The Breitling Cosmonaute replica watch is certainly one of the brand’s better known models, but that’s likely due to its familial resemblance to one Breitling’s most famous creations: the Navitimer. Today, we’ll explore the Breitling Hnadsome 809 Cosmonaute replica watch, its significance and, of course, I’ll prattle on a bit, but this time about why instant gratification is such a rare and beautiful thing.
Once in hand, I knew the Breitling 809 Cosmonaute replica watch was a winner. It wound nicely – the owner doing the age-old useless turning of the crown back and forth – and the chronograph registered correctly.
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 Breitling 809 Cosmonaute replica watch 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 Breitling 809 Cosmonaute replica watch are also in fantastically sharp shape with their signature chamfers and a transition to perfectly matte sides.
It goes without saying that the 24-hour dial is the star of the show on the Breitling 809 Cosmonaute replica watch. I really enjoy the “payloads” of tritium applied to this dial in order to show big, weird numbers such as “16”, “20 and “22”.
The fact that Breitling produced the Breitling 809 Cosmonaute replica watch as a serial model is very, very cool and not unlike if Rolex had decided to build regular production of its Mariana Trench watch or if Omega had truly built the Alaska Project pieces in the 1970’s.