(CNN) -- Nike's Moon Shoe was designed for the 1972 Olympic trials. The waffle texture on the bottom of the sole was designed by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman after he experimented with melting rubber on his waffle iron.

The auction house Sotheby's says the shoes broke the world auction record for a pair of sneakers.

A collector paid over $437,000 for the shoes.

Only 12 pairs were made and these are the only known pair that was never worn.

The last world record was for a pair of signed Converse Michael Jordan wore in the 1984 Olympic basketball final which sold for more than $190,000.