This hasn’t been discussed yet...auction ending soon.

https://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?CFGRIDKEY=2588

 

The flown X-33 hammered at $17,600.

2 NASA issued X-33s were sold.

The “mint” one, with a Class 1 deaccession label (not sure the meaning of the classes) hammered for $11,200.



The other one, with some wear and a Class 3 deaccession label hammered for much less at $6,100.

The NASA has issued Speedmaster pro hammered at $8400



Was anyone else following these?

 

is there any difference to a normal Speedmaster pro ?

 

I was the 2nd last bid on the Class III X-33, was in flight during the auction I couldn't raise it

 

Any idea what the class I vs class III means?

 

No I don’t believe it has any NASA markings. Just some cool provenance and I guess you could get an extract that says issued to NASA?

 

Class I is mission essential, class III requires special attention if my memory serves me well

 

Still no WIFI in your aircrafts?

 

Si we do but no signal above the Indian Ocean haha pretty bad timing...

 

Bad karma, sorry to read that

 

Wow, didn't see this auction. Compared to comparable watches these seem to be bargains.

 

So did these space shuttle X-33s spend any time in space?

 

Neither S/N 1119 or S/N 1132 flew. Both of these same watches were sold at a previous RR auction back in April of this year. As a matter of fact the same pictures were used in both auctions. I was watching them at the time and believe both sold in the sub $4K range. Quite an improvement the second time around.

I know the NASA issued 3950.50 Speedmaster as well and I'm confident the seller is happy with the price.

 

Looking at the RR website, back in April, S/N 1119 sold all in for $3,630 and S/N 1078 sold all in $13,830. In June, S/N 1126 sold all in for $7,154. Yesterday, S/N 1121 sold all in for $7,628 and S/N 1132 sold all in for $13,988. So it appears they are all different watches, and in the same price range although there is a wide range. Or did I miss something?

 

I stand corrected. I tried to find the original auction and could not find it. I was working from memory.

 

It is unclear how these were used and who used them from the listings. I saw in a Fratello article from @Robert-Jan about the watches auctioned in April that he thought the expensive one, S/N 1078, was used on the space shuttle. But I don't know how he gathered that.

https://www.fratellowatches.com/why-the-speedmaster-x-33-matters/

"These watches were flown, one on the Space Shuttle and one was used on board of the ISS. The X-33 that was used on board of the Space Shuttle fetched $13,830.- (includes buyer’s premium) during an auction by RR Auction."

 

I went back and looked at that article as well and was a bit confused so you're not alone.

 

Nikolai's Flown Speedmaster now for sale in the new RR Auction.

#8550 - Nikolai Budarin's Flown Omega Speedmaster Watch



Cosmonaut Nikolai Budarin's flown Omega Speedmaster Professional (serial no. 4826777) used in the vacuum of space on his three EVAs during the historic STS-71/TM-21 joint mission between the United States and Russia, which included the first Shuttle-Mir docking. The iconic timepiece is a black-faced, stainless steel chronograph, manual wind wristwatch with a Plexiglass crystal, solid case back, anti-vibration and anti-magnetic dust cover, black tachymeter bezel and sub-dials, without date or day complications, powered by a caliber 861-based movement. Engraved on the case back is "Flight-Qualified by NASA For All Manned Space Missions / The First Watch Worn on the Moon." The watch is on a traditional black leather Omega band; according to Budarin, he used this wristband onboard the Mir space station, and did not keep the Velcro strap used outside of the spacesuit during his three EVAs. In fine condition.

 

"The watch is on a traditional black leather Omega band; according to Budarin, he used this wristband onboard the Mir space station, and did not keep the Velcro strap used outside of the spacesuit during his three EVAs. In fine condition."

As I count it:

S Off (Strap Off)
V On (Velcro on)
EVA1
V Off
S On
=====
S Off
V On
EVA2
V Off
S On
=====
S Off
V On
EVA3
V Off
S On

So he did twelve strap changes in space?
Without losing springbars even once?


.

 

I don't believe there were that many changes. The time span during the 3 EVAs was 7 days so most likely the Velcro strap was kept on the watch during that whole period?

EDIT - Actually..I Looking at a few images I wonder if he didn't just pick up the watch on MIR and bring it back. He appears to be wearing the previously sold X-33 when he goes up on STS-71.

My money is on arriving at MIR with the X-33 and then conducting the EVAs where the watch on the Velcro was probably part of the cosmonaut EVA equipment and then he brought the watch back. Sometime after the EVAs he put it on the strap for the remainder of the mission which would not be a difficult task, but who knows.