You could have bought one last weekend: From the Estate of Sen. John Glenn: https://www.estatesales.net/MD/Potomac/20854/1799079 A couple of interesting LeCoultres were sold. One example always showed 13 o'clock: Another was far more interesting. A 24-hour LeCoultre, not named Quartermaster: @Jeff Stein from On The Dash had a good question about this watch. Turns out that it is a real "astronaut's watch". Apparently, several of these were purchased for the original Mercury 7 team. The astronauts didn't really care for them due to the different position of the hands on the dial. They weren't used during the missions (that anyone recorded). The one above was Sen. John Glenn's. This is Wally Schirra's LeCoultre with the original band: https://classic.liveauctioneers.com/item/5712524_57-schirra-s-watch-during-mercury-training Looks like Alan Shepard had one also: Note the band, same as Schirra's. These would have pre-dated the Speedmasters. Here's a forum that discusses these watches about halfway down the page. http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/For...0), Regency Superior will auction this watch: Three out of eight isn't bad for a half-hour's work. I'm not sure that any of this style of 24 hour LeCoultre was sold to the public, so eight might be all that ever existed. Certainly much rarer than a Speedmaster or Seiko Pogue. If you see another, the chances are good that it was owned by one of the original Mercury astronauts. gatorcpa
Someone snagged a hell of a Breitling. The all black Cosmonaute in the middle of the picture is the closest to what Scott Carpenter wore on Aurora 7. Very rare to find.
Looks like Gus Grissom had one of the LeCoultres too. It was sold at auction in 2011 Link here: https://www.rrauction.com/PastAuctionItem/3222593
I attended the estate sale and had my eye on the Breitling but someone snagged it about 30mins before I got there. Was definitely bummed! But it was really cool to see all the history in his home!
The 13 o'clock LeCoultre watch, according to folks on the collectspace forum, was actually a gift from McDonnell to John Glenn and the 13s on the dial represent that the Friendship 7 spacecraft was the 13th spacecraft built by McDonnell. From wikipedia: Mercury-Atlas 6, named Friendship 7 Spacecraft properties Spacecraft Mercury No.13 Manufacturer McDonnell Aircraft Crew Crew size 1 Members John H. Glenn, Jr Callsign Friendship 7 "Mercury spacecraft #13 began taking form on McDonnell's St. Louis, Missouri assembly line in May 1960. It was chosen for the MA-6 mission in October 1960 and delivered to Cape Canaveral on August 27, 1961. Mercury spacecraft #13 and Atlas #109-D were stacked on the pad at Launch Complex 14 on January 2, 1962."
I believe $12K USD, which I think was a steal! The LeCoultre 13s dial watch they were asking $22K USD. They also had a Bulova big-eye chronograph for $4500.
Here is where the 24 hour LeCoultre ended up.... http://www.chronocentric.com/forums/heuer/index.cgi?page=1;md=read;id=90777
And yet another 1962 photo of astronaut John Glenn wearing the black dial LeCoultre wrist watch ... .
Breaking News -- Phillips will be selling two of astronaut John Glenn's watches, in its "Game Changers" auction, December 10, 2019, New York City. The two being sold are the Breitling Cosmonaute and the LeCoultre "Lucky 13" watch. Details here -- http://www.onthedash.com/phillips-game-changers-glenn-breaking-news/
Any guesses as to what kind of markup will be applied in the one year these have been owned? My guess is at least 100%.
The profit on these two will probably be huge!! I am expecting to see the current owner make way more than 100% profit.
Damn talk about history. Truly historical watches. Anyone know the story why they are being sold? I assume his family doesn’t need the money. We’re they acquired by others over the years? The purchases prices are actually lower than I would have thought. Certainly a good investment but for a watch nut I can’t think of more interesting watches to own.
I assume these were items that may have been in storage and the family felt they could do without. Notwithstanding that, it would be pretty nice to own the navitimer that belonged to such a fine man! There might be some history behind that one! Very cool!
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