{"id":11628,"date":"2015-10-23T11:39:30","date_gmt":"2015-10-23T15:39:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=11628"},"modified":"2015-10-23T11:46:58","modified_gmt":"2015-10-23T15:46:58","slug":"dave-scotts-watch-worn-on-the-moon-sells-for-1625000","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=11628","title":{"rendered":"Dave Scott’s watch worn on the Moon sells for $1,625,000"},"content":{"rendered":"

I posted here earlier that\u00a0the\u00a0watch worn by astronaut Dave Scott on the lunar surface was up for auction<\/a>. The auction resulted in a record setting price for an astronaut memorabilia item:\u00a0RR Auction: Past Auction Item – Item 9001 – Apollo 15 Lunar Surface Chronograph<\/a>\u00a0–<\/p>\n

Minimum Bid: $50,000.00<\/em>
\n Sold Price: $1,625,000.00<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Apollo15_watch4\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Robert\u00a0Pearlman says the buyer’s identity was not revealed:\u00a0Astronaut’s watch worn on the moon sells for record $1.6 million –\u00a0collectSPACE<\/a><\/p>\n

The Bulova timepiece, which Apollo 15<\/a> commander David Scott wore during NASA’s fourth successful lunar landing mission in 1971, was sold by RR Auction of Boston for an astronomical $1,625,000 to businessman from Florida who wished to remain anonymous. The sale, which opened at $50,000 online on Oct. 15, ended Thursday evening during a live auction where the winner and his competing bidders participated by phone.<\/em><\/p>\n

Scott, who also called in, listened as his very-well-traveled watch soared in a span of just five minutes from $475,000 to the hammer of $1.3 million<\/a> (the $1.625 million includes the buyer’s premium charged by the auction house).<\/em><\/p>\n

This substantially beats the previous record for an astronaut item sale:<\/p>\n

The previous record was for a cuff checklist used by Charles Conrad, the third man to walk on the moon, which reportedly sold for $1.3 million to a private buyer in 2001.<\/em><\/p>\n

Only Russian spacecraft have gotten higher prices in auctions\u00a0of Moon Race era items.<\/p>\n

Pearlman points to\u00a0another Apollo timepiece that will be going\u00a0up for auction later this year:\u00a0Omega Speedmaster 50 –\u00a0Christie’s<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, this watch, owned by Ron Evans of the Apollo 17 mission, stayed in orbit in the command module and did not go down to the lunar surface.<\/p>\n

—-<\/p>\n

Here is a statement from RR Auctions about this auction:<\/p>\n

Dave Scott\u2019s Apollo 15 watch sold for $1.6M at auction<\/strong>
\nOnly privately owned watch\u00a0worn on the Moon<\/em><\/p>\n

BOSTON, MA \u2013 (October, 23 15)<\/strong> Dave Scott\u2019s Apollo 15 lunar surface-worn chronograph watch sold for $1,625,000 according to Boston-based RR Auction.<\/p>\n

Of the dozen men that have stepped foot on the moon, all wore the standard Omega Speedmasters. Officially issued by NASA, those Omegas are acknowledged as government property; many, including Dave Scott\u2019s used during his first two moonwalks, are housed in institutions.<\/p>\n

This leaves Commander Scott\u2019s Bulova Chronograph as the singular lunar surface-worn watch in private hands.<\/p>\n

After the second moonwalk, Scott noticed that the crystal of his Omega had popped off when he returned to the cabin, therefore he needed to call upon his own personal backup watch, the Bulova watch.<\/p>\n

The Bulova Wrist Chronograph was worn during his third and final moonwalk of the mission.\u00a0 As Commander Scott stepped onto the moon for his final lunar\u00a0excursion, he wore this watch. When he saluted the American flag against the background of the majestic expanse of Hadley Delta, this watch adorned his left wrist.<\/p>\n