Regarding Luxury has hand picked a valuable auction to highlight, happening April 17, 2025, where RR Auction will proudly present astronaut Neil Armstrong’s personally-owned 18K solid yellow gold Omega Speedmaster Professional chronograph (Ref. BA 145.022), Omega’s outstanding commemorative timepiece celebrating NASA’s Apollo 11 moon landing. If you are looking to bolster your epic chronograph collection, now is the ultimate moment in time.
While Armstrong attended a gala dinner held at the Hotel Warwick in Houston on November 25, 1969, a rare and historically significant watch was presented to him. Renowned for it’s glory, it was Omega’s first gold Speedmaster.
This limited edition marvel is known as the “Tribute to Astronauts”. Making it ultra unique, only 26 crafted and only given to NASA astronauts —both living and deceased—as personalized rewards for their heroism.
Commemorative Timepiece Marks Moon Landing
Thankfully, watches never go out of style. Armstrong’s watch, numbered “17,” is marked with a unique caseback engraving: “Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, Gemini 8 – Apollo 11,” with a meaningful inscription: “To mark man’s conquest of space with time, through time, on time.”
The show-stopping time piece features an 18K gold case mirroring the iconic design and dimensions of the classic steel Speedmaster Professional. Unique to this edition is a striking burgundy-red aluminum bezel insert marked with ‘dot over ninety.’
The solid gold dial is inconspicuously marked with “OM” (Or Massif, indicating solid gold) next to “Swiss Made,” accented with black hands featuring gold centers, and faceted onyx hour markers set elegantly in gold frames.
The watch is completed by a gold bracelet (1116/575) with hollow links and a finely decorated 14mm clasp. Inside the 42mm gold case ticks the renowned Lemania-based, copper-colored Omega caliber 861 chronograph movement.
18K Solid Yellow Gold
An official ‘Extract from the Archives’ certificate from Omega accompanies this piece to affirm authenticity and historical significance as a “Special numbered edition to celebrate the ‘Apollo XI’ moon landing.
This exceptional gold chronograph occupies a special position in horological history. It is also among the rarest and most coveted space-related artifacts ever auctioned. Owning a luxury watch like this is sure to impress.
Similar commemorative gold Speedmasters have achieved record prices, notably astronaut Wally Schirra’s example, sold by RR Auction for nearly $2 million in October 2022 [2]. Armstrong’s watch, however, carries unmatched symbolic and historic importance as the chronograph of humanity’s first person to go where no man has gone before as commander of the Apollo 11 mission.
Half of the sale of this historic auction is to be donated to charities selected by Neil’s son, Mark Armstrong.
“This watch, which my father liked to wear on special occasions, symbolizes one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of mankind. A substantial portion of the proceeds from the sale of this watch will benefit charitable causes my father believed in, furthering the impact that he and many other Americans made to humanity more than half a century ago,” said Mark Armstrong.
Following Armstrong’s lead, the current owner of the timepiece decided to donate a portion of proceeds to The Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation of Wisconsin.
Historic Auction
Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction says: “When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon, he was wearing an Omega Speedmaster, and Omega created these Apollo gold commemorative watches with that image in mind. The auction of Armstrong’s Speedmaster celebrating Apollo 11 with fifty percent of the funds going to charity is an amazing opportunity to acquire the most important Omega out there. We’re honored to facilitate this sale, especially knowing it will benefit important charitable causes, reflecting Neil Armstrong’s lifelong spirit of generosity,” Livingston noted.
The auction will occur live: Royal Sonesta in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 6 PM ET, April 17, 2025.
For more information visit www.rrauction.com.
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Theresa Longo (B.B.A Hon) is a former Miss Italy World contestant & professional brand ambassador based in Toronto. She covers topics such as performance auto, high fashion and world travel.
