Buzz Aldrin auctions 24 watches at Sotheby's New York

Buzz Aldrin auctions 24 watches at Sotheby's New York

Sotheby’s New York is auctioning 24 watches from the personal collection of Buzz Aldrin, the retired Brigadier General of the U.S. Air Force and the second man to walk on the moon. The timepieces are part of the 2026 Space Exploration auction, which includes a total of 134 lots featuring spacecraft fragments, mission documents, and signed photographs.

The collection is heavily weighted toward Omega, reflecting Aldrin's role as a brand ambassador. Among the most valuable is a limited-edition Speedmaster 3861 in Moonshine Gold. Produced in 2026, the watch features a 42mm gold case and a champagne dial. It carries an estimate of USD$40,000–$60,000.

However, the most famous watch associated with Aldrin is notably absent. The Omega Speedmaster Professional he wore on the lunar surface during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission was lost in 1971 while in transit to the Smithsonian. That specific watch remains the property of the U.S. Government and will not be sold.

Collectors seeking a closer connection to the lunar mission can bid on a stainless-steel Speedmaster Professional from approximately 1990. Aldrin acquired this piece as a replacement for the one worn during the Apollo era. It features a calibre 861 movement and a tritium dial. Sotheby’s estimates this watch at USD$8,000–$12,000, though current bidding has reached USD$8,000.

The auction also highlights Aldrin's passion for diving. Beyond spaceflight, Aldrin has stated, My favourite thing to do on this planet is to scuba dive. This interest is represented by several tool watches, including:

• JLC Shark Deep Sea: A rare diving chronograph from the late 1960s or early 1970s. This U.S. Market example is signed LeCoultre on the dial and shows signs of use, including a scuffed crystal and oxidised spring bars. It currently sits at US$8,500.
• Citizen Promaster Hyper Aqualand: A mid-1980s watch equipped with a thermometer, water sensor, and electronic depth gauge. It is estimated at USD$2,000–$3,000.

Other notable Omegas in the sale include a titanium Speedmaster X-33 “NASA” with a blank caseback—typical of military or NASA issues—and a two-tone Constellation Day-Date known as The Owl due to its calendar subdials. The latter measures 32mm and features an integrated bracelet.

The sale also contains items that lean toward the commemorative. A Bulova Accutron Eagle Pilot Automatic Watch, featuring Aldrin's engraved signature and an Apollo 11 title on the caseback, is estimated at USD$2,000–$3,000. This piece appears unworn, with protective plastic still attached, and was likely sent to Aldrin for design approval.

A separate lot consisting of eight quartz souvenir watches in an imitation-crocodile case is estimated at USD$3,000–$5,000. The collection includes watches commemorating the Buzz Aldrin Elementary School, a Boeing watch featuring the ISS, a Korean War Stories watch, a Rodeo Drive Art & Performance Swatch, and a Toy Story 3 watch.

Sotheby's 2026 Space Exploration auction runs from 1 July to 15 July. While online bidding is currently open, live bidding sessions begin on 15 July at 10 am EDT (2 pm GMT) in New York.