Neil Armstrong's 1969 Omega Speedmaster, Commemorating Apollo 11, Heads to Auction with a $2 Million Estimate

Neil Armstrong's 1969 Omega Speedmaster Professional, a solid gold timepiece commemorating the Apollo 11 moon landing, is set to go under the hammer at RR Auction. The watch, estimated to fetch around $2 million, was presented to Armstrong at a gala in 1969. Bidding is currently open online and will conclude on April 17 at a live event in Cambridge, Massachusetts. One of only 26 such watches created by Omega to honor the Apollo 11 astronauts, this particular model, numbered 17, is engraved with Armstrong's name, missions (Gemini 8 and Apollo 11), and the inscription: 'To commemorate man's conquest of space with time, through time, on time.' The watch features a burgundy bezel, gold dial with onyx hour markers, and a gold bracelet. Housed within its 18-karat gold case is the bronze-colored chronograph caliber 861. The watch comes with an 'Extract from the Archives' certificate from Omega. Mark Armstrong, Neil Armstrong's son, stated that a substantial portion of the proceeds will be donated to charities his father supported.