The 50th anniversary of the moon landing was a huge deal, but it’s also big business as Omega along with Sotheby’s auctioned off some historic timepieces, clocking in at over $1.2 million.
It’s no secret whatsoever at this point that Omega were the ones that kept gave the astronauts their wrist wear during the 1969 moon landing. It’s a proud moment in the brand’s history that is pretty hard to forget at this point with all the special editions cropping up.
While all the variants of the Speedmaster Moonwatch are collectable, and often pricey, few pieces these days can match the exclusivity of the watches on sale during the special anniversary auction recently.
The ‘Omega Speedmaster: To the Moon and Back Celebrating 50 years since Apollo 11’ auction by Sotheby’s was a 50-lot auction with everything Omega and everything Apollo. Obviously the focal point of the auction was some rare watches, of which we have a few to show you.
Funnily enough, the most valuable watch of the event was not a piece from 1969, instead it hailed from 1958. If you’re wondering why the most valuable watch wasn’t one to do with the moon, it’s because this 1958 Speedmaster was the very first Speedmaster model ever created.
Omega Speedmaster Ref 2915-1 ‘Broad Arrow’ stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with bracelet made in 1958 sold for $250,000
The Speedmaster 2915-1 ‘Broad-Arrow’ topped the auction with a hammer price of a quarter of a million dollars. The watch was manufactured for only one year, making it even rarer. It’s also collectable due to its lack of crown guards, the tachometer scale engraved onto the metal bezel, the dial configuration and the unusual ‘broad arrow’ hour hand.
Omega Speedmaster Ref 145.022-69 ‘Apollo XI’ yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with bracelet made in 1969 sold for $68,750.
Another key player in the auction was the 1969 yellow gold Speedmaster Ref 145.022-69 ‘Apollo XI’, a watch which was actually given out to members of the Apollo 11 mission. This is a watch so important to Omega/Lunar history that the brand decided to recreate it this year in celebration of the 50th. The watch went for an impressive $68,750. To be honest, we’re a bit disappointed no one paid an even 69 thousand for the watch as celebration… Where’s the fun?
“It has been exciting to put together this sale of Omega Speedmasters, commemorating the watch that Buzz Aldrin wore on the moon exactly 50 years ago. Today’s results affirm the strength of the market for rare stainless-steel sports watches – from the Ref 2915-1 ‘Broad Arrow’, the first Speedmaster model ever created, to the Ref 145.012-67 ‘Ultraman’, named after its appearance in the Japanese television series, to the Alaska III Ref 145.022, made for NASA’s Space Shuttle program in 1978.” says Nate Borgelt, head of sale for Sotheby’s Watch Department in New York.
Here’s a look at the other heavy hitters from the auction:
Omega Speedmaster Ref 2915-3 Stainless Steel Chronograph wristwatch with bracelet made in 1959 sold for $50,000
Omega Speedmaster Ref 145.012-67 Sp ‘Ultraman’, a stainless steel chronograph wristwatch, made in 1968 sold for $30,000
Omega Prototype Speedmaster Alaska III Ref 145.022 stainless steel chronograph wristwatch made in 1978 sold for $187,500
