Lot 43

Omega. A Limited Edition Very Fine and Rare Stainless Steel Chronograph Wristwatch with Bracelet, Certificate of Authenticity, International Warranty, and Box signed by Astronaut James Lovell, Made to Commemorate the Silver Snoopy Award presented to Omega

The Silver Snoopy AwardThe honor of receiving The Silver Snoopy Award began in 1968 as part of the Manned Flight Awareness program, and was awarded by NASA astronauts to companies and individuals that contributed to successful conquests of space. The idea was to allow the astronauts to recognize the exceptional contributions of individual workers within the vast Apollo program workforce at NASA and its contractors. The longstanding tradition continues today and is still regarded as a very respectable achievement. The Silver Snoopy Award takes its name from a character in one of the most popular comic strips of the 20th century, Peanuts, created by Charles M. Schulz (1922-2000). The lead character, Charlie Brown, had a loyal, intelligent, and day-dreaming dog named Snoopy that NASA adopted as the mascot for safety in 1968 following the Apollo 1 fire. To this day, the assocation of NASA and OMEGA with Snoopy is still strong. NASA still issues Silver Snoopy awards to employees and contractors related to human flight safety or mission success. Likewise, OMEGA unveiled at Baselworld 2015 a Sliver Snoopy Award commemorative limited edition watch that pays tribute to the 45th anniversary of Apollo XIII and OMEGA's contribution to it. In the case for OMEGA, the award was personally handed by Astronaut Tom Stafford to Hans Widmer, OMEGA's technical manager, on 5 October 1970 for the role the Speedmaster had in space travel and primarily for the role it took on the Apollo 13 mission. Following the disastrous oxygen tank explosion aboard Apollo 13, most of the on-board instruments were forced to be shut down to conserve energy. Thanks to the OMEGA Speedmasters that were aboard the spacecraft, some of the most crucial maneuvers were timed with a Speedmaster, helping to ensure safe travel back to Earth. Most notably, the OMEGA Speedmaster calculated the burn time of the rocket motors to set the spacecraft’s re-entry trajectory. Together with the Silver Snoopy Award, OMEGA received the Manned Flight Awareness Award (MFA). The Silver Snoopy Award was a small Snoopy lapel pin, that is still distributed with honor today. Together with a letter that accompanies it, it remains the most prestigious award given by NASA's astronauts for outstanding achievements and contributions to the American Space Program.

Signed Omega, Speedmaster, Professsional, Limited Edition, No. 2426/5441, Silver Snoopy Award Model, Movement No. 77’116’586, Case Ref. 1450031, Manufactured in 2003

Details

Omega. A Limited Edition Very Fine and Rare Stainless Steel Chronograph Wristwatch with Bracelet, Certificate of Authenticity, International Warranty, and Box signed by Astronaut James Lovell, Made to Commemorate the Silver Snoopy Award presented to Omega
Signed Omega, Speedmaster, Professsional, Limited Edition, No. 2426/5441, Silver Snoopy Award Model, Movement No. 77’116’586, Case Ref. 1450031, Manufactured in 2003
Cal. 1861 mechanical movement, 18 jewels, black dial, luminous baton numerals, outer fifths of a second divisions, luminous baton hands, three sunken subsidiary dials for constant seconds with Silver Snoopy Award 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 sticker of Silver Snoopy Award emblem, OMEGA crown, two round chronograph buttons in the band, stainless steel OMEGA bracelet stamped 1998/849, deployant clasp, overall approximate length 8.5 inches, case, dial and movement signed
42mm diam.

Lot Essay

Accompanied by an OMEGA Certificate of Authenticity signed by Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell, International Warranty dated 6 September, 2012, OMEGA pictograms card, OMEGA Silver Snoopy Award presentation box signed by Astronaut James Lovell, operating instructions, OMEGA card holder, outer packaging and one extra link.

The present watch is number 2,426 in a limited number of 5,441 examples produced for the recognition of OMEGA receiving the prestigious Silver Snoopy Award. The Silver Snoopy Award is the highest distinction awarded to those individuals and companies who have made great contribution to NASA conquests of space and was presented to OMEGA in 1970 to commemorate their significance throughout the Gemini and Apollo programs, especially on Apollo 13 mission.

The number of 5,441 examples produced by OMEGA is extracted from the length of the Apollo 13 mission; 142 hours, 54 minutes and 41 seconds. This watch was produced to specifically commemorate the OMEGA Speedmaster's pivotal role during this mission that unfortunately never landed on the Moon. The Speedmaster successfully timed the spacecraft’s re-entry trajectory to Earth after a major explosion that crippled the aircraft. Thanks to the accurate chronograph of the Speedmaster, the crew was ensured a safe return. Astronaut Tom Stafford awarded OMEGA for its contribution to the “successful failure” of the Apollo 13 mission.

The limited edition Silver Snoopy Award watch has the award badge insert at subsidiary dial at 9 o’clock. The same vibrant deign with its Eyes on the Stars motto is reproduced on the watch’s special case back. An interesting detail shows the image on the subsidiary dial has four lines for the reflection on the helmet whereas the case back sticker does not, through to be because the suppliers of the
images were different.

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