Out of this world: Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 commemorative watch is up for auction

Produced to mark mankind’s triumph beyond the skies, this is a timepiece crucial within horology lore

In November, 1969, months after his groundbreaking lunar landing alongside Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong was presented with a yellow-gold Omega Speedmaster Professional at a special gala dinner in Houston. Watchmaker Omega had originally produced 26 of these commemorative timepieces – billed as the ‘Tribute to Astronauts’ watch – to bestow upon NASA astronauts both alive and gone, with each caseback marked with a quote, the name of the astronaut, the mission, and a unique number based on when the individual went into space. Armstrong’s – No.17 – is engraved with ‘Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, Gemini 8 - Apollo 11’ alongside the words: ‘To mark man’s conquest of space with time, through time, on time’.

Now, this bit of wristgear so integral to space and horology lore is up for bids via RR Auction, with the window closing on 17 April. The item is billed as being in ‘very good cosmetic condition, with scuffs to the bezel and scratches to the caseback’, and is said not to have ever been polished or altered. Moreover, it has the same design blueprint as the regular steel Speedmaster Professional, showcases a contrasting burgundy aluminium inlay, and features the iconic ‘dot over ninety’ and contrasting black hands. In terms of power, it incorporates a caliber 861 with a steel brake. It is expected to fetch more than $2m.