Fifty-seven years ago next Monday, Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the lunar surface wearing the Omega Speedmaster that would forever be known as the Moonwatch. Now 96, and the last member of the Apollo 11 crew, Aldrin is releasing a large portion of his collection at Sotheby’s Space Exploration sale in New York.
A Clockwork Hole in the Moon
Before anyone asks, we’ll just answer the question. No, a flying Speedmaster ref. ST105.012 is not in the catalog. That watch disappeared when it was taken to the Smithsonian in 1971. It never reappeared, and it technically belongs to the US government, so it couldn’t cross the auction block even if it came tomorrow.
Abandoned by the Buzz Aldrin Family Trust instead are 24 clocks spread across 14 locations. And for second-party hardware to go from another world, the proportions actually seem reasonable.
The Omega Contingent
Eight are Omega, owned by the circa-1990 Speedmaster Professional ref. 3590.50 that Aldrin took decades after losing the original. Sotheby’s puts it at $8,000 to $12,000, which is not a premium for fetching unknown examples.
There’s also a NASA-spec Speedmaster X-33 Gen 2 with a plain caseback typical of the issued units, the same Artemis II model that the astronauts recently wore on the moon. Its estimate of $4,000 to $6,000 is speculative with early bidding. The Moonshine Gold Speedmaster 3861 tops the group at $40,000 to $60,000.
Keepsakes from a Great Life
Then there is the oddball lot which includes a box of eight commemorative quartz watches collected over the decades. The watches here include a Toy Story 3 piece (Pixar named Buzz Lightyear after him, so he’s next) and one for the elementary school that bears his name. An average of $3,000 to $5,000 buys every little odd time.
Specification Sheet
Auction:Sotheby’s Space Exploration
Location:New York
Sender:Buzz Aldrin Family Trust
A bunch of views:14 (24 total watches)
Omega models:8
More Topics:Speedmaster 3861 Moonshine Gold ($40,000-$60,000), LeCoultre Shark Deep Sea ($10,000-$20,000), Speedmaster Professional 3590.50 ($8,000-$12,000)
Live Sales:July 15, 2026, 10AM EDT
Pricing and Availability
Online bidding is already open, as a live auction will begin on July 15 at 10am EDT at Sotheby’s New York, five days before the 57th anniversary arrives. Estimates range from $2,000 for humbler pieces to $60,000 for a gold Speedmaster, although a few lots are now trading above their high estimates. Go to Suthu’s website to browse the full catalogue.
Buzz Aldrin Watch Sotheby’s Space Exploration Auction
Sotheby’s is selling 24 watches from Buzz Aldrin’s personal collection starting July 15, headlined by a Moonshine Gold Speedmaster and a vintage LeCoultre dive chronograph, with several models priced under $10,000.
