Featured image: Torsten Bolten (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
Neil Armstrong carried an Omega Speedmaster Professional, reference 105.012, to the Moon on Apollo 11, but he left it inside the lunar module. That makes Buzz Aldrin’s Speedmaster the first watch worn on the lunar surface.
Quick answer Both Apollo 11 moonwalkers were issued NASA’s Omega Speedmaster Professional (ref. 105.012). According to Aldrin, Armstrong left his in the lunar module because the cabin timer had failed, so only Aldrin wore one outside. Armstrong’s watch is now at the Smithsonian; Aldrin’s disappeared in transit around 1971 and is still missing.
Omega Speedmaster Professional 105.012: The Moon Watch
The 105.012 is the version of the Speedmaster Professional that NASA issued during the Apollo era. It is a manual-wind chronograph with a black dial, a tachymeter bezel and a Hesalite (acrylic) crystal. A Phillips catalogue essay calls it “the exact reference” that Armstrong and Aldrin wore on the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.
The modern descendant is the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, which keeps the manual-wind chronograph layout in a 42 mm steel case and is still sold with a Hesalite crystal.
| Spec | Omega Speedmaster Professional 105.012 |
|---|---|
| Reference | 105.012 (introduced in 1964; Apollo-era NASA issue) |
| Case size | About 42 mm |
| Case material | Stainless steel |
| Crystal | Hesalite (acrylic) |
| Movement | Manual-wind Calibre 321 chronograph, 17 jewels |
| Water resistance | Not designed for swimming or diving; figures vary by source and era |
| Price | Vintage 105.012: a 1966 example sold at Phillips in 2022 for about $9,000. Current Moonwatch Professional: roughly $7,000 and up new, depending on version |
Where to buy
Compare the same watch on both sites: eBay for pre-owned and vintage pieces, Amazon for new stock.
Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch
Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph Alternative
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Alternative
Prices and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
If you are shopping for the modern version, the current Moonwatch uses the manual-wind Calibre 3861, a Co-Axial Master Chronometer with a 50-hour power reserve and a METAS certification, and it is rated to 50 m. The Hesalite version stays closest to the Apollo watch; the sapphire version scratches less.
Why Armstrong Left His Speedmaster in the Lunar Module
The Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, NASA’s own history site, quotes Aldrin’s autobiography: Armstrong “left his own Speedmaster in the Lunar Module” to replace a cabin timer that had failed.
The journal does not say which crewman wore which watch on the surface, and the claim rests on Aldrin’s account. It is, however, widely repeated and consistent with collectSPACE’s report that Aldrin has said his was “the only such watch” worn outside.
Armstrong’s NASA-issued Speedmaster is catalogued by the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, which received it from NASA in 1973. NASA’s journal lists it as serial 046. For another space first, see What Watch Did John Glenn Wear?, about the Heuer that flew on Friendship 7.
Buzz Aldrin’s Speedmaster: The First Watch Worn on the Moon
NASA’s journal says Aldrin’s watch “may well be the first watch worn on the moon.” The astronauts wore their Speedmasters on the outside of their pressure suits during the moonwalk, and Omega’s history, as quoted in auction catalogues, calls the Speedmaster the first watch worn on the Moon.
Aldrin’s watch then vanished. It was sent with other artifacts to the Smithsonian around 1971 and was gone when the packages arrived. NASA’s security investigation found no clues, and the government still owns it. In 2003 a California man sued claiming a watch he bought for $175 was Aldrin’s, but the case was dismissed in June 2004 after NASA and Aldrin concluded it was not the one Aldrin wore.
Aldrin’s watch story reached a new chapter in July 2026, when Sotheby’s New York offered 24 watches from Aldrin’s collection in its Space Exploration sale. The Apollo 11 watch was not among them. A 1990s Omega Speedmaster Professional from the collection sold for $44,800, and a DuPont Registry report puts the whole group at roughly $200,000.
Command module pilot Michael Collins, who stayed in orbit, was also issued a Speedmaster. NASA’s journal lists his watch (serial 073) alongside Armstrong’s (046) at the National Air and Space Museum, so the two surviving Apollo 11 Speedmasters can both be seen in one place. Aldrin’s is the one that is missing.
Armstrong’s Gold Speedmaster: His Personal Omega
Armstrong also owned a very different Speedmaster. Omega presented the Apollo 11 astronauts with 18-karat gold Speedmaster Professional chronographs at a gala dinner in Houston on November 25, 1969, and Armstrong received number 17.
His son said Armstrong wore it on special occasions, including a December 1969 visit to Canada. RR Auction sold it on April 17, 2025, for $2,187,500 including fees, with half the hammer price going to charities Armstrong supported. Collectors should note it is a commemorative watch, not the one he took to the Moon.
How NASA Chose the Speedmaster
NASA selected the Speedmaster after testing in 1964 and 1965. According to Smithsonian Air & Space, ten companies were approached and three watches were tested for vacuum, humidity, vibration and shock, and only the Speedmaster met every requirement.
NASA then certified it for Gemini and went on to buy more for Apollo and Skylab, which is why the Speedmaster carries the “Moonwatch” name today, even though it was never made specifically for the Moon. Every one of the twelve Apollo moonwalkers wore a NASA-issued Speedmaster. If you are weighing it against other Omega icons, our JFK and James Bond Skyfall articles cover other famous Omegas, and the Omega hub lists more.
Affordable Alternatives to the Moon Watch
The closest in spirit is the Bulova Lunar Pilot, a quartz chronograph inspired by the Bulova chronograph that Apollo 15 commander David Scott wore on the Moon after his Omega’s crystal popped off. It sells for a fraction of the Omega’s price and is a fun way to own a piece of Apollo history without the Moonwatch budget.
The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer line gives you a Speedmaster-style chronograph at an entry price, and the Omega Speedmaster Professional itself is still the one to buy if you want the real thing. For other Omega-inspired budget picks, our Omega Seamaster homage guide covers affordable alternatives.
FAQ
What watch did Neil Armstrong wear on the Moon?
Armstrong was issued an Omega Speedmaster Professional (ref. 105.012), but according to Aldrin he left it in the lunar module because the cabin timer had failed. He did not wear it on the surface.
What was the first watch on the Moon?
Buzz Aldrin’s Omega Speedmaster Professional. NASA’s Apollo Lunar Surface Journal says it “may well be the first watch worn on the moon.”
What happened to Buzz Aldrin’s Speedmaster?
It disappeared in transit to the Smithsonian around 1971 and has never been recovered. The US government still owns it, and a 2003 lawsuit over a watch claimed to be it was dismissed in 2004.
Where is Neil Armstrong’s Speedmaster now?
The NASA-issued watch he left in the lunar module is in the National Air and Space Museum’s collection in Washington, D.C. His separate gold commemorative Speedmaster was sold by RR Auction in April 2025 for $2,187,500 including fees.
What watch did Buzz Aldrin wear?
On Apollo 11 he wore a NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster Professional. In July 2026, Sotheby’s sold 24 watches from his later collection, including a 1990s Speedmaster Professional for $44,800.
Sources
- NASA: Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, Omega Speedmaster
- collectSPACE: Buzz Aldrin’s Apollo 11 Omega Speedmaster missing, lawsuit
- collectSPACE: Neil Armstrong’s gold Omega Speedmaster record sale
- Smithsonian NASM: Chronograph, Armstrong, Apollo 11
- Smithsonian Air & Space: The Watches That Went to the Moon
- DuPont Registry: Buzz Aldrin’s watch collection totals $201K at Sotheby’s