Flown stainless steel Omega Speedmaster professional wristwatch, worn by cosmonaut Anatoly Artsebarsky during his five months on the MIR space station and during all six of his EVAs into open space. Watch has three different function dials on the face in addition to the normal dial plus a tachometer band around the dial. Watch also sports a black leather band. Watch is marked on the reverse “Flight qualified by NASA for All Manned Space Missions/The First Watch Worn on the Moon.” Watch comes in its gray leather case, and is initialed on the inside by Artsebarsky, and notated “6 EVA.” In fine condition. Watch originates from Artsebarsky’s collection and was offered in the 2001 Superior Space Memorabilia Auction. RRAuction COA.
Details: Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph, minute and hour registers with constant seconds (called “triple register” in collector slang), black dial, black “tachymetre” (French for tachymeter or tachometer) bezel for timing speed per hour for observable objects going through a known distance (such as a mile or KM), with raised Speedmaster logo and NASA moon inscription on back, “Flight Qualified for NASA for all Manned Space Missions – The First Watch Worn on the Moon.” Movement with anti-magnetic cover is 17 jewel Swiss, serial number 48261214, case reference inside back ST 145022, with Omega leather strap and buckle, stainless steel case, 43mm diameter. With inner and outer boxes. The chronograph is activated and stopped by the top button, and returned to zero by depressing the bottom button. One might start the chronograph when a race car goes past a mile post, and stop it when it passes the second – if the trip took thirty seconds, one can read the speed on the bezel as 120 mph. Any unit may be used.
Condition: In good running order, balance true and showing excellent motion, mechanism essentially pristine, bright plates and bridges with no microfine scratches or other defects; chronograph functions working perfectly, with minute register advancing incrementally and hour register continuously per design (this system with minute and hour registers is also called the “compte-tout” - literally “count-all” - in French Switzerland). Dial is in mint original condition, with all luminous in perfect shape on hands and markers. Bezel insert is perfect and without wear, but there is the slightest roughness to the bezel edge at 80 mph; back is very crisp, showing hardly any wear, a brushed area of fine scratches sweeping over the “qualified” graphic, and a small speck of red paint acting to mark the return of the screwed-on water-resistant back to normal fully closed position. Strap shows light wear only, and a bit more wear or tarnish to the buckle. Box interior is fine and clean, with historic signature, while the outside of the box is starting to wear and has minor peeling around the edges; the outer box has minimal rubbing and no soiling. Watch gasket has been sealed with silicone prior to closure. An excellent collector example of the “Moon Watch” model, here being one of the few on earth that has actually been in space, carrying clear documentation and signature of the astronaut.
