Legendary Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Is Auctioning Off 24 of His Watches

The Apollo 11 pilot helped make the Omega Speedmaster iconic. Now his personal versions are coming up for sale.Courtesy of Sotheby's; Getty ImagesThematic auctions can be incredibly compelling, especially when the theme is hyper-specific. Take Sotheby’s Space Exploration auction, for example, which begins on July 15th: its 134 lots span midcentury Space Race history and include everything from bits of spacecraft to wristwatches from Buzz Aldrin’s personal collection, including a few Omega Speedmasters, the watch he make iconic.When astronauts Neil Armstrong and Aldrin became the first men to travel to the moon, they did so with Omega’s Speedmaster on their wrists. The timepiece passed a battery of test and became the first—and to this day only—qualified for NASA flight. With some help from Aldrin, the watch has taken on legendary status. So it’s no wonder the man seems to have become a watch collector in the intervening years, often double-wristing with at least one Omega Speedmaster. That imbues this collection coming to auction with even more significance as the watches arrive courtesy a figure who looms so large in horological mythmaking.And while the 24 pieces coming under the hammer at Sotheby’s doesn’t include the Speedmaster—aka the one Aldrin wore on the moon and was stolen en route to the Smithsonian in 1969—it does feature an impressive array of other timepieces owned by America’s most famous living lunar explorer. From commemorative souvenir watches to quirky Bulova Accutrons and—yes—a Speedmaster or two, it spans decades of Aldrin’s life and shows the retired brigadier general’s wide-ranging taste. Of course, Omega is particularly well represented…but there are also some surprises. Here are our favorites.Omega Speedmaster Professional Ref. 3590.50.00 (High estimate of $12,000)While Aldrin’s Moon-worn Speedy is lost to history, one that he picked up circa 1990 is available with an estimate of $8 to 12K: a ref. 3590.50.00, it’s a 42mm Moonwatch with tritium lume, a matching steel bracelet, a hand-wound cal. 861 movement, and a Hesalite crystal. It appears to be in particularly good condition for a roughly 36-year-old watch and features an affidavit detailing its provenance signed by Aldrin’s power of attorney. If you can’t pick up Buzz’s personal Moon-worn Moonwatch, this is the next best thing. $12 grand seems like a steal for such a watch.Omega Seamaster Professional GMT Ref. 2535.80.00 (High estimate of $8,000)But Aldrin didn’t limit himself strictly to chronographs; he was also an avid SCUBA diver, a love he picked up from his Apollo training. Lot 40, for example, is an Omega Seamaster Professional GMT from circa 2007, ref. 2535.80.00. Powered by a Co-Axial chronometer movement, it features a 41mm steel case, a light blue dive bezel, a deep blue “wave” dial, and a GMT complication. If James Bond were handed an assignment that included lunar travel, he’d probably strap this thing on—but one coming from Aldrin’s personal estate will do just fine. With an estimate of $5,000 to $8,000, it’s not quite as compelling as his Speedy, but still features impressive provenance.Jaeger-LeCoultre “Shark Deep Sea” Ref. 2643 (High estimate of $20,000)If a chronograph seems like a given in Aldrin’s collection and a dive watch is a cool side quest, how about a rare example that gives you the best of both worlds? Buzz proves his watch-collector bona fides with a spectacular vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea ref. 2643, affectionately known as the “Shark” or “Vogue” (depending upon the local market). Featuring an Autavia-style 40mm steel case, a rotating dive bezel, the venerable Valjoux 72 hand-wound movement, and a handsome black dial with a triple-register chronograph readout, it’s a valuable watch on its own. But add in some Buzziness, and the equation changes completely—to the tune of a $10 to 20K estimate, that is.Bulova Accutron Eagle Pilot Automatic Watch (High estimate of $3,000)There are more affordable pieces in the collection, too. Those with a love for travel might consider the 2010s-era Bulova Accutron Eagle Pilot Automatic Watch. An Accutron in name only, it’s actually powered by an ETA 2893-2 and features a GMT complication, a highly legible white dial, a black PVD-coated stainless steel case, an integrated leather strap, and an exhibition caseback printed with Aldrin’s signature. (Bulova, of course, also has its own lunar history, made when astronaut David Scott wore his Bulova prototype chronograph on his second moonwatch during Apollo 15 in 1971.) With an estimate of $2 to 3K, it’s well within reach of someone who’s already shopping for an Omega at retail.Apollo 11 LMP Buzz Aldrin's Personal Group of Souvenir Watches (High estimate of $5,000)Then there’s the cutesy option: a box of eight various souvenir watches owned by Aldrin, all carrying some sort of ties to flight or Aldrin’s personal history. While they may not offer a lot in the way of high-end mechanics, they have the most personal resonance. The box is tagged with an estimate of $3,000 to $5,000, it features quartz pieces made for Boeing; the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center; Toy Story 3; Rodeo Drive Art & Performance; and even Buzz Aldrin Elementary School in Reston, VA, which was established in 1994 and named in Aldrin’s honor. Wouldn’t it be fun to wear a different one every day?!Omega Speedmaster 3861 Ref. 310.60.42.50.99.002 (High estimate of $60,000)And for someone interested in pulling out all the stops, who prefers modern watches—and for whom money is no object, there’s this beauty: a Speedmaster Professional in 18K Moonshine Gold with a matching bracelet. Powered by the modern hand-wound Omega cal. 3861 movement, it swaps out the familiar black dial for a champagne-toned version with black chronograph registers that match its “dot-over-90” tachymeter bezel. A “sapphire sandwich” reference with dual sapphire crystals, it comes with its box and papers dated March 2026. If you’d like to get in on the Moonwatch action in the most conspicuous way possible, dropping $40 to 60K on this bad boy is a good way to do it.Aldrin’s penchant for watch collecting aside, his place in the history of the Speedmaster (not to mention the space program) is incalculable—without him and his fellow astronauts, it’s doubtful that Omega would occupy quite the same vaunted place in the horological pantheon. To own even a plastic-case quartz watch—let alone a well-worn Speedmaster—with Aldrin provenance is the dream of many a space- and watch collector.Oren Hartov is a GQ contributor covering all things horological. He’s written extensively about celebrity watch culture, waxed poetic about the GMT complication, and railed against case sizes larger than 40mm. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music and a military veteran, he can be found playing the guitar, ... Read More