Perhaps the most famous watch in Fortis' entire catalog is the Official Cosmonauts Chronograph. The first model (ref. 630.22.141) debuted in 1994. After surviving a gauntlet of tests at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, it would go on to accompany cosmonauts on their missions to the MIR space station and ISS until the year 2003. However, it wasn't just Russian cosmonauts who relied on this robust timepiece. Legendary German astronaut Ulf Merbold also counted on this reliable Swiss timekeeper. Fortis ceased production of this specific reference in 2003.
Fortis outfitted this space chronograph with the beloved automatic Lemania chronograph caliber 5100. This movement has central hour, minute, and chronograph seconds hands. There's also a day-date display at 3, 12-hour counter at 6, small seconds at 9, and 30-minute counter at 12 o'clock. Tritium Arabic numerals complete the black dial.
The stainless steel case measures a moderate 38 mm in diameter. Its stationary bezel features a tachymeter scale for calculating speed and distance. A unique feature of this timepiece is its screw-down pushers, which allow the chronograph to function underwater. Listings for this watch regularly pop up on Chrono24. Depending on the condition and delivery contents, the Official Cosmonauts Chronograph demands anywhere from 1,200 to 2,200 USD.
The Successor: B-42 Official Cosmonauts Chronograph
Fortis introduced the Official Cosmonauts Chronograph's successor, the ref. 638.10.11, in 2003. Instead of the Lemania 5100, this model uses the proven Fortis UW-50 – a modified version of the ETA 7750. You can still find this watch making trips to the ISS to this day. Its "B-42" affix indicates that this is a 42-mm "Beobachtungsuhr" (German for navigation watch). Thanks to its larger size, this chronograph is easier to operate and offers improved dial readability.
Instead of a tachymeter scale, this watch features a countdown bezel with a 60-minute graduation. This enables spacefarers to easily set and keep track of the time on any extravehicular activities (EVAs). Another improvement is the SuperLuminova-filled dot on the chronograph seconds hand, guaranteeing readability even under poor lighting conditions. The final watch is water-resistant to 200 m (20 bar, 656 ft) and comes on a stainless steel bracelet.
You can find mint-condition models on Chrono24 for around 3,100 USD. Pre-owned, the B-42 costs significantly less at about 2,200 USD.
Official Cosmonauts AMADEE-18
Fortis partnered with the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF) to create the Official Cosmonauts AMADEE-18 ref. 638.18.91. The OeWF's main focus is researching potential manned missions to Mars. This includes conducting simulations here on Earth. Fortis is the program's official watch supplier, equipping each astronaut with a timepiece for their earthbound experiments. Crew members first wore the ref. 638.18.91 during the Austrian Space Forum's 2018 Oman expedition.
The AMADEE is very similar to the standard edition. Design differences include its black PVD-coated case and matching black textile strap. It also has a special small seconds dial at 9 o'clock, which is decorated with the red and orange hues of sunrises and sunsets on Mars and Earth. The words "Mars Mission Simulation Sultanate of Oman AMADEE-18" also surround the small seconds. This watch is still extremely rare and has a list price of 3,290 CHF (approx. 3,400 USD).
If you prefer three-hand watches, you may enjoy the Official Cosmonauts Day-Date ref. 647.10.11. Its size and materials are identical to those of the B-42 chronograph; however, its power comes from the caliber UW-31, a movement based on the ETA 2836-2. This model features central hour, minute, and second hands, as well as a day-date display at 3 o'clock. You can purchase a mint-condition watch for about 1,300 USD, while pre-owned pieces demand around 860 USD on Chrono24.