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You may have once dreamed of walking in Neil Armstrong’s shoes, but let’s be honest, you’d probably rather own his watch. And we’re not just talking about any watch, but his limited edition Omega Speedmaster Professional of 18K solid yellow gold. The prestigious chronograph was gifted to the astronaut at a gala dinner in Houston’s Hotel Warwick on 25 November 1969, mere months after his historic moon walk. Bid wisely between now and 17 April 2025 at RR Auction, and it can be all yours.
History buffs and horologists will know that Omega’s relationship with NASA runs deep. The watchmaker’s mighty Speedmaster played a role in the Apollo space program and was worn by both Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 spaceflight. According to legend, Armstrong left his 105.012 Speedmaster inside the lunar module as a backup because the module’s own electronic timer malfunctioned. Aldrin, however, rocked his Speedmaster on the lunar surface, making it the first official watch on the moon.
In honour of the moon landing and the Apollo space program at large, Omega crafted 26 commemorative Speedmasters (Ref. BA 145.022) aka the “Tribute to Astronauts” edition. These were among the first Speedmasters to be forged from 18K gold, and each one was presented at the aforementioned gala dinner in 1969. Armstrong’s was numbered “17” with a special case back engraving: “Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, Gemini 8 – Apollo 11,” along with the inscription: “To mark man’s conquest of space with time, through time, on time.”
In addition to its 18K gold case construction, Armstrong’s Speedmaster features a burgundy-red aluminium bezel insert, marked with the iconic ‘dot over ninety.’ There’s also a subtle marking of “OM” (aka ‘Or Massif’ to indicate solid gold) next to the words “Swiss Made” at the bottom of the dial face. Combine that with classic Speedmaster dimensions, a matching gold bracelet, and an acclaimed Omega calibre 861 chronograph movement, and you have yourself one heck of a distinguished timepiece!
The auction for Armstrong’s 18K Omega Speedmaster Professional chronograph will close on 17 April, and as of this article, the highest bid is at USD $292,820. Judging by previous auctions, that number will continue to climb. In 2022, for example, a similar commemorative gold Speedmaster worn by astronaut Wally Schirra fetched just under USD $2 million.
Armstrong’s model is arguably more historic by comparison, even if it shows more wear at the bezel and caseback (he often wore the watch during his time as a professor). Whatever the final hammer price, half of the funds will be donated to charities selected by Armstrong’s son, Mark.
One small step for man, and one really unique watch for a wealthy collector. Is that how the saying goes? Anyway, you can follow the auction (linked below) as it continues its ascent toward an astronomical price tag. Currently in the pre-bid stage, the highest bid is now $1,242,449, and it will go live at the Royal Sonesta in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at 6 PM ET on 17 April.
Relatively small in size perhaps, but this chronograph is massive in terms of heritage and distinction. Meanwhile, they had us at “Omega Speedmaster in 18K Gold!”
