October 2017 Auction Ends Thursday, October 26th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/26/2017
Jack Swigert's personally owned and worn Rolex, possibly given to him by Rolex's CEO after Swigert's return from the Apollo 13 mission, and also resembling the watch worn by Swigert during his NASA "White Spacesuit" photo after the mission. During that mission, in which Swigert famously told NASA, ''Houston, we've had a problem'', Swigert used his Rolex (and his Omega Speedmaster, worn on his other wrist) to keep time in the Lunar Module, which was powered down so as to conserve energy following the aborted mission, thereby allowing the astronauts to return to Earth. Because the timing devices in the Module were not available to the men, Swigert was tasked with timing the engine burns that kept them on a trajectory to reenter Earth's atmosphere.
Upon their successful return to Earth, Swigert gifted his Rolex to CEO Rene Jeanneret writing, ''To my longtime friend Rene Jeanneret who enabled me to always be on time with sincere thanks Jack Swigert''. Upon receiving this gift, Jeanneret in turn gave Swigert a brand-new Rolex Mocha GMT Master; the watch presented here at auction for the first time is also a Rolex Mocha GMT Master. With serial number 1934406, manufactured in 1969, Rolex is an Oyster Perpetual Date Chronometer with the ''root beer'' style two-tone bezel, in 18kt yellow gold with a Jubilee bracelet. It's also possibly the same Rolex GMT Master that Swigert wore for his official NASA ''white spacesuit'' photo taken shortly after the Apollo 13 mission. Light wear from use, watch is fully operational and in near fine, vintage condition. With an LOA from Jack Swigert's sister, Virginia Swigert.
Jack Swigert's Personally Owned Rolex GMT Master -- Possibly the Same Rolex Given to Him by Rolex's CEO Rene Jeanneret in Exchange for the Rolex That Helped Save the Apollo 13 Crew
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