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  Most expensive wristwatch worn in space?

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Author Topic:   Most expensive wristwatch worn in space?
Philip
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Posts: 6115
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 12-08-2021 11:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Besides the usual Omega Speedmaster manual chronograph and X-33 analog-digital Speedmaster, spaceflight participants can carry additional wristwatches. So far my registers show that the most expensive wristwatch or timepiece worn on any spaceflight mission was an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak grande complication black chronograph version worn by Canadian businessman/entrepreneur Guy Laliberté on Soyuz TMA-16 in September 2009).

Meanwhile, on Dec. 8, the Soyuz MS-20 mission was launched with two Japanese "spaceflight participants" on board: 36 years old Yozo Hirano and 46 years old entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa. With MoonwatchUniverse and the Space Watches Facebook group we established Maezawa wore a Richard Mille RM 27-02 Rafa Nadal version wristwatch at his lefthand wrist underneath the Sokol spacesuit.

As we're talking "record" here, any ideas which one is the most expensive?

Philip
Member

Posts: 6115
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 12-08-2021 12:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Google search learns us:

RM 27-02 retails $770K versus $785K for the AP Royal Oak, so the record remains for Soyuz TMA-16 in 2009.

Rocket Chris
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Posts: 399
From: Guttentag
Registered: Nov 2009

posted 12-13-2021 02:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rocket Chris   Click Here to Email Rocket Chris     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Remember that not only Omega was used as official space watches. Fortis is the brand that has spent the most time in outer space, as these watches became official gear of Roscosmos cosmonauts. And these are the only space certified automatic watches.

Just as a side info! Its not only Omega. Omega might be the Moonwatch, Fortis is the space watch!

Philip
Member

Posts: 6115
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 12-18-2021 03:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Indeed, about 20 astronauts wore their personal Rolex wristwatch onboard their spaceflight mission.

Moreover, not FORTIS but the Russian-made Poljot 3133 and 31659 models were the favorites among Russian cosmonauts. FORTIS was first used on Soyuz-TM19 (Mir-16 crew July 1994) and these Cosmonaut chronographs were still given out to crews completing their Soyuz exams!

The most worn wristwatch in space is probably a digital quartz CASIO like an H110 or G-shock version.

All times are CT (US)

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