Sign up to Esquire's About Time newsletter, style director Johnny Davis’s straight-talking take on the wonderful world of watchesBreitling has had a long history in aviation, having played an important role in the emergence of commercial flight. Its timekeepers became standard equipment for propellor planes, and inevitably, jets. So in 1962, the watchmaker was a natural choice when Mercury Seven astronaut Scott Carpenter wanted to modify a style for space exploration.
On 24 May, Carpenter and his horological partner took off, and its debut journey made it the first Swiss wristwatch in space.As part of Breitling's 140th anniversary – which has also seen the release of the Aerospace B70 – the watchmaker is launching a limited edition of the 24-hour timepiece. With only 250 pieces available, this watch comes in an 18k red-gold case, offset by its green dial and golden numerals.