Neil Armstrong’s commemorative gold Omega Speedmaster watch is coming to auction for the first time with a massive $2 million estimate at RR Auction.
Omega, which produced the Speedmaster that would become known as the “Moon Watch” after it was chosen in the 1960s for testing during the Apollo missions, produced 26 of these gold commemorative watches.
Dubbed “Tribute to Astronauts” watches for living and dead NASA astronauts, each is engraved with a quote, the name and missions of the astronauts, and a number corresponding to when the astronaut flew to space.
Two more were given to President Nixon and Vice President Agnew.
Armstrong’s example includes the number 17 and is engraved “Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, Gemini 8 — Apollo 11” and the quote “To mark man’s conquest of space with time, through time, on time.”
The watch was presented to Armstrong at the Hotel Warwick in Houston on Nov. 25, 1969. Armstrong was photographed wearing the watch while working as a professor at the University of Cincinnati.
RR Auctions sold another one of the commemorative watches — given to Wally Schirra — for a little less than $2 million in 2022, making it the most expensive Speedmaster Pro ever sold. Other examples have sold for a fraction of that price in the years since.
"This watch, which my father liked to wear on special occasions, symbolizes one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of mankind," Mark Armstrong, Neil’s son, said.
A portion of the proceeds will go toward charities Armstrong supported during his life.
Armstrong’s Speedmaster worn during the Apollo 11 mission currently resides in the Air and Space museum.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.