Neil Armstrong’s Gold Omega Speedmaster Sells for $2.1 Million at Auction
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boston, MA – April 18, 2025 – Neil Armstrong’s 18K solid yellow gold Omega Speedmaster Professional chronograph sold for $2,125,000, according to Boston-based RR Auction.
One of the most significant watches ever tied to space history and watchmaking, the timepiece was presented to Armstrong at a gala dinner at the Hotel Warwick in Houston on November 25, 1969, just months after he became the first man to walk on the moon. Crafted by Omega to commemorate the Apollo 11 mission, the watch is part of the coveted “Tribute to Astronauts” edition—only 26 of which were made and gifted exclusively to NASA astronauts.
The watch was acquired by a private collector who requested anonymity.
Armstrong’s watch, numbered “17,” bears a custom caseback engraving: “Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, Gemini 8 – Apollo 11,” surrounding the poetic tribute: “To mark man’s conquest of space with time, through time, on time.”
“This watch, which my father liked to wear on special occasions, symbolizes one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of mankind,” said Mark Armstrong, son of the late astronaut, in a statement to the auction house. “A substantial portion of the proceeds from the sale of this watch will benefit charitable causes my father believed in, furthering the impact that he and many other Americans made to humanity more than half a century ago.”
In keeping with that legacy, half of the hammer price will be donated to charities selected by Mark Armstrong. The consignor has also pledged a portion of the proceeds to benefit The Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation of Wisconsin.
“We’re honored to have handled the sale of such an extraordinary artifact, and even more honored that a portion of the proceeds will go toward charities chosen by Neil Armstrong’s son, Mark,” said Bobby Livingston, Executive Vice President at RR Auction. “It’s a rare moment when history, humanity, and philanthropy all come together.”
About the Watch
The special-edition Speedmaster features an 18K gold case mirroring the design of the iconic steel Professional model, with a distinctive burgundy-red bezel and solid gold dial inscribed with “OM” (for Or Massif, or solid gold). Its caseback is engraved to honor Armstrong’s Gemini 8 and Apollo 11 missions. Inside the 42mm case ticks the legendary Omega caliber 861 movement.
An official Extract from the Archives from Omega confirms its authenticity and provenance as a “Special numbered edition to celebrate the ‘Apollo XI’ moon landing.”
The sale places Armstrong’s Speedmaster among the most significant watches ever auctioned. In 2022, RR Auction sold astronaut Wally Schirra’s example for nearly $2 million—but Armstrong’s carries unparalleled symbolic weight as the commemorative timepiece of the first moonwalker.
RR Auction’s Spring Space Exploration Sale
The auction achieved a total of $3,563,949 and featured several notable results, including:
Edgar Mitchell’s Gold Omega Speedmaster – From the personal collection of the Apollo 14 moonwalker. Sold for: $142,664.
Alan Bean Original Painting – Earth Is Watching – Acrylic painting by the Apollo 12 moonwalker, formerly owned by astronaut Walt Cunningham. Sold for: $131,054.
Apollo A7L Space Suit Glove – Authentic EVA glove from the Apollo era. Sold for: $65,591.
Apollo Lunar Sample Return Container – Rare “moon rock box” manufactured for fit checks and lunar module qualification. Sold for: $37,500.
Apollo Command Module Hand Controller (Modified for Skylab) – Original NASA flight hardware later adapted for Skylab missions. Sold for: $34,384.
Apollo 16 Flown Fire Extinguisher – Carried aboard the Command Module Casper during the Apollo 16 mission. Sold for: $33,219.
David Leestma’s Collection of 108 Shuttle Robbins Medallions – Featuring three rare flown gold examples from STS-41-G, STS-28, and STS-45. Sold for: $32,941.
Full-Scale Mercury Friendship 7 Space Capsule Replica. Sold for: $32,050.
Mark Armstrong, pictured alongside the consignor, attended the event in support of the sale and its charitable mission.
The live auction of Neil Armstrong’s gold Omega Speedmaster took place on April 17 at the Royal Sonesta in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The remainder of the Spring Space Exploration Sale was conducted online.
The live auction was well attended, drawing bidders, collectors, space enthusiasts, and members of the Boston community to the Royal Sonesta in Cambridge. Among the special guests was Mark Armstrong, son of Neil Armstrong, who attended in support of the sale and its charitable mission. His presence underscored the personal and historical significance of the watch—a timepiece that not only honored his father’s legacy as the first man on the moon, but will now help support causes that were important to him. The evening marked a powerful convergence of history, community, and philanthropy.
For more information, visit www.rrauction.com.
