Every once in a while, an auction house will list one of the 18k gold Speedmasters that Omega presented to NASA members in commemoration of the Apollo space program. In recent vintage, we’ve seen gold Speedies from Scott Carpenter, Jack Swigert, and Michael Collins. However, until now, we’ve yet to see the gold watch belonging to arguably the most famous astronaut ever: Neil Armstrong.
Golden Accomplishment
The Apollo 11 mission to the Moon concluded on July 24, 1969 with all three astronauts (Armstrong, Collins, and Buzz Aldrin) safely returning to Earth. Following this seemingly impossible feat, Omega commissioned a new special-edition version of the Speedmaster Professional in commemoration and its first-ever gold version of the watch.
Presented at a gala in Houston on November 25 of that year, this new timepiece was made from 18K gold and given to significant men and women of the Space Program at the time, each with his or her name engraved on the back and numbered from 3 to 28 according to who had been with NASA the longest (numbers 1 and 2 were reserved for President Nixon and Vice President Agnew, although they declined the gift). 26 of these 28 individuals were astronauts.
Omega made 1,014 of these watches in total, with numbers 33 through 1,000 being offered to the public. 29 through 32 and 1,001 through 1,014 were presented to other various VIPs.
The Watch
Unlike the Omega Speedmasters that accompanied the men on the Apollo 11 voyage (though only Aldrin wore his on the lunar surface), the watch up for auction today via RR Auctions did not actually venture into space but was actually owned and worn by the first man to step foot on the Moon, as you can see through the photos here and on the item listing.
Armstrong’s watch was numbered 17 on the caseback and engraved with his name, his mission tenure (Gemini 8 to Apollo 11), and the statement, “to mark man’s conquest of space with time, through time, on time,” just like most of the others.
With the official-use Speedmasters worn during the missions currently property of NASA (aside from Aldrin’s, which is purportedly missing), this golden Speedy is perhaps the only Speedy ever owned by Armstrong. And better yet, the astronaut is said to have worn the watch often, “on special occasions,” says Neil’s son Mark.
According to the item listing, the watch is “in very good cosmetic condition, with scuffs to the bezel and scratches to the caseback.” Likewise, RR Auctions says it appears to never have been polished or modified at all.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 42mm
Case Material: 18k gold
Movement: Lemania caliber 861 automatic
Band: 18k gold bracelet
Limited Edition?: Yes, number 17 of 1,014
Pricing & Availability
Currently, Neil Armstrong’s 18k gold Omega Speedmaster is estimated to sell for over $2 million when it ends on April 17. Half of the money from the sale will be donated to charities selected by Neil’s son Mark Armstrong. For comparison, Michael Collins’ watch went for nearly $800,000 back in 2022, while the one owned by Wally Schirra (aka the first man to wear a Speedmaster in space) went for nearly $2 million that same year. We can expect Armstrong’s to top both of those, making it the most expensive gold Speedmaster ever sold. Head over to RR Auctions’ website where you can bid right now.
Recap
Neil Armstrong’s 18k Gold Omega Speedmaster Professional
Up for auction is Neil Armstrong’s 18k gold Speedmaster given to him by Omega to commemorate the Apollo missions.
