Christie's auction of rare watches on 13 May 2024, that will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva, will include a section dedicated to watches from Michael Schumacher, highlighting the key moments in the career of the unfortunate German champion and demonstrating the unique quality of this collection.
The chronograph Audemars Piguet Royal Oak on offer is particularly noteworthy, having been commissioned as a gift to the seven-time world champion of formula 1 Michael Schumacher by Jean Todt, his first mentor at Ferrari, to commemorate Schumacher's then 6 F1 victories. . The custom dial features Ferrari's famous prancing horse emblem on the seconds sub-dial, the number “1” in the 30-minute counter surrounded by 6 stars representing Michael Schumacher's 6 World Championship victories between 1994 and 2003 , while Schumacher's red racing helmet is depicted in the 12-hour counter. This incredibly personal F1 memorabilia also bears a personal gift dedication engraved on the back of the case commemorating his six F1 World Championship victories. This Royal Oak White Gold Chronograph is a definitive trophy for AP collectors and Formula 1 fans and will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own one of the most distinctive individual Royal Oak chronographs with extraordinary direct and historical provenance.
Another very personal piece of Formula 1 memorabilia, is an FP Watch Journe Vagabondage model 1, dating back to 2004 approximately, featuring a bespoke dial and a personal gift dedication engraved on the 18k gold movement. The stunning red dial immediately catches the eye: around its circumference are symbols representing Michael Schumacher's seven F1 World Championship victories achieved up to 2004 and includes Schumacher's racing helmet along with the Ferrari emblem. The origin and history of the “Vagabondage” wristwatch are fascinating. As early as 1997, François-Paul Journe had created a unique automatic wristwatch called “Carpe Diem” with wandering jumping hours around a visible central balance wheel. However, the catalyst for the mass production of a similar watch, was the request to provide a unique watch to be sold to benefit the ICM Foundation in 2003. Now christened “Vagabondage” in homage to its wandering hour indication, the watch First commercial series of wristwatches was produced starting in 2006.
Biographical note on Michael Schumacher
Schumacher made his Formula One debut with the Jordan team at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1 and won his first drivers' championship in 1991 driving for Benetton. After moving to the Ferrari team in 1994, Schumacher won five consecutive titles from 1996 to 2000, including an unprecedented sixth and seventh title, breaking several records. Schumacher retired from the sport at the end of 2004, although he later made a brief return with Mercedes from 2006 to 2010. Perhaps less well known is that Michael Schumacher, in collaboration with Schuberth helmets, helped develop the first polymer helmet lightweight carbon fiber reinforced for racing drivers. In 2012, a prototype was tested publicly by being hit by a tank; it survived intact. The helmet kept the driver cool by channeling direct airflow through fifty holes. Schumacher served as special ambassador to UNESCO and donated to the organization while other charitable and philanthropic works included building a school for poor and disadvantaged children and improving the area in Dakar, Senegal, supporting a hospital for child victims of the siege in Sarajevo , specializing in the care of amputees – in Lima, Peru, financed the Palace of the Poor, a center to help homeless street children. Schumacher also donated $10 million to relief efforts after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, exceeding that of many global companies and even some countries. From 2002 to 2006 he donated millions more to various charities. Schumacher has also given support to other campaigns, such as Make Roads Safe, to recognize global road deaths as a major global health issue. In 2017, his family founded the Keep Fighting Foundation to continue the charitable work that has always been so important to him. In a career spanning three decades, Michael Schumacher he is clearly one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history and has been described as “the most complete Formula 1 driver ever“, leaving an indelible impression on the sport.
Preview dates for rare watches, including watches from the Michael Schumacher collection
