How to identify my Speedmaster Neil Armstrong

Ron_W

Welcome,
you have a nice watch there ! It is a Speedmaster with ref nr st 145.022, the number 31619878 is from the movement which you can use to date it - but you already have the receipt - via the ilovemyspeedmaster website. You have a special caseback on your watch with a text that is called : straight writing ( type it in the search function here and you will find a lot about them) only made in the early 70`s after which it was replaced by a caseback with the text placed in a circle.

padders

Without meaning to be being pedantic, though perhaps failing in that regard, what you have isn't usually known as a Neil Armstrong watch. Armstrong left his 105.012-65 Speedmaster in the capsule and went bare wristed on the moon. As such no watch took on that name really.

The usual name for what you have is as noted above, 'Straight Writing Moonwatch' and is probably model 145.022-69.

The first watch actually worn on the surface was on Buzz's wrist and was the same model as Neil's it seems but has been long since lost.

For value, you could try the price chart here, specifically the 'Flight Q' entry: https://speedmaster101.com/price-chart-2/

Note those figures are in USD, your watch appears to be in somewhere in the Fair to Good condition range maybe. You can add maybe $400 to the figures shown for the 1171/633 bracelet.

Dan S

Yep, appears to be a "straight writing" Speedmaster Professional ref 145.022-69. No Neil Armstrong connection. If a watch dealer really said the BS you wrote, you should probably find another watch dealer. Insure it for $6k or so, if it makes you feel better. Or better yet, leave it in the safe deposit box and save the insurance premium.

bazelot

nice watch, i love family heirlooms like that, i wish i had one from my dad or grandpa...

boogedyboo

Definitely save that receipt too and keep that together with the watch, it is part of the history of the watch