Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Jeff Bezos spotted wearing Omega

On July 20, 2021 — the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing — Jeff Bezos and three crewmates launched aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket from West Texas, completing a brief suborbital flight that made Bezos the first person to travel to space in a vehicle he helped fund. On his wrist for the occasion: an Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, the current-generation reference 310.32.42.50.01.001, fitted with a custom grey velcro strap bearing Blue Origin livery that was reportedly gifted to the entire crew.

The Speedmaster Professional needs little introduction to any watch enthusiast. The 42mm stainless steel case houses the manually wound calibre 3861 — Omega's modern reinterpretation of the historic cal. 321 architecture — beating at 3.5Hz with a 50-hour power reserve and certified to METAS Master Chronometer standards. The black stepped dial retains its traditional asymmetric subdial layout at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, with applied luminous baton indices and the signature black ceramic tachymetre bezel insert. Sapphire crystal front and caseback allow a view of the decorated movement. Water resistance is rated to 50 metres.

The Speedmaster's collector credentials are unimpeachable. It is the only watch to have been worn on the lunar surface, certified by NASA following rigorous thermal, shock, vibration, and vacuum testing in 1965. The 310.32.42.50.01.001 — introduced in 2021 as the definitive modern Moonwatch — represents Omega's most technically accomplished iteration of the reference to date, incorporating the co-axial escapement and METAS certification while preserving the visual DNA that has remained largely unchanged for six decades.

The custom Blue Origin velcro NATO strap transforms this already significant reference into a genuine mission souvenir. Velcro straps have deep roots in spaceflight — they prevent watches from drifting in microgravity — so the choice is both functional and historically resonant. The fact that the watches were donated to all four NS-16 crew members adds a strong provenance dimension that would make any eventual auction appearance highly competitive.

At retail the Speedmaster Professional 310.32.42.50.01.001 lists at approximately $8,100 USD. The grey market has seen this reference trade at or slightly above retail given sustained demand and limited boutique availability. Any example with documented Blue Origin crew provenance would command a substantial premium at auction.