PROPERTY OF AN IMPORTANT AMERICAN COLLECTOR
23
Omega
Ref. ST 345.0022, PIC 3596.50.00
Speedmaster Professional “MIR 365 Days”
A space flown and exceptional limited edition stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with “MIR-365 Days” caseback inscription, bracelet, certificate, international warranty, and impressive presentation briefcase, numbered 23 of 28 pieces which were flown in space for one year
- Estimate
- $60,000 - 120,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Omega
- Year
- 1993
- Reference No
- ST 345.0022, PIC 3596.50.00
- Movement No
- 48'294'655
- Case No
- 48’294’655
- Model Name
- Speedmaster Professional “MIR 365 Days”
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 861, 17 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Omega bracelet, end links stamped 812, max overall length 200mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Omega deployant clasp stamped 1479
- Dimensions
- 42mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, and clasps signed.
- Accessories
- Accompanied by an Omega undated International Warranty stamped Prince Jewellery and Watch Co, Hong Kong, Omega Certificate numbered 23/28, aluminum brief case, Omega black book-like presentation box, Houston Space Center pen, unsealed Omega “The Moon Watch” book, Omega VHS “The Moon Watch” video, case keys, and product literature.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
On February 20th, 1986 the Soviet Union launched the first continuously inhabited space station, MIR - Russian for “peace” and “world” - which would continue to host astronauts until it was decommissioned and deorbited in March 2001. MIR was a technological feat of mankind, experimenting with human endurance in space and a diplomatic achievement, which saw the US and Russian space agencies coming together in the spirit of cooperation in space.
MIR was a working laboratory and in July 1993, Omega sent 35 Speedmaster Professional chronographs to the space station. There were 28 examples in stainless steel with seven in yellow gold and all remained in orbit for 365 days. Upon their return to earth, Omega extensively tested the timepieces and found all to be in excellent working order following a year in space. Beginning in 1995, Omega offered these extraordinary timepieces to the public with a dedicative and celebrative engraving on the caseback “365 Days On Board Space Station MIR July 1993-July 1994”.
The present space-flown Speedmaster Professional “MIR 365 Days” is number 23 of the 28 examples, and offered in outstanding, hardly-worn condition.
Consigned by an important American collector, the present lot comes accompanied with the most complete set of original Omega accessories ever offered publicly, including a remarkable aluminum briefcase, VHS tape, and its original warranty stamped by a retailer in Hong Kong. The Omega heritage department confirms the watch was delivered to Hong Kong in 1997.
MIR was a working laboratory and in July 1993, Omega sent 35 Speedmaster Professional chronographs to the space station. There were 28 examples in stainless steel with seven in yellow gold and all remained in orbit for 365 days. Upon their return to earth, Omega extensively tested the timepieces and found all to be in excellent working order following a year in space. Beginning in 1995, Omega offered these extraordinary timepieces to the public with a dedicative and celebrative engraving on the caseback “365 Days On Board Space Station MIR July 1993-July 1994”.
The present space-flown Speedmaster Professional “MIR 365 Days” is number 23 of the 28 examples, and offered in outstanding, hardly-worn condition.
Consigned by an important American collector, the present lot comes accompanied with the most complete set of original Omega accessories ever offered publicly, including a remarkable aluminum briefcase, VHS tape, and its original warranty stamped by a retailer in Hong Kong. The Omega heritage department confirms the watch was delivered to Hong Kong in 1997.
Omega
Swiss | 1848Omega's rich history begins with its founder, Louis Brandt, who established the firm in 1848 in La Chaux de Fonds. In 1903, the company changed its name to Omega, becoming the only watch brand in history to have been named after one its own movements. A full-fledged manufacturer of highly accurate, affordable and reliable watches, its sterling reputation enabled them to be chosen as the first watch company to time the Olympic Games beginning in 1932. Its continued focus on precision and reliability ultimately led their Speedmaster chronograph wristwatch to be chosen by NASA in 1965 — the first watch worn on the moon.Key models sought-after by collectors include their first, oversized water-resistant chronograph — the reference 2077, early Speedmaster models such as the CK 2915 and 2998, military-issued versions of the Seamaster and oversized chronometer models such as those fitted with their prestigious caliber 30T2Rg.
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