Omega

On 12th September 1961, US President John F. Kennedy uttered the famous words, “We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.” NASA’s goal was finally achieved on 20th July 1969 with the moon landing of the Apollo XI lunar module – a monumental moment in history. With Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the Omega Speedmaster Professional became “the first watch worn on the moon.”

Released that same year to honor NASA’s historic achievement, the reference BA 145.022-69 was produced as a limited edition of 1,014 individually numbered pieces. The first two were offered as gifts to the President and Vice-President of the United States, who were required to kindly decline due to the value of the watches. Numbers 3 to 28 were awarded to NASA astronauts and engraved “To mark man’s conquest of space with time, through time, on time”, along with the name of each astronaut, and the missions on which each served. Omega gifted each Speedmaster at the “Astronaut Appreciation Dinner” at the Warwick Hotel in Houston, Texas, on November 25, 1969.

The present watch, number 4 of the original 28, was awarded on that evening to the family of Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom, one of the seven “original” astronauts, dubbed the Mercury Seven and downright celebrities at the time – Chevrolet leased six of the seven men brand new Corvettes for $1, just the be associated with the daring men of Project Mercury. Grissom’s 1967 427 Corvette sold at auction in 2007 for $275,000. No ordinary astronaut, Grissom holds the distinction of being both the second American in space (Liberty Bell 7, 1961) and the first man to go to space twice (Gemini 3, 1965). Tragically, he and his fellow astronauts Ed White and Roger Chaffee were killed in a cabin fire during a pre-launch test on January 27, 1967, prepping for the Apollo 1 mission.

Most likely worn sparingly over the years, the condition of this reference 145.022-69 is notable. The caseback engravings are crisp and deep, while the dial and burgundy bezel are vibrant. Considering the present watch’s rarity and provenance, this is among the most collectable Speedmasters to appear at auction in years.