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X-33 NASA owned at auction

Uscjake87
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I'm surprised it wasn't posted here. That auction was a while back. Somebody got a good deal especially due to the paperwork it came with.
 
Cad290
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These have been discussed on OF. RRauction has sold several of these, as well as one issued to a cosmonaut
 
Foo2rama
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Uscjake87 Uscjake87
I'm surprised it wasn't posted here. That auction was a while back. Somebody got a good deal especially due to the paperwork it came with.
I'm somewhat debating that, and I am curious what people think.

$13,600 including premium for a non flown watch, seems a tad high... IDK the pictures of it are more interesting and the X-33 collectors should take note of them.

What is interesting is that the lot of 25 watches of various models that NASA ordered cost $62,500 or $2,500 per watch. Its also interesting that NASA states a 2 year shelf life on the item. Is that for battery life? Is that for water/vacuum?

@Cad290 link? I must have missed it.
 
Cad290
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Also I think there was a thread about Nikolai Budarin’s X-33 at RR as well
 
Uscjake87
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Seems like not much fanfare for these watches which surprises me. 25 watches given to NASA for space testing and you would think that would command higher prices than a Rolex Daytona.
 
Foo2rama
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Uscjake87 Uscjake87
Seems like not much fanfare for these watches which surprises me. 25 watches given to NASA for space testing and you would think that would command higher prices than a Rolex Daytona.
Not given, and these where not for testing. On the box and paperwork you can see Omega purchased 25 watches for 2,500 each.
Edited:
 
Uscjake87
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All it says is "crew pref" on the receipts with no information about how NASA used the watches. Why would you say they weren't used for testing? This example looks crisp and unused, so clearly it sat on a shelf somewhere, but the other ones were likely worn or used for testing, right?
 
Foo2rama
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Uscjake87 Uscjake87
All it says is "crew pref" on the receipts with no information about how NASA used the watches. Why would you say they weren't used for testing? This example looks crisp and unused, so clearly it sat on a shelf somewhere, but the other ones were likely worn or used for testing, right?
Testing would not have a use by date. Also they where purchased. The date is also later then when they where actually tested.
 
simonsays
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These watches were used for Space Shuttle missions and Crew use on Mir and the International Space Station. Also used for training for these missions.
As it says on the labels they were Crew Preference watches, issued by NASA for their Astronauts.
Previous prototypes were tested by NASA on earlier missions before 1998
 
simonsays
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ctime3 ctime3
Ironically I watched a video last night that explained if the pushers are polished that meant it was an ‍ astronaut issued watch.

That is an interesting observation. Do you have a link.
 
Foo2rama
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ctime3 ctime3
Ironically I watched a video last night that explained if the pushers are polished that meant it was an ‍ astronaut issued watch.
Never heard this. The engraved NASA serial number would be the more obvious clue...

a quick search online also seems to show all gen1’s have shiny pushers.
Edited:
 
ctime3
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simonsays simonsays
That is an interesting observation. Do you have a link.
The gentlemen on the video is Cameron Weiss the founder of Weiss watches in L.A. I cannot find the exact video because I watched on uTube on my tv snd the history was not exact but it was an episode like the picture below the topic was covering all speedmasters
881089F1-1578-46E1-8D01-F06F0F843A04.jpeg
 
pdxleaf
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There was a more recent auction in April. Sold for 7500. I was in that one but gave up the ghost at 6k-ish.
Had the NASA production and serial numbers. Nice external shape, not running.

Talked to the auctioneer in advance. He said this was the last one the museum had in inventory. Of course this depends on who he talked to etc... he believed NASA donated excess material to museums. I am not so sure, although I don't have any proof. I worked at NASA Goddard and Ft. Meade and went to a few equipment sales. Maybe it's different for some of the space stuff but the government doesn't typically give it away for free. Cheap maybe, but not free. Not really important though. The estimate was 3k. It held at 3600 for awhile and of course I was hoping I would seek past but it jumped up at the end and I let it go. Mistake? Would have been cool but you can buy a lot of nice vintage speedy's for 7500.

Anyway, I am not expecting to see another from this source based on the auctioneers comments. Perhaps a more determined collector could pry more information from rrauction. Doesn't affect me as they have gotten too rich. At least for unflown, no history as has been pointed out previously.

https://rrauction.com/PastAuctionItem/3417782
 
simonsays
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Interesting to hear that this is the last one coming from the Maryland Science Centre. The auctioneer is correct in saying that NASA donates items to Museums and educational facilities in the USA. These watches have been on the list of items you could request. I would guess that at least some of the watches brought to auction are flown, not the one with zero patina, but the others likely as not have been flown.

I have worked out there were only 115 of these watches bought by NASA and there were 156 astronaut missions on the Space Shuttle during that period. Those are quite good odds.
Edited:
 
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