Important Collector's Wristwatches, P...

New York, Sep 24, 2003

LOT 41

Fortis "Official Cosmonauts Chronograph-Andora Mir 97", No. 252/350, Ref.602.22.142. Produced in a limited edition of 350 examples in 1997 with the contribution of the artist Andora.Fine and unusual, self-winding, water-resistant, brushed stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with round button chronograph, registers, tachometer, 24 hours indication, day-date and original leather strap with a brushed steel Fortis buckle. Accompanied by a grey wooden fitted box bearing a polychrome medallion featuring fancy space designs by the artist Andora and with the inscription "Ewald Mir 97" as well as a Russian dedication. Also accompanied by an additional leather Fortis strap and varous documentation.

C. three-body, brushed, screwed-down case back with embossed logo and dedication, tachometer graduation on the bezel, concave lugs, screwed-in protected winding-crown, sapphire crystal. D. black with tritium-coated Arabic numerals auxiliary dials for the seconds, the 12 hour register, the 24 hours, outer graduation for the 60 minute register and the 1/5th second scale, apertures for the days of the week and the date, at the center, the three fancy polychrome medallions repeatingthe fitted box decoration. "Bâton" tritium-coated hands.M. mechanical with automatic winding.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 38 mm.This model is part of the official equipment used by the cosmonauts of the Yu. A. Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Centre in their professional activity, and was worn by Dr. Ulf Merbold for the duration of the European-Russian "Euromir 94" space mission.