Luxury watches have conquered some truly extraordinary environments over the years. From outer space to the deepest of seas, to polar wastelands and even exposure to fierce magnetism, there is scarcely any trial that these high status instruments of ocular horology have not been able to withstand. Of course, even though these obstacles have already been conquered, there is still a great deal of prestige attached to any timepiece that advances the engineering aptitude within these specific areas, so timepieces designed for ‘extreme’ environments remain eminently popular with both watchmaking brands and watch aficionados as a whole.
The sensation of zero gravity may seem to be the province of science fiction, but actually the absence of a gravitational pull can be experienced in the real world too. Of course, astronauts have been able to marvel at this experience ever since mankind first breached the frontiers of space, but now this intriguing concept is about to become far more accessible, as the S3 company (Swiss Space Systems) will be launching the possibility of a ZeroG flight to the general public. From 2015, modified planes will enable a passenger to periodically float in a weightless environment over a timeframe of 90 minutes, and Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling are serving as the main partner for this project.
The passengers aboard the maiden ZeroG flight will be equipped with a Breitling chronograph watch that has been optimised especially for this unique environment, and few other watch manufacturers would have been better suited to the creation of such a watch. Having already ensured that a Breitling Navitimer was the first wrist chronograph in space during 1962, exclusive new Breitling watches will now be created for use on the ZeroG flights, and the lucky participants in these airborne ventures will be entitled to keep both their flight suit and the Breitling chronograph in question.
This purpose-engineered Breitling watch (see right) will be fashioned out of lightweight high performance black titanium, and will boast a SuperQuartz™ movement that is fully ten times more accurate than a standard quartz movement. Marked with the S3 logo and sporting a unique caseback, this exclusive timepiece will only be obtainable for passengers on a ZeroG Airbus (the initial plans propose a program of flights that are spread over 15 countries), and the addition of this Breitling to an already unforgettable experience is sure to make the program a resounding success.
Here at Banks Lyon, whilst we naturally don’t have access to this sadly restricted timepiece, we do possess an unmatched collection of Breitling watches in a more general sense, including a pair of Navitimer watches that were released to commemorate the celebrated occasion when Scott Carpenter wore the very first Navitimer on his wrist within outer space.
The first of these Limited Edition Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute watches (see below) retails at £6,060, but is obtainable for 36 monthly payments of £134.67 along with a 20% deposit. Appropriately, only 1962 examples of this 43 mm steel chronometer were ever made, so this timepiece, released to pay homage to the 50th anniversary of Carpenter’s feat, really is a dream purchase for collectors.
No less impressive, our other Limited Edition Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute (see right) is a re-release of the limited edition Blacksteel Navitimer from the same family, and is on sale for £7,330; or 36 monthly payments of £162.89 and a 20% deposit at 0% finance. Crafted from steel and PVD, this version is typified by a racer black strap, and the combined aesthetic effect looks thoroughly worthy of the Navitimer’s Aurora 7 legacy.
Whether you elect to investigate the possibility of a ZeroG flight or not, you can still gain access to some admirable timepieces that are steeped in the history of weightless travel here at Banks Lyon. If you’d like to place an enquiry about one of these Navitimer watches, or indeed any other timepiece within our collection, please don’t hesitate to contact us by calling 01524 38 48 58 or emailing [email protected].
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