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Historic Rolex Worn on the Moon by Apollo 14 Astronaut Hits the Auction Block October 07, 2024 (0 comments)
New York, NY--A rare Rolex GMT-Master, worn by astronaut Edgar Mitchell during the Apollo 14 mission in 1971, is now up for auction, marking the second lunar-worn Rolex to be publicly available.
[Representative image via istockphoto.com]
A report in GQ notes that Mitchell, the sixth man to walk on the Moon, was the first to bring a Rolex to the lunar surface with this specific timepiece—a Rolex GMT-Master ref. 1675, known for its "Pepsi" red-and-blue bezel—on his wrist during his historic nine-hour Moon walk.
The report stated that although no images of the watch on the Moon exist due to the impracticality of photographing it through a spacesuit, it was documented on Mitchell's wrist before and after the mission.
The watch, now available for bidding through RR Auctions, is expected to fetch upwards of $400,000. It comes with a letter of authenticity signed by Mitchell, who confirmed it was worn during the Apollo 14 mission. The watch features a personalized inscription on the back dedicated to his daughter, adding a layer of emotional significance.
This is only the second Rolex with direct lunar provenance to be auctioned, following Ron Evans's Rolex GMT-Master, which was sold in 2009 for $131,450.
The report stated that given its historical significance and the growing interest in space memorabilia, Mitchell's Rolex is poised to exceed that price. Currently, the bidding stands at $22,000 but is expected to climb as interest grows.
Learn more in this report published by GQ.