Standard NASA Issue - The Omega Speedmaster Professional
"Over the course of two days, astronauts and cosmonauts opened their hatches, shook hands, shared meals, and conducted scientific experiments." - Daniel Womack, Fine Jewelry & Watches, GIA Diamonds Graduate
Two Apollo Soyuz stamps dated 1975, which accompany lot 6028
Since the early days of the United States’ space program, the Omega Speedmaster Professional has been an integral part of NASA’s space exploration. Omega was one of four watch brands invited to submit timepieces for NASA’s qualification and consideration. These watches were subjected to eleven rigorous tests – ranging from withstanding temperatures from 0 to 200 degrees fahrenheit, to accelerations of up to 12 Gs of force. Only the Omega prevailed.
On July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin’s Speedmaster became the first watch worn on the moon, marking the first of many significant moments in history for both NASA and Omega. One year later, the Omega Speedmaster proved crucial to the survival of the astronauts on the Apollo 13 mission, when one was used to measure a critically precise 14-second fuel burn required to correct the spacecraft’s re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
Another historically significant moment occurred on July 17, 1975, when the United States and the Soviet Union entered a period of cooperation, under the policy of détente. In this moment, the two superpowers set aside their political differences and performed a very technical, and very complicated, handshake in space. The American Apollo spacecraft docked with the Soviet Soyuz capsule, which was in orbit of the Earth. Over the course of two days, astronauts and cosmonauts opened their hatches, shook hands, shared meals, and conducted scientific experiments. The 35th anniversary of this historical event was commemorated by Omega with their Apollo-Soyuz Speedmaster Limited Edition Chronograph. Only 1975 of these watches were offered, and each one includes a piece of space in the form of a meteorite dial.
Caseback with design commemorating the first international space mission between the USA and USSR on July 17, 1975
Leland Little is pleased to offer watch number 1716 in our inaugural Luxury Watches & Timepieces Auction. Explore all of the timepieces being offered in our Luxury Watches & Timepieces Auction, which opens for live-online bidding on Thursday, November 6 at 10:00 am. Pre-bidding is available now.

CONTACT THE DIRECTOR

Allie Masem
Fine Jewelry & Luxury Accessories Director, GIA Graduate Gemologist
allie@lelandlittle.com
Luxury Watches & Timepieces Auction
November 6 at 10:00 am ET