Space EVA-Worn Omega Speedmaster from Gennady Padalka

This is a Speedmaster from 2015, just like any other. Except it was worn on a real-world spacewalk, this very example. This might actually be the best-documented space or EVA-worn Speedmaster in the world, and it’s coming up for sale (with the actual spacesuit glove, just in case it gets cold out). It was worn on an EVA by Gennady Padalka, who served as Commander of the International Space Station (ISS) four times—the only person to have done so. I just realized how bad my job title is, anyone else? Well, it’s time to meet the opposite of a Comex Sub, a space-worn Speedmaster from 2015 with its original issued astro-nato and spacesuit glove.

In fact, a part of the spacewalk was filmed so well that you can even zoom in on the serial to confirm, this is the real deal and it’s consigned by Padalka himself. This watch went directly from Omega in Biel to the Russian space program. It was worn for ISS missions 43 and 44 in 2015 and on Padalka’s 2015 EVA where Padalka spent a total of 5 hours and 31 minutes outside of the ISS, alone in the cosmos. This was also filmed, on a video linked on the auction. A former military pilot, Padalka holds the record for the longest cumulative total days spent in space of any human, 879 days. Missions 43 and 44 allowed greater meteor observations, studied space-causal health issues, and began the Twins Study.

Interestingly, a Speedmaster used for Padalka’s prior 2012 missions auctioned publicly in 2017, serial 77754951. Though that example had not seen an EVA, it achieved 39.5K USD at RR auctions. That was ages ago in watch terms, but it’s the only prior precedent for a watch like this. The watch itself differs little from a standard production. The only notable difference is the astronaut issued end link which adapts the case to the original-astronaut velcro pass-through nato strap. It is not engraved or radial, but it does come with a letter from both Omega and Padalka noting the story. This example, serial N77803465, is pretty unbeatable as Speedmasters go. And don’t, anyone, ever dare change that crystal. That scratch is history. It is a watch that spent time forging the spear of human space exploration, which is what Omega’s entire brand is built upon today. It’s a Speedmaster, but it’s also a watch that speaks to what can be done when humanity comes together to pursue a common, near-impossible goal.

This example is coming to auction next month in Switzerland, at Koller. It comes with that space glove from a Padalka. It’s guided at 120K-180K CHF, which, well, who knows really. There really is no precedent for this watch at all. Let’s see how it goes. Special thank you to Oliver Nanzig for the excellent photography.