Words: Violet
You know that here at The Gentleman’s Journal, we always notice the finer details in life and this is especially true when it comes to style and innovation. Now, even if it was not in our lifetimes, we all remember the first moon landing, don’t we? Apollo 11 was the first spacecraft to land humans on the moon and did just that on July 20th 1969 to two American astronauts and engineers Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. The space mission, which was broadcast live to the world, was NASA’s fifth manned mission of the Apollo Programme.
So much about the great event were globally publicised, the race between the Us and Russia to get the first man in space, Neil Armstrong’s words as he stepped down onto the lunar surface (“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”), the names of all involved, but what about the wrist wear?
Yes, that day almost marked a momentous occasion for the watch worn by Buzz Aldrin, The Omega Speedmaster, the first watch on the moon. But, importantly, that was not the first watch in space, in fact there had been several already, the entire decade of the 60s marking milestones for watchmaking. There was a need for the watches to be able to withstand pressure and temperature changes like never before, and the function of the watch was different as well. The Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute was designed with a 24-hour dial because there was no need to differentiate between AM and PM. This particular timepiece was worn by US Astronaut Scott Carpenter on May 1962 when he orbited the Earth 3 times in the Aurora 7 mercury capsule.
Pioneering, innovative and momentous. Milestones in both aviation and watchmaking that would change the course of history forever.
30 Greatest Moments In Aviation – Capt Chuck Yeager – in association with Breitling, celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the timeless Chronomat
For more information visit breitling.com or follow them on Twitter
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