Speedmaster Apollo XI 1969 BA145.022 #40 coming up at auction…

Some of you may have already seen this, but gold Speedmaster Apollo XI 1969 BA145.022 Number 40 is coming up on 11/24 at an auction in the UK:

- Oval O omega
- service bezel in excellent condition… with original bezel included
- Seems like the watch is in decent condition overall, although I am wondering about the quality of the case (seems like the edges are pretty dull) and would love to see more photos, including of the case back.



What do you guys think? Also calling @Spacefruit ….

Description taken from auction site:

OMEGA, SPEEDMASTER APOLLO 11, REF. BA145.022
A RARE LIMITED EDITION GOLD COLOURED CHRONOGRAPH BRACELET WATCH, NO. 040, CIRCA 1969

Movement: Cal. 862, manual wind chronograph, 17 jewels

Case: Gold coloured case, inner cap, screw down case back, stamped 18K 0.750 with a poinçon

Dial: Champagne

Bracelet: Omega gold coloured bracelet with fold over clasp

Size: 40mm, bracelet 19cm

Signed: Case, dial, movement, glass, crown, clasp

Accessories: Omega service case, extract from the archives, original bezel

The reference BA145.022 was released in 1969 to commemorate the Apollo XI moon landing. This was the first Speedmaster made available in gold. While not a limited edition, only 1014 watches were produced and each was numbered. Numbers 1 and 2 were offered to President Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew respectively. Numbers 3 to 28 were given to astronauts and numbers 29 to 32 were given to VIPs. Numbers 33 onwards were made available to the public, making this example number 40 one of the earliest available to be purchased.


Condition Report:
Movement is currently functioning. The chronograph counts one minute, but the hour counter has not been tested due to time constraints.

Movement has scratches, marks and tarnishing commensurate with general wear visible when viewed under a 4x loupe.

Dial appears to be in an average condition with some light marks and scratches when viewed under a 4x loupe. Blemish to the dial at 2 o'clock

Hands appear to be in a generally good condition.

Glass appears free of significant scratches or marks when viewed under a 4x loupe.

Case shows light scratches and marks. Case back engraving worn. Bezel is a replacement, likely a service replacement.

Crown has light scratches when viewed under a 4x loupe.

Bracelet has scratches and some signs of stretching to links.

Clasp is currently functioning and appears to be in good condition.

Bracelet measures approximately 19cm including case.

This lot does not come with box or papers.

Dreweatts 1759 do not guarantee the working order or accuracy of any lots sold. Due to opening of the case back we recommend this watch is re-sealed by a qualified technician to ensure any stated water resistance is achieved.

Are the end links correct? They don’t look like they fit too neatly. That’s probably the least of its worries, i’m just curious.

They are not solid end links… so, on well worn watches, they tend to “open up”, especially when they are in (soft) gold. This comes to validate again the comments from @spacedruit above that this was a worn owned example of the watch.

Thank you for the clarification

Anyone follow the auction? Noticed no bidders for the BA145.022.

What do you all think this particular watch is actually worth? Around £15-20k including all premiums?

Just comes to validate once more that stellar examples command very high prices, and that average to poor examples are not desirable.

Hard to say. There are two other examples floating around right now on Revolution and Chrono that are asking $50K, but they've been listed for quite some time. Another one recently popped up on Tropical Watch (https://tropicalwatch.com/watches/fzpl), but appears to be sold. I believe it was listed around $43K.

That’s interesting, thank you for commenting.