Neil Armstrong’s solid-gold Omega Speedmaster ref. BA145.022, one of just 28 pieces made exclusively for NASA astronauts and personnel, is set to be auctioned for the first time. With an estimated price of $2 million, the watch will be presented by RR Auctions Live in Cambridge, MA, on April 17. The sale is expected to attract bids from private collectors, super-collectors, and possibly Omega itself.
The backstory is as follows: In 1969, Omega produced 28 of these special Speedmaster watches, which were presented to NASA astronauts at a gala dinner in Houston in November of that year. President Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew were offered two of the watches but declined the gift. Each watch featured an engraved caseback, with Armstrong’s inscription reading: “Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, to mark man’s conquest of space with time, through time, on time, Gemini 8, Apollo 8, No. 17.” This inscription reflects the urgency of President Kennedy’s goal for a manned Moon landing by the end of the 1960s.
However, this watch is not the same as the standard NASA-issued stainless steel Speedmasters worn on the Moon—Armstrong’s, for example, was left in the lunar module as a backup. Buzz Aldrin’s Moonwatch was lost during transit, while Armstrong’s iconic watch is now on display at the Smithsonian. Despite this, the fact that Armstrong’s personal Omega was given as a gift by the brand to the first man to walk on the Moon adds significant value.
Recent auctions of similar items have shown how much these historical watches can fetch. In 2022, astronaut Michael Collins’ watch sold for $765,000, and Walter “Wally” Schirra’s Speedmaster sold for $1.9 million. Schirra was the first astronaut to wear a Speedmaster in space, but Armstrong’s legacy arguably makes his watch even more valuable.
Mark Armstrong, Neil’s son, revealed that his father wore the watch on special occasions, and it shows signs of wear, including a scratched bezel and a gouged caseback. A portion of the auction’s proceeds will also be donated to causes close to Armstrong’s heart.
While it’s unclear whether the watch will sell for its estimated price or exceed expectations, it remains a significant piece of history. Armstrong’s Speedmaster represents the post-War spirit of American innovation and the historic achievement of the Apollo missions. It’s a reminder of the unforgettable moment when Armstrong took his famous first steps on the Moon—one can only hope Omega will bid on the watch themselves, as it surely belongs in a museum.
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