Omega Speedmaster watches have already received a degree of recent attention on our blog due to the latest Watch of the Week feature, and these historic timepieces are also making headlines elsewhere in the world as well. This Sunday, a Speedmaster will be exhibited at auction within the Swiss heartland of Geneva, yet this particular wristwatch is an archetype even among its illustrious brethren. Known as a ‘flown’ Speedmaster, this chronometer has spent a staggering 33 hours in outer space; a feat that is unmatched by any other timepiece.
Formerly owned by the Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Artsebarsky, this Speedmaster was worn on a total of six space ventures. Whilst the time that this ‘flown’ Speedmaster spent in open space dwindles in comparison to the 145 days totalled by its master at the MIR Space Station, it is still an impressive record even for this calibre of timepiece. The ordeals of venturing into the cosmos have also failed to best Omega’s typically peerless workmanship, as even today Artsebarsky’s Speedmaster still works without any sign of instability.
Omega has recorded that 1962 gave cause for the very first Speedmaster to serve in outer space, and it was worn by Wally Schirra on the fifth USA space mission to be directly manned. Several timepieces were tested by NASA in order to identify the optimum choice for such a bold venture as an outer space mission, and the Speedmaster rose to each and every test it was subjected to; remaining accurate to a degree of 5 seconds per day. A mechanical watch is a necessity to withstand the lack of gravity in space, and further Speedmaster chronometers were similarly utilised aboard Gemini 3 in 1965, and again on Gemini 4 a matter of months later.
This ‘flown’ Speedmaster has generated a substantial degree of excitement; as such historic timepieces reach the open market only infrequently. The watch has been comprehensively authenticated by Omega, and is expected to command an unprecedented level of attention at auction due to its presence within a display box that has been signed by Artsebarsky himself. The projected estimate for this momentous chronometer is expected to climb to heights of £27,000 or more, and the occasion is sure to provide horological connoisseurs with a genuinely once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The level of excitement that has been generated by the Geneva auction shows that even second hand watches from an iconic brand name still demand a disproportionate level of attentiveness; especially when this intrinsic fascination is combined with the historical significance acquired by a long venerated timepiece. Here at Banks Lyon we are proud to be a fully authenticated stockist for a variety of Swiss luxury wristwatches, and so we are able to offer a remarkable selection of previously used timepieces for your perusal. Our collection includes patterns which were only available for a limited duration, and also traditional watches which were discontinued some years ago. Please call us on 01524 38 48 58 if you would like to receive any more detailed information.
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