Actor William Conrad spotted wearing a Breitling

William Conrad, the prolific actor best known for his commanding presence in the television series Cannon and Jake & The Fatman, wore a Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute Ref. 809 during his career. The photograph, discovered in archival materials, captures the actor with this distinctive chronograph on his wrist—a timepiece that bridges horological innovation with mid-century professional aviation design.

The Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute Ref. 809 debuted in 1962 as a specialized variant of the standard Navitimer. Its defining feature is the 24-hour dial, a complication engineered for pilots and aerospace professionals who operated across extended daylight cycles or in space. The watch houses the Valjoux 7730 chronograph movement, a robust manual-wind calibre delivering 42-hour power reserve. The case measures 41.5 mm in polished stainless steel, water-resistant to 50 metres. Its bi-directional rotating bezel, calibrated in both 12-hour and 24-hour formats, paired with the integrated slide-rule—a mechanical calculator for flight planning—made the Cosmonaute an instrument watch in the truest sense. Production ran until 1969, with fewer units manufactured than the standard 12-hour Navitimer, contributing to its rarity today.

The 24-hour dial variant remains highly sought after by Breitling specialists and vintage chronograph collectors. Most Navitimer examples circulating in the secondary market feature the conventional 12-hour subdial layout; the Cosmonaute's alternative calibration places it firmly in the collectible category. Dial condition, lume preservation, and bracelet provenance significantly influence value. Original Ref. 809 examples with unpolished cases and preserved gilt dials command premiums.

Conrad's ownership of the Cosmonaute aligns with the watch's 1960s cultural moment—a period when pilot's chronographs carried genuine professional credibility among accomplished professionals. The actor's association with authoritative television roles adds historical context to this timepiece sighting. The Navitimer Cosmonaute Ref. 809 has since become one of Breitling's most celebrated references, frequently referenced in academic horological discourse and vintage catalogs.

Vintage Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute Ref. 809 examples in strong condition trade between $12,000 and $18,000 on the grey market, depending on dial state, case polish, and bracelet originality. Waitlists are non-existent for vintage stock; scarcity is instead managed by specialist dealers and auction houses. The reference remains an intermediate-investment piece within the vintage sports watch category—accessible to serious collectors yet appreciated for its technical significance and limited production window.