one. Well, matter of taste.

I would guess the white sub-dialed ones came after the black ones, as illustrated by this model. But as always with vintage Breitlings you can never be sure, since we are talking separation by months and not years...

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the info and welcome, nice to have you here to share with us, very interesting! Is that your watch? Awesome!
Had also read somewhere (could be in your blog) that that pic of Scott Carpenter wearing it might actually be a Photoshopped watch so wasn't sure if he actually wore a black dialled one.

I have done som "research" here, since this is something that interests me too. You'll find it in
The all black 24 hr version was the one Carpenter used when travelling in the Aurora-capsule 24 May 1962. But this was a prototype supplied by Breitling and was lost after the Since it was a prototype I would assume that the only "Carpenter version" would be Carpenter's personal piece. And that one is lost, unfortunately. So if you want at piece as close as possible to Carpenter's, I would guess you should go for the all-black version from 1962, i.e. 1st generation 24hr Cosmonaute, with Navitimer reference 806 and not 809. The first Cosmonautes weren't called Cosmonautes and they had ref. 806. Personally, I opt for the transitional model from 1962/63 with white sub-dials and beaded bezel

My 1962 Cosmonaute has 809 on the back , and has both Cosmonaute & navitimer on the dial
or isnt that what you mean Kurt ?

Any idea if the all black dial cosmo came first serially and the white subdialed version was released simultaneously or later? This is quite confusing unlike with the 806's.

There was never a reference 809 24 hour Navitimer / Cosmonaute, please show me proof for what you Claim . . . ! ! !
And please don't refer to Alan Trott's article, he found that picture on the internet, nobody ever saw the caseback

/ Kurt B http://www.kurt-b.com

Well, that was quite accusational...

First I am not CLAIMING, I am REFERRING to information I have found on the internet and LEARNING as I go along. Please be patient with people less knowledgeable than yourself.

Now, for the case at hand: I didn't know about the picture of the 806/809 and will update my blog with the information you gave me here. Thanks! Also, your site is amazing, I have it book-marked for further reference and I will refer to it in my Cosmonaute article on my blog.

I’m on holiday, with limited internet access, and apparently limited access to my brain as well, what I meant to write is.: There was never a reference 806 24 hour Navitimer / Cosmonaute.

Sorry for the confusion I must have made, I'll punish myself by by climbing 9 km upwards on my Cervélo carbon race bike right away


/ Kurt B