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Sotheby's auction - Omega Speedmaster: To the Moon and Back | Celebrating 50 Years since Apollo 11

Texas Toast
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Perhaps some other collectSpace fans or authentication experts can weigh in but Lot 47 Aldrin signature on box looks like a hot mess to me even accounting for difficult signing surface. Don’t believe this a genuine Buzz autograph. Certainly open to other views and maybe it’s about the watch to most buyers but I’d call the "signature" a detracting feature.
SothebysLot47.jpg


Collins autograph on Trilogy box of lot 48 also seems "off" compared to what I’m used to seeing. Perhaps a function of a recent signature though even recent Collins autographs tend to look pretty close to vintage.
SothebysLot48.jpg


For reference: first pic is a modern Aldrin signature and second is a vintage signature of all three Apollo 11 astronauts.
Buzz_Modern.jpg A11_Crew_Vintage.jpg
 
dscoogs
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Good observation ! The B usually stands out with his signatures I think ...

image.png
 
wsfarrell
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Texas Toast Texas Toast
Perhaps some other collectSpace fans or authentication experts can weigh in but Lot 47 Aldrin signature on box looks like a hot mess to me even accounting for difficult signing surface. Don’t believe this a genuine Buzz autograph. Certainly open to other views and maybe it’s about the watch to most buyers but I’d call the "signature" a detracting feature.
SothebysLot47.jpg


Collins autograph on Trilogy box of lot 48 also seems "off" compared to what I’m used to seeing. Perhaps a function of a recent signature though even recent Collins autographs tend to look pretty close to vintage.
SothebysLot48.jpg


For reference: first pic is a modern Aldrin signature and second is a vintage signature of all three Apollo 11 astronauts.
Buzz_Modern.jpg A11_Crew_Vintage.jpg
That's not even close. Looks like they signed it "Duzz," then somebody said "Hey, it's Buzz with a B" so they added a squiggle.
 
Bille
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And what about the watch? The hands looks like they have been re-lumed
 
Bille
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About the signature I’m not sure. It really looks fake, but of course the materiale is difficult to write on.
 
nonuffinkbloke
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marturx marturx
As he is a true Gentleman, he did it for free.
Yes... my "less than 32%" remark was not serious.😀 William is a very helpful chap and it doesn't suprise me at all that he assisted you.

I wish you well with your sales. I think many of us will be interested to see how this auction goes.
 
marturx
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Texas Toast Texas Toast
Perhaps some other collectSpace fans or authentication experts can weigh in but Lot 47 Aldrin signature on box looks like a hot mess to me even accounting for difficult signing surface. Don’t believe this a genuine Buzz autograph. Certainly open to other views and maybe it’s about the watch to most buyers but I’d call the "signature" a detracting feature.
SothebysLot47.jpg


Collins autograph on Trilogy box of lot 48 also seems "off" compared to what I’m used to seeing. Perhaps a function of a recent signature though even recent Collins autographs tend to look pretty close to vintage.
SothebysLot48.jpg


For reference: first pic is a modern Aldrin signature and second is a vintage signature of all three Apollo 11 astronauts.
Buzz_Modern.jpg A11_Crew_Vintage.jpg

Have you ever tried to write your autograph on the inside of an Omega box?

Aldrin´s signature is genuine alright, but although maybe not the best one he made

Have a look a bit down in this thread

https://omegaforums.net/threads/achim-2998-content.7683/#post-90809
 
Spacefruit
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So I have written a few lines on each watch. I dont have all the answers, and I may have made some mistakes, but we only have just over two weeks to sale.

If I missed something do chime in. Its meant to help us all and I will update with any new info I get, or corrections.

If anyone is in NY and can get some extra photos and will let me add them in I will.

Last favour, is I could really use some input regarding the 2915 bezels.

Speedmaster101 Review Of Sothebys Sale
 
MTROIS
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I will try to go to the viewing and snap pics, but it only opens on July 14th, correct??
 
lowlands
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Is the omegafactory/museum also involved in this auction like the omegamania auction 12 years ago, with the huge results for that time?
 
marturx
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I´m very pleased to read that @Spacefruit thinks highly of all my consigned Speedys 😀

And as for lot 47, the dial is immaculate, in fact the whole watch, and the 1039 bracelet too, is the best conditioned vintage Speedy I have had
 
Spacefruit
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marturx marturx
I´m very pleased to read that @Spacefruit thinks highly of all my consigned Speedys 😀

And as for lot 47, the dial is immaculate, in fact the whole watch, and the 1039 bracelet too, is the best conditioned vintage Speedy I have had

For the record, I don't know who's is who's apart from Micheal's !
 
MTROIS
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Spacefruit Spacefruit
For the record, I don't know who's is who's apart from Micheal's !
William, I don't have a shadow of a doubt that you are unbiased, and am quite confident that most OF members here share my opinion. 👍
 
Basset Hound
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Spacefruit Spacefruit
So I have written a few lines on each watch. I dont have all the answers, and I may have made some mistakes, but we only have just over two weeks to sale.

If I missed something do chime in. Its meant to help us all and I will update with any new info I get, or corrections.

If anyone is in NY and can get some extra photos and will let me add them in I will.

Last favour, is I could really use some input regarding the 2915 bezels.

Speedmaster101 Review Of Sothebys Sale

That really is excellent William and must have taken a great deal of time. It adds so much to the catalogue descriptions and is invaluable to anyone considering bidding. Alas not me at the moment due to the exploding budget on my house build but good luck to all who are intending bidding.
 
MCC
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@Spacefruit many thanks for taking the time to go through these, I really enjoyed reading your assessment. It will be interesting to see how the auction does because I don't think many of these watches would blow Speedmaster collectors away, while non Speedmaster enthusiasts may not realise the scarcity of some of the earlier models.
 
watchyouwant
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MSNWatch MSNWatch
They should have been searching OF and contacting members here who own exceptional speedmasters. Many will not sell but some might. And they would have a more interesting auction. The mods bounced around the auction idea years ago but I wonder if it is time to reconsider this. OF hosting a once a year auction of top notch curated pieces maybe 10 to 20 in number might work.

Ok. I'm in. 2915-3. Kind regards. Achim
 
MTROIS
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Spacefruit Spacefruit
So I have written a few lines on each watch. I dont have all the answers, and I may have made some mistakes, but we only have just over two weeks to sale.

If I missed something do chime in. Its meant to help us all and I will update with any new info I get, or corrections.

If anyone is in NY and can get some extra photos and will let me add them in I will.

Last favour, is I could really use some input regarding the 2915 bezels.

Speedmaster101 Review Of Sothebys Sale
William, thank you so much for compiling your reviews.

I will volunteer a few additional thoughts, although I have yet to see these watches in the flesh yet:

Lot 13 v. 49: Gold Apollo 11s
The price difference may be driven by the condition of the bezel, case and bracelet of lot 13. I suspect that the color is “off” because they wanted to enhance contrast to show the oxidation on the case and bracelet. Also, some people may not like the fact that the claps of lot 49 is engraved with the first owner’s name.


Lot 14 v. 44
The crowns appear to be different (different number of grooves, suggesting that one may have a service crown?) Case back of 44 is more attractive to me than the one from 14 that seems to have been polished to remove marks left by tool. But lot 14 has a bracelet...
 
Spacefruit
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lowlands lowlands
Is the omegafactory/museum also involved in this auction like the omegamania auction 12 years ago, with the huge results for that time?

I do know that Sotheby's worked closely with the museum to verify the watches. It did not stop this getting in:
lot-43.jpg
 
Spacefruit
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MTROIS MTROIS
William, thank you so much for compiling your reviews.

I will volunteer a few additional thoughts, although I have yet to see these watches in the flesh yet:

Lot 13 v. 49: Gold Apollo 11s
The price difference may be driven by the condition of the bezel, case and bracelet of lot 13. I suspect that the color is “off” because they wanted to enhance contrast to show the oxidation on the case and bracelet. Also, some people may not like the fact that the claps of lot 49 is engraved with the first owner’s name.
Lot 13
Lot-13-BA145.022.jpg

Lot 49:
Lot-49-BA145.022.jpg


Lot 14 v. 44
The crowns appear to be different (different number of grooves, suggesting that one may have a service crown?) Case back of 44 is more attractive to me than the one from 14 that seems to have been polished to remove marks left by tool. But lot 14 has a bracelet...[/QUOTE]
Lot 14
Lot-14-145.022-69-DN90.jpg

Lot 44
Lot-41-145.022-69.jpg
 
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