It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time an original “Tribute to Astronauts” Speedmaster has come up for public sale. Wally Schirra’s watch sold for about $1.9 million at auction last year, so Wind’s asking price of $1.5 million feels like a relative bargain, particularly when one considers the unique place Carpenter holds as a “watch guy” in the collector community.
According to Wind, Carpenter’s Speedmaster is in unpolished condition, and as the photos seen here indicate, is in great shape overall. The personalized inscription on the back is clearly visible, and the watch comes directly from Carpenter’s family.
In a way, any Speedmaster is an historic object, even the mass produced Moonwatch you can go out and buy today at any Omega boutique. They all carry a story with them that is far bigger than watches, but vintage Speedmasters can be special in an entirely different way. In the realm of watches worn by astronauts, it’s hard to imagine a watch more special than this, given that flight worn Speedys are NASA property and, by law, can’t be put up for sale. For those who live in the middle of the Venn Diagram covering watch collectors and NASA nerds, this might be the ultimate collectible. Wind Vintage
All images courtesy Wind Vintage