Lot 38

Apollo 13On April 11, 1970, another important and historic launch by NASA took place at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida: Apollo 13. The mission Commander was James “Jim” Lovell who was accompanied by Command Module Pilot John “Jack” Swigert, and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise. The crew had a primary objective to explore a particular area on the Earth’s side of the Moon, named Fra Mauro, however, a large and devastating explosion in one of the oxygen tanks crippled the spacecraft during flight when the spacecraft was just two days into its mission and approximately 330,000 km from Earth.“Houston, we've had a problem”Unable to continue the mission to lunar landing, the crew was forced to orbit the Moon in order to place the spacecraft on a free-return trajectory, eventually taking them back to Earth. Necessities for survival including heat and water were running dangerously low, and conserving energy for their return was of paramount importance. The module was forced to be powered down except for environmental control. The only functioning timing device, and undoubtedly the crew’s saving grace on board was the OMEGA Speedmaster. The crew relied on the Speedmaster’s chronograph function in order to perform two important operations. First, they had to time the ignition of the rockets to shorten the estimated length of the return to Earth and second, they had to time ignition of the rockets to decrease speed and raise the flight path angle for re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. Because the module was incapable of timing at this point, on the fifth burn the crew needed to manually sight the capsule’s trajectory through the duration of a 14-second burn, called the MCC-5 (mid-course-correction-burn). It was this time period that has become one of OMEGA's most appreciated triumphs as seen in the latest unveiling of their commemorative Speedmaster, which it pays homage to the 1970 mission with an exclamation on the dial that reads: “What could you do in 14 seconds?” Famed astronaut Jim Lovell has personally said that the OMEGA Speedmaster was of pivotal importance for the safe return of Apollo XII and its crew.The mission badge for Apollo XIII was designed to incorporate the mythical god Apollo driving his chariot across the sky with Earth behind, the Moon is in its sights, and the Sun lighting its path. The Latin phrase Ex Luna, Scientia is translated as From the Moon, Knowledge.For the Speedmaster's critical role in the safe return of the crew, NASA astronauts presented OMEGA with the Silver Snoopy Award.

Omega. A Limited Edition Very Fine and Rare Stainless Steel Chronograph Wristwatch with Bracelet, International Warranty, and Box Signed by Astronaut James Lovell, Made to Commemorate Apollo 13

Signed Omega, Speedmaster, Professional, Limited Edition, No. 162/999, Apollo 13 Model, Movement No. 48’337’690, Case Ref. 1450022-3450022, Manufactured in 1995

Details

Omega. A Limited Edition Very Fine and Rare Stainless Steel Chronograph Wristwatch with Bracelet, International Warranty, and Box Signed by Astronaut James Lovell, Made to Commemorate Apollo 13
Signed Omega, Speedmaster, Professional, Limited Edition, No. 162/999, Apollo 13 Model, Movement No. 48’337’690, Case Ref. 1450022-3450022, Manufactured in 1995
Cal. 1861 mechanical movement, 18 jewels, metal dust cap, black dial, luminous baton numerals, outer fifths of a second divisions , luminous baton hands, three subsidiary dials for constant seconds with Apollo 13 badge, 30 minutes and 12 hours registers, crystal etched with OMEGA symbol, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case, black bezel with tachymeter scale calibrated for 500 units, fluted lugs, screw back with seahorse logo, SPEEDMASTER and O in high relief and inscribed FLIGHT-QUALIFIED BY NASA FOR ALL MANNED SPACE MISSIONS, THE FIRST WATCH WORN ON THE MOON, OMEGA crown, two round chronograph buttons in the band, stainless steel OMEGA bracelet stamped 1479/812, deployant clasp, overall approximate length 8 inches, case, dial and movement signed
42mm diam.

Lot Essay

Accompanied by an OMEGA Extract from the Archives confirming delivery of the present watch on 27 November 1995 to Germany, an OMEGA International Warranty dated December 8 1995, signed product information booklet by Apollo 13 Astronaut James Lovell, Apollo 13 OMEGA presentation box signed by Astronaut James Lovell, Apollo 13 badge, operating instructions, worldwide service center booklet, outer packaging and four extra links.

This limited edition of 999 examples marks the 25th anniversary of the intense space mission Apollo 13. Although the OMEGA Speedmaster has been present on many manned space flights, its role in the Apollo 13 mission was especially crucial. After an explosion aboard the spacecraft, the normal function of the module was limited. Without the OMEGA chronograph function it is possible the crew may never have been able to ensure their safe return as it helped perfect timing for the safe re-entry trajectory to Earth.

The present watch is the first to display a space-mission badge at the subsidiary dial at 9 o’clock and the first produced in a long series of celebrated Mission models for OMEGA including Gemini and Skylab missions. The Caliber 1861, a mechanical chronograph movement with a power reserve of 45 hours was perfect to use in outer space since unlike self-winding movements, it does not rely on the force of gravity for winding, which is absent in the vacuum of space. The signed features that accompany this watch are made even more special by the fact that this mission was astronaut Lovell’s fourth and last space flight.

An example of the present watch is illustrated and described in OMEGA,, A Journey Through Time by Marco Richon, 2007, p. 630.

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