Rare Watches from Michael Schumacher’s Collection to Fetch Millions at Geneva Auction
During His Career, Schumacher Had a Penchant for Expensive and Rare Watches, Amassing an Extensive Collection
Eight watches from the collection of former F1 legend Michael Schumacher, marking milestones in his career as a seven-time Formula 1 champion, are set to be auctioned by Christie's in Geneva and are expected to fetch millions.
The collection includes a unique F.P. Journe Vagabondage 1 Model from 2004, commemorating Schumacher’s every F1 victory. It was gifted to the German-born driver by Scuderia Ferrari team director Jean Todt. "This F.P. Journe is undoubtedly the most significant Vagabondage ever made," said Remi Guillemin, Head of Christie's Watches in Europe and the USA.
The watch features a platinum case and a customized red dial with a gold mechanism, displaying the hours with the Ferrari logo and Schumacher’s iconic helmet. Guillemin stated that this Geneva watchmaker’s timepiece could bring in over 1 million Swiss francs (approximately $1.1 million) at auction.
Other Schumacher watches up for sale on May 13 in Geneva include an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak chronograph in white gold with a white dial, showcasing the Ferrari team emblem and six stars to denote Schumacher’s six F1 championships between 1994 and 2003. This watch, also given to the F1 driver by Todt, is estimated to sell for between 150,000 and 250,000 francs, according to Christie's.
The auction will also feature the Rolex Daytona "Paul Newman." This chronograph with a black dial, reference 6262 and exotic specimens, is estimated to fetch between 200,000 and 400,000 francs before the auction.
Schumacher retired from racing in 2012 and suffered a severe brain injury while skiing in France the following year. Over a year ago, the Schumacher family approached Christie's to appraise some watches from the former driver's collection, as told by Guillemin.
During his career, Schumacher had a penchant for expensive and rare watches, amassing an extensive collection, revealed Guillemin. The driver was an advertising partner of Swatch Group AG's Omega brand when he won his third F1 title and first with Ferrari in 2000. At that time, Omega released a version of the Speedmaster Racing chronograph with Schumacher’s signature on the case back.