Astronaut Christina Koch spotted wearing a Breitling

Breitling's Cosmonaute Artemis II collection gained public prominence when astronauts Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen wore their Ref. A27364 chronographs at the Great American State Fair. The appearance marked a rare public outing for these NASA-connected instruments, spotlighting one of horology's most specialized tool watches.

The Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute Artemis II Ref. A27364 houses Breitling's calibre B13, a COSC-certified chronometer movement based on the legendary Valjoux 7750. The 42 mm stainless steel case delivers 100 metres of water resistance—adequate for ground operations but secondary to the watch's vacuum and radiation-hardened specifications for aerospace use. The defining feature is the 24-hour dial, a rarity among civilian chronographs, printed with numerals at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24. This layout prevents mission-critical confusion in environments where standard 12-hour AM/PM delineation becomes meaningless. The fixed telemeter bezel aids rapid distance-to-event calculations using sound or visual reference points—a tool born from military aviation and retained for space applications.

Breitling's partnership with the Artemis II programme elevated the Cosmonaute beyond vintage nostalgia into active duty. Unlike earlier Cosmonaute editions referencing the 1962 Scott Carpenter Mercury-Atlas mission, the Artemis II variant undergoes rigorous NASA qualification testing. Production remains limited; Breitling has not disclosed full numbers, but allocation heavily favours astronaut corps members and mission contractors. Grey-market examples command premiums, often 15–25% above retail, reflecting scarcity and the watch's operational provenance rather than purely collectible appeal.

Christina Koch's visible chronograph—with subdials running at the State Fair—highlights the calibre B13's accuracy and reliability. For collectors, the Ref. A27364 represents the intersection of mechanical watchmaking and space-age engineering; it is as much instrument as decoration. Retail pricing sits around $14,700 USD, though verified pre-owned examples trade between $16,500 and $19,000 depending on condition and documentation of astronaut provenance.