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Wally Schirra Watch Collection - Every Watch He's Been Spotted Wearing




Wally Schirra Watch Collection - Every Watch He's Been Spotted Wearing

Wally Schirra currently has 1 watches in his collection.  Check them in our database.



Introduction to Wally Schirra



Wally Schirra was a decorated NASA astronaut and test pilot who flew on multiple space missions during the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. As command pilot of Apollo 7 in October 1968, Schirra led the first crewed Apollo flight following the Apollo 1 tragedy, a mission critical to the success of the lunar program. His career in aviation and space exploration spanned decades, making him one of the most experienced pilots of the early space age.

The Wally Schirra watch collection centers on a single but historically significant timepiece: the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6240 in stainless steel. Schirra wore this chronograph during the Apollo 7 mission in October 1968, a detail captured in archived NASA photographs showing the steel watch on his left wrist as he stood beside the spacecraft in his flight suit. This sighting represents one of the earliest documented instances of a Daytona in spaceflight, predating the broader association between Rolex and astronauts that would become more common in subsequent Apollo missions.

The Ref. 6240 represented Rolex's racing chronograph line during the 1960s, chosen for its precision timing capabilities and robust construction. Schirra's selection of this model reflects the practical requirements of NASA operations, where reliability and accuracy were paramount. The documented presence of this watch during Apollo 7 contributes to the Daytona's legacy as a tool watch trusted by professional pilots and astronauts during the space program's most critical period.



NASA Astronaut Wally Schirra Spotted Wearing Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6240 During Apollo 7 Mission in 1968


NASA Astronaut Wally Schirra Spotted Wearing Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6240 During Apollo 7 Mission in 1968New
Brand: Rolex
Ref: 6240
List Price: $3,500
Market Price (estimated): $50,000
See this watch: eBay  |  Watch accessories & books: accessories · books

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 6240 is a mechanical chronograph powered by the legendary Valjoux 727 movement, capable of 1/10th-second elapsed-time measurement. This stainless steel reference, produced from 1965 to 1969, represents a critical evolutionary step between the exotic Ref. 6239 and the iconic Ref. 6262. NASA astronaut Wally Schirra wore this exact watch during the Apollo 7 mission in October 1968, a detail that remained hidden for over five decades.



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