Here's an extract of another NASA Issued Alaska III. Note how close the movement serial number is to the OP's watch
The gap between the movement SN and the Case SN seems to be the same for both watches. Is that the same for all known NASA watches ?
Well Achim there's your picture of the inside case back, and sure looks like this is another one, albeit too "fresh". Can we now be happy for the guy?
It looks good to me. It’s going to be hard to be sure as the number of validated examples is so small and the odds of finding such a rare watch in such good condition are so slim. However, it is possible and the watch looks right. The back story, or anything else you can piece together around it’s likely history and provenance will help.
This is such an exciting thread....I admit I have absolutely no idea what kind of money this would command at auction, though I don't really care... but the idea owning it makes me giddy just from the standpoint of the history and prominence. Would be very cool to learn the backstory and how this changed hands. But along the money aspect, if @watchguy23 keeps this in his possession, how does one justify insurance valuation?
This is indeed exciting, congratulations to the OP. Would love to also know how many PM's (well meaning and otherwise) he's received today so far?
It's looking very promising, ultimately it will come down to what Omega is willing to put in the Extract.
So if this is #1042, I don’t suppose NASA has records of what’s happened to #1001 - #1056? Did they just chuck them in a drawer back in the late 70s, or were they used at other times? And I wonder how this one escaped the drawer…
Now for the ethical dilemma, if the watch is sold for big money, do you give anything to your friend that sold it to you, and if so, how much?
heh, I think you know the answer to that. He bought it fair-and-square from a seller that was not interested in it.
Haha. I thought exactly the same. I also never know what to do when I buy a Picasso from an unsuspecting friend.
maybe, who knows. Wasn’t suggesting there is a right or wrong answer. depends on how well you know the seller. Friend? Random person you never see again? maybe the seller is down on their luck. Maybe they have a family member in the hospital. maybe a token kick back, but you do it more for yourself than for them, to sleep better at night. maybe you don’t because you don’t owe them anything and that’s not how the world works. anyhow, congratulations to the OP, what a watch ! like winning the lottery! Hopefully happy outcomes for all
@watchguy23 - you should buy a powerball ticket as well and see if you can win the lottery twice this week. As I'm sure you are now aware you have one of the rarest privately owned watches in the world.