Astronaut Neil Armstrong’s Gold Watch Fetches $2.1 Million at Auction

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The commemorative timepiece is similar to the one that Armstrong and other NASA astronauts wore in space

Sarah Kuta – Daily Correspondent

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong etched his name in history as the first human to set foot on the moon. His monumental achievement, famously quoted as “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind,” was followed by celebratory events upon his return to Earth, including a gala dinner held at the Hotel Warwick in Houston. During this event, Armstrong was gifted an impressive 18-karat gold Omega Speedmaster Professional watch.

Now, more than half a century later, that very timepiece has fetched an astounding $2.1 million at auction, including fees, as reported by RR Auction.

This exquisite watch, crafted from solid yellow gold, is one of a limited number of “Tribute to Astronauts” editions produced to honor the groundbreaking Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. Notably, similar commemorative pieces were presented to prominent figures, including President Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew, alongside more than two dozen bestowed upon Armstrong and his fellow astronauts.

The back of Armstrong’s watch bears an engraving of his name alongside references to his historic missions—Gemini 8 and Apollo 11—and notes the phrase, “To mark man’s conquest of space with time, through time, on time.”

Armstrong, who passed away in 2012, cherished the watch and wore it during meaningful occasions. His son, Mark Armstrong, remarked that the timepiece “symbolizes one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of mankind,” according to a statement from RR Auction.

The auction proceeds will contribute significantly to charitable causes that Armstrong supported, as designated by his son, with some funds benefiting the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation in Wisconsin.

In addition to Armstrong’s watch, RR Auction recently sold another gold Omega Speedmaster that belonged to Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell for $142,664, further highlighting the enduring legacy and value of these timepieces.

While these commemorative watches remained on Earth, actual Omega Speedmaster chronographs did journey into space. Astronaut Wally Schirra famously wore his own Speedmaster during the Mercury Sigma 7 flight in October 1962, marking the beginning of the watch’s storied relationship with NASA.

In the years that followed, NASA sought wrist chronographs that could meet the rigorous challenges of space travel. Omega was one of four companies invited to submit watches for testing. The agency required these timepieces to be durable, waterproof, shockproof, and anti-magnetic, withstanding extreme temperatures and acceleration forces. The Speedmaster stood out in these tests, ultimately becoming the only watch to earn NASA’s seal of approval in 1965, officially designated as “flight-qualified for all manned space missions,” which popularized its nickname: “Moonwatch.”

This iconic watch accompanied astronauts on all six lunar landings, and the stainless steel version worn by Armstrong during his historic moonwalk is preserved at the National Air and Space Museum, following NASA’s donation in 1973.

Bobby Livingston, executive vice president at RR Auction, encapsulated the critical role of reliable instruments in space exploration, noting, “These guys depended on good engineering, a good watch and a good spacecraft.”

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www.smithsonianmag.com