A watch worn on the moon by an Apollo 14 astronaut has gone up for auction.
The Rolex GMT-master Pepsi belonged to Edgar Mitchell.
As the Lunar Module pilot in 1971, he was the sixth person to walk on the moon, as reported by What’s The Jam.
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Although all Apollo astronauts were famously issued Omega Speed master Pro watches, some preferred their Rolex chronometers.
Edgar wore the Rolex to the moon along with his Omega.
The watch also gets the name ‘Pepsi’ from its blue and red design, which was a collaboration between Rolex and Pan American specifically to allow pilots to track both local time and GMT.
The watch is the first of its kind be worn on the moon.
It has an engraving, which reads: “Worn by Cdr. E. Mitchell on Apollo 14, 1971, To Karlin – My Daughter.”
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Edgar is also known for saving the crew of the catastrophic flight of Apollo 13 – after the mission’s module’s electrical system was compromised.
In 1970, he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Richard Nixon.
He died in February 2016 at 85 from a short illness.
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According to RR Auction, the personal nature of the object will increase the timepiece’s value.
Bidding is currently at about $60,000 but is expected to climb through the stratosphere and end up somewhere north of $400,000 (approx £303,940,000).
The lot will close on 24 October.
“The bezel rotates so that the local time zone and Greenwich Mean Time may be simultaneously represented, a system developed thanks to the age of flight,” the RR Auction listing reads.
“Rolex collaborated with Pan American World Airways to devise the scheme, so that their long-haul pilots could keep track of both local time and GMT, which was used for all aviation flight planning.
“In fine cosmetic condition, with light scratches and wear from use; the watch’s function is untested.
“Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by Mitchell, certifying that ‘the accompanying Rolex watch was worn by me during the Apollo 14 mission.
“As the NASA-issued Omega Speed master Pro chronographs remain property of the United States government, any watch flown on an Apollo mission is exceedingly rare.”
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