Geneva, May 15, 2024, The Europe Today: Eight watches from the collection of Formula One legend Michael Schumacher were sold for a total of four million Swiss francs ($4.4 million; €4.1 million) at an auction held in Geneva on Tuesday. Schumacher, a seven-time F1 champion and avid watch collector, has not been seen in public since a severe skiing accident in 2013.
The auction coincided with the 30th anniversary of Schumacher’s first Formula One Drivers Championship win in 1994. His family decided to put the watches up for sale to mark this significant milestone.
“Collectors were so happy to discover these timepieces filled with history,” said Remi Guillemin, Christie’s Head of Watches in Europe.
The highest-selling piece was a vintage pink Patek Philippe, which fetched $2,711,500. Other notable sales included two personalized gifts from Ferrari’s former team principal, Jean Todt, during Schumacher’s tenure with the Italian team. One was a custom-made platinum watch from F.P. Journe, known as the Vagabondage 1, which sold for $1,646,700. This watch features an 18-carat white gold and a red watch face adorned with a Ferrari logo, Schumacher’s racing helmet, and the number 7, commemorating his seven World Championship victories. The other was an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak chronograph with a bespoke dial featuring the Ferrari emblem, which sold for $457,380.
Additionally, three Rolex watches were included in the auction, each selling for over $300,000.
The auction showcased not only Schumacher’s legacy in the world of motorsport but also his passion for exquisite timepieces, drawing significant interest from collectors and fans alike.
