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APOLLO-SOYUZ
Omega, "Speedmaster Professional Apollo-Soyuz", No. 39927934. Ref. ST 145.022. Made in a limited
edition of 500 examples in 1975 to mark the occasion of the joint Russo-American “Apollo-Soyuz” mission.
Sold on January 31, 1978.
Very rare and fine, asymmetric, water-resistant, stainless steel wristwatch with round button chronograph and
registers, and a stainless steel Omega link bracelet. This watch is sold with a box, Certificate of Authenticity, and 2-year
Omega guarantee.
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| C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back engraved with the Gemini rocket over the Atlantic Ocean and
the Continents of Europe, Africa and the Americas surrounded by the dedication: "Gemini * Apollo * Soyuz (in Russian)",
anti-magnetic protecting cap, tachometer graduation on the black bezel, lyre lugs. D. Black with luminous indexes, outer minute
and fifth second divisions, subsidiary dials for the constant seconds, 12 hour and 30 minute registers, belowthe 12, the blue and
red "Apollo-Soyuz" logo in English and in Russian. Luminous white "Baton" hands. M. Cal. 861, copper-colored, 17 jewels,
straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self-compensating flat balance-spring.
Dial, case and movement signed.
Diam. 42 mm. Thickness 14.5 mm.
From the Collection of Fabrizio Mauri |
Estimate: 10,000 CHF - 15,000 CHF
Estimate: 6,300 EUR - 10,000 EUR
Estimate: 8,300 USD - 12,000 USD |
Grading system
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| This watch was made to commemorate one of the most significant events in space history, the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission, which
was the first joint American-Soviet mission. This historical mission was first considered in 1972 and marked a cold-war breakthrough.
Prior to this mission, the Soviet Space Agency used a multitude of watches for its missions, however one brave Omega
executive told the Cosmonauts that “if they wanted to be on time for their rendezvous with the Americans they should be
wearing the same watches”. From that day the “Speedmaster” became the official watch of the Cosmonauts.
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
was the first joint flight of the U.S. and Soviet space programs in 1975. It was the last Apollo flight, as well as the last manned
space launch until the flight of the first Space Shuttle in April 1981. For the Soviet Union it was the last manned space flight until
Soyuz 21 in June 1976. The Soyuz 19 and Apollo flights launched within seven-and-a-half hours of each other on July 15, and
docked on July 17. On that date the two mission commanders, Stafford and Leonov, exchanged the first international handshake
in space. The two spacecraft were linked for 44 hours, during which the three Americans and two Soviets exchanged flags and
gifts (including tree seeds which were later planted in both countries), signed certificates, paid visits to each other's ships, ate
together, and conversed in each other's languages. The Soviets remained in space for five days, and the Americans for nine.
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