Explore The First Ever Rolex That Went To The Moon
Did you think the Omega Speedmaster was the only Moonwatch? Well, not anymore. Few other brands made their way to the astronauts' wrists throughout the six crewed landings. One of them is Rolex, and the astronaut who wore it was Edgar Mitchell, the Lunar Module Pilot.
The watch in question is the Rolex GMT-Master Reference 1675 'Pepsi'. It's not hard to guess that this particular Rolex reference has an out-of-this-world provenance. Like, literally.
Here's The Story..
On January 31, 1971, NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Captain with a PhD, Edgar Mitchell, took off from Florida in a Saturn V rocket. Mitchell was the pilot for the Lunar Module of Apollo 14, the 8th crewed mission of the Apollo program and the third to land on the Moon.
While Apollo program astronauts received their official Omega Speedmasters to wear on the outside of their spacesuits, a few, like Mitchell himself, wore private watches under their suits.
Videos and photos record that he wore two watches at the launch. On his left wrist was the Omega Speedmaster – the so-called 'Moonwatch' and the other one on his right wrist was the Rolex GMT-Master, tucked under an elastic shirt cuff.
On February 5, 1971, the Lunar Module of Apollo 14 landed on the Moon with astronaut Alan Shepard accompanying Edgar Mitchell on board. When Mitchell set his foot on the Moon, he had his GMT on. Talk about making history! Edger Mitchell's Rolex GMT-Master' Pepsi' 1675 was the first automatic watch and the first-ever Rolex worn on the Moon.
About the Rolex, That Went To The Moon
The iconic Rolex GMT-Master Ref. 1675 rightly has the nickname 'Pepsi' for its blue and red bezel combination. The watch ensures optimal performance in space travel and aviation. The stunning 'Pepsi' rotating bezel was designed in collaboration with the PAN American World Airways and allowed pilots and astronauts to track both local time and GMT simultaneously. This feature is particularly crucial for long-haul flights and space missions.
The watch had a 9315 bracelet with a Fliplock clasp, which was more commonly associated with Rolex dive watches. It featured a Mark 1 'Long E' matte black dial, distinguished by slightly shorter luminous hands and the iconic Rolex Cyclops magnifying bubble positioned over the date indicator in the acrylic crystal.
This particular watch's serial number dates back to about 1970 -71, meaning Mitchell purchased it shortly before his lunar trip. It features a robust 26-jewel Oyster Perpetual movement.
The First Ever Rolex Worn On Moon Is Up For Auction
The historic GMT-Master 'Pepsi' model worn by Mitchell is one of only two Rolex watches flown on Apollo missions that have ever been sold at auction. This incredibly rare watch symbolises the intersection of precision craftsmanship and human achievement.
This GMT-Master is in very good condition, with the wear you'd expect for a watch over 50 years old. It retains its original Pepsi bezel and features beautifully faded tritium lume on the dial. This patinated hue is actually quite sought-after by collectors. The crystal has little rough markings, and the case appears unpolished. The bevels look sharp, and the crown guard also maintains a sharp profile.
The Oyster bracelet of this iconic GMT-Master has folded links with hollow end links. The only question is regarding the hour and second hands. The lume on the hands appears slightly different from the colour of the other lume plots.
On the case back, you can see the words "Worn by CDR.E. Mitchell on Apollo 14, 1971, To Karlin-My Daughter" engraved. So, this watch is not only space-flown but also has a deeply personal touch.
The watch is accompanied by a letter of authenticity signed by Mitchell, who passed away in 2016. With the personal inscription on the back and the corresponding letter, it seems like Mitchell knew exactly what this watch would mean one day. It rightfully has all the markings of an auction star! It also has all the necessary paperwork.
The RR Auction ends on October 25.
LASTLY..
The story of the first Rolex on the Moon isn't just about a watch but a testament to human exploration, ingenuity, and relentless pursuit.
A watch of such importance will attract an insane amount of interest at auction. And it's no secret that the watch has already carved out its name as one of the most historically important watches. Maybe even Rolex will take an interest in this historic timepiece as a bidder.
In case you weren't aware, the Omega Speedmaster watches astronauts wore during their space missions remained with the government as their property, so it's quite rare to see a lunar mission-worn watch reach auction. But these Rolex watches belonged to the astronaut's personal collection, which they took into space as backups.
Another thing worth noting is that Mitchell is one of the only astronauts brave enough to wear a Rolex at an official Omega-sponsored event. As Mitchell set his foot on the lunar surface, his Rolex marked time and captured the essence of a moment that would inspire generations to reach for the stars.
The iconic Rolex GMT-Master Pepsi 1675 remained in production until around 1980. Watch collectors recognise this two-decade period as the golden era of vintage sports watches.