RR Auction – Neil Armstrong’s No. 17 yellow gold Omega Speedmaster, plus two photographs signed by Ed White

Auctions · · by Christian Bissener


Gold Omega Speedmaster caseback engraved Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong and Apollo 11, gold bracelet beside

On 17 April, RR Auction offers a highly important Omega Speedmaster 145.022 “Tribute to Astronauts”: No. 17, made for Neil Armstrong. Here is the lot.

Only 28 examples of the 18k gold “Tribute to Astronauts” were made. No. 1 was reserved for President Richard Nixon, No. 2 for Vice President Spiro Agnew, and the remaining 26 for the astronauts. No. 17 belonged to Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon and commander of Apollo 11.

Gold Omega Speedmaster with gold-toned dial and gold bracelet on a black background
Omega Speedmaster 145.022 “Tribute to Astronauts”, No. 17 – Neil Armstrong

Signed photograph of Neil Armstrong seated with people in red and white at an outdoor event; a caption states that he is wearing the watch offered as lot 7191
Photograph signed by Neil Armstrong, with the watch on his wrist

Comparable results

The price will be watched closely. Earlier examples from the series have sold as follows:

  • Wally Schirra, No. 8: almost US$2 million, RR Auction, 20 October 2022
  • Gus Grissom, No. 4: US$375,000, RR Auction, 20 April 2023
  • Alan Bean, No. 26: US$302,500, RR Auction, 20 April 2023
  • Michael Collins, No. 19: US$765,000, Heritage Auctions, 2 June 2022

Add Armstrong’s place in the history of space exploration, and this watch may well exceed all expectations. Will it make US$3 million, or considerably more?

Two photographs signed by Ed White

The same sale includes two signed photographs of Ed White during the first American spacewalk, in which he wore his Omega Speedmaster 105.003: lots 7081 and 7090. Both are attractive pieces for an Omega collector who owns a Speedmaster 105.003 “Ed White”.

Four photographs of an astronaut in space, printed on a card with a printed caption
Ed White during the first American spacewalk – signed photograph

Astronaut in a white spacesuit with helmet visor, floating above Earth
Ed White during the first American spacewalk – signed photograph

Photographs: RR Auction.