Every Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch from 1969 is highly desirable today, but a watch with a direct connection to the Apollo 11 mission that first put men on the moon is certain to generate even more of a buzz at auction.
Which is why Gardiner Houlgate is particularly excited to be offering a unique Omega Speedmaster from 1969 that was presented to the Shah of Iran by the crew of the Apollo 11 mission during a celebratory world tour by the team that year.
The watch was presented during the Giant Leap Tour, during which Apollo 11 astronauts visited 23 countries to spread a message of goodwill around the world on the back of the successful moon landing.
Gardiner Houlgate describes the watch as an Omega Speedmaster Chronograph stainless steel gentleman’s bracelet watch, ref. 145022-68 ST, circa 1969, serial no. 2732xxxx, black tachymeter ‘DON’ bezel, black dial with applied logo, chronograph centre seconds with white baton hands and triple subsidiary dials, cal 861 17 jewel movement with dust cover, later Omega bracelet ref. 1171/1, 42mm.
It is sold with its original Omega box, Omega Extract of the Archives certificate confirming a production date of the April 1st 1969 and delivered to Iran.
The watch’s fascinating provenance does not end at the Shah of Iran.
The Shah regifted it to his half-sister, Princess Fatemeh Pahlavi, who then gave it to its current owner, a former military pilot was contracted to train helicopter pilots for the Iranian Air Force, as gratitude for helping her become the first Iranian woman to fly a helicopter.
The timepiece is being sold with digital copies of the owners flying log books, photographs of the owner and a signed declaration from the owner confirming the full provenance.
It has a pre-sale estimate of £15,000 – £25,000.
I can understand why this watch is getting all the headlines, but if you take a look at the other watches in that auction, there is a Tudor Submariner 7923, which is worth a lot more!