Featured image: jcw, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Felix Baumgartner wore a Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th (reference 03.2060.4057/69.M2060) on his record-setting Red Bull Stratos jump from the edge of space in October 2012. Zenith says it was a standard production watch, and it kept running through the huge swings in pressure, temperature, altitude and acceleration. WatchPro reported that the actual jump watch was a specially modified one-off, so the retail version is a close sibling rather than the exact watch.
Quick answerBaumgartner’s jump watch was the Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th, a 45.5 mm stainless steel chronograph with a flyback function and a one-tenth-of-a-second chronograph hand, rated to 100 m. Gear Patrol and HauteTime say it was strapped on the outside of his pressure suit; Zenith describes it as worn on his wrist.
Where to buy
Compare the same watch on both sites: eBay for pre-owned and vintage pieces, Amazon for new stock.
Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback
Prices and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
The jump in brief
On October 14, 2012, Baumgartner rose to the stratosphere in a capsule carried by a helium balloon and then stepped out. HauteTime describes it as a roughly 24-mile (about 39 km) jump, and reports that he experienced 9 to 11 G. Zenith says he reached a record free-fall speed of 1,342 km/h, around 834 mph, which is faster than the speed of sound in that thin air. It was also described as the highest occupied balloon flight on record.
Zenith, a brand with a long aviation heritage, has called its watch the first to break the sound barrier in a near-space environment. That is Zenith’s own claim, repeated in the trade press, so treat it as marketing language rather than an independent record.
The watch: Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th
The Stratos Flyback Striking 10th is built around Zenith’s El Primero, the high-frequency automatic chronograph movement famous for measuring tenths of a second. Watchonista lists a brushed stainless steel case that is 45.5 mm wide and 14.1 mm thick, with a sapphire crystal, a stainless steel strap with a deployment buckle, and water resistance of 10 atm (100 m). The display shows hours, minutes, seconds, date and a flyback chronograph, which can be restarted instantly without stopping and resetting. The “Striking 10th” name refers to the chronograph hand that sweeps a full circle in ten seconds, so you can read time to a tenth of a second.
Gear Patrol puts the launch price at about $9,500, and WatchPro quoted UK retail prices of 7,900 pounds on a steel bracelet and 7,400 pounds on a rubber-lined leather strap at the time. We could not confirm the production quantity, so we do not quote one.
How was it worn?
Reports differ slightly. Gear Patrol says he wore it on the outside of his pressure suit, and HauteTime’s photo caption says it was strapped onto the right arm of the suit. Zenith’s own heritage page and Crown Watch Blog describe it on his wrist. The sensible reading is that it was fastened over the sleeve at the wrist, since a pressure suit does not allow a watch to sit against skin. WatchPro adds that the jump watch used a nylon hook-and-loop strap and carried a commemorative engraving, unlike the retail model’s steel bracelet.
Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Model | Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th |
| Reference | 03.2060.4057/69.M2060 |
| Case | Stainless steel, 45.5 mm, 14.1 mm thick |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date, flyback chronograph with one-tenth-second hand |
| Water resistance | 100 m |
| Strap | Stainless steel with deployment buckle |
| Approx. price | About $9,500 at launch per Gear Patrol; now mainly pre-owned, so check current listings |
The tribute edition and what came after
Dealers also list a related Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback “Tribute to Felix Baumgartner” (ref. 03.2066.405/69.M2060), a 45 mm watch with the El Primero 405B movement, dated 2012 and noted as not a limited edition. We could not verify exactly how it differs from the Striking 10th, so check the reference before you buy.
Felix Baumgartner after the jump
Baumgartner died in July 2025 in a paragliding accident in Italy, according to Al Jazeera and other news reports. The Stratos jump remains the achievement he is remembered for, and the watch is a small part of that story. Zenith’s page still presents him as one of the brand’s heroes.
Why this watch, and why Zenith?
Zenith sponsored the Stratos project, and the jump handed the brand huge exposure. The El Primero movement has been a Zenith signature since 1969, and its high beat rate suits timing short, fast events, which is why a tenth-of-a-second chronograph made sense for a freefall. The mission also reinforced Zenith’s story as a maker of aviation instruments, a point the brand often makes about its history.
Similar watches and alternatives
If you like the idea of a high-beat chronograph with a tenth-of-a-second hand, a few currently sold options. Prices are approximate.
- Zenith Chronomaster Sport: from roughly $10,000 new for steel versions (we saw a two-tone model at $17,500 at one dealer). Best for: a modern El Primero with a 1/10-second chronograph. Pros: real Zenith heritage and movement. Cons: premium price.
- Seiko Prospex Speedtimer (solar chronograph): about $600 to $700. Best for: a sporty chronograph on a budget. Pros: solar, reliable. Cons: no 1/10-second display.
- Citizen Promaster Skyhawk A-T: about $400 to $600. Best for: a pilot-style tool watch. Pros: radio-controlled, durable. Cons: bulky.
For other tough watches, see our guides to the best watches for law enforcement officers and water resistance explained.
Watches built for extreme conditions, whether at altitude or underwater, share a focus on shock resistance and legibility. For timepieces designed for the other extreme, see our guide to the best diving watches. Another action star known for wearing a rugged watch is Chris Hemsworth in Extraction, who chose a G-Shock Rangeman built for similar abuse.
FAQ
What watch did Felix Baumgartner wear for the Stratos jump?
A Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th.
Was it a special watch?
Zenith says it was a standard production model, designed for demanding conditions.
How fast did Baumgartner fall?
Zenith cites a record free-fall speed of 1,342 km/h.
Can you buy the Stratos Flyback Striking 10th?
It is a 2012 model, so it appears mainly on the pre-owned market.
Was Baumgartner’s jump watch a one-off?
WatchPro says the watch he wore was a specially modified one-off, while Zenith says it was a standard production model. The retail version is the closest you can buy.
Sources
- Zenith: Felix Baumgartner, Time to reach your star
- HauteTime: Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th
- Watchonista: El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th
- WatchPro: A stratospheric PR coup for Zenith
- Gear Patrol: Breakdown, Zenith Stratos Flyback Striking 10th
- Al Jazeera: Felix Baumgartner dies in a paragliding crash in Italy
- Crown Watch Blog: Survivor stories