About This Watch:

The Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph has spent more time in space than any other timepiece on the planet. As an official tool for the ROSCOSMOS space program, the Cosmonauts Chronograph has proven to be reliable and trustworthy in the harshest environments known to mankind. Stories of a Russian Cosmonaut using his Fortis Chronograph to hammer a loose rivet on the ISS during a spacewalk are a testament to the ruggedness of this timepiece.

The History: While Fortis is a known name to horological enthusiasts and watch collectors, their name might now be as familiar to all. Fortis is one of the few watchmakers in the world that remains, to this day, independent despite its rich history in Swiss watchmaking. Fortis was founded in 1912 by Walter Vogt. In 1926 Fortis, in collaboration with watch inventor, John Harwood, created the first automatic watch to be put into production, thus setting the stage for the likes of many major brands we see on the market today, such as Rolex, Omega, and more. Later, in 1940, Fortis pioneered the way for one of the first water-resistant watches ever built.

The Watch: The Fortis Cosmonaut Chronograph B-42 Ref 638.10.11 features a 42mm stainless steel case with a sapphire crystal and a unidirectional countdown bezel. Powered by a Valjoux 7750 movement, the Cosmonaut Chronograph has a 200-meter water resistance rating and an approximately 48-hour power reserve. The dial is black, with Arabic numeral hour markers and a tachymeter scale on the rehaut. Three sub-dials are at the 12, 6, and 9 o’clock positions with small seconds, 12-hour, and 30-minute counters. The pencil-shaped hands are coated with white Superluminova, while the lollipop-style chronograph hand is orange with a lume plot at the center. Both day and date windows are located at the 3 o’clock position beneath the Fortis crown and signature.

The Details: There is minimal wear present on the case and lugs of this timepiece, as visible in the photographs. This piece comes with inner and outer boxes, an instruction manual, a hang tag, a warranty card, and the ROSCOSMOS Federal Space Agency certificate. Also included is the original stainless steel Fortis fold-over clasp bracelet.