On May 13, Michael Schumacher's watch will be auctioned at Christie's in Geneva. We are talking about two models of watches given to Schumacher by the former sports director of the Ferrari team, Jean Todt.
The first model, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, was a Christmas gift to the famous racer in 2003. The watch is presented in a white gold case and features a white dial with the square markers typical of models of the period.
The highlight of the watch is the design of the chronograph counters, which reveals a connection with Michael Schumacher. The 12-hour counter at 9 o'clock features the driver's helmet, the seconds counter at 6 o'clock features the Ferrari logo, and the 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock features a ring with 6 stars. They symbolize the 6 world championships won by Schumacher until 2003.
The model's caseback is engraved with the year of each of the driver's 6 victories and a Christmas greeting from Jean Todt.
Estimate: CHF 150,000 – 250,000
The second model is a unique FP Journe Vagabondage I in platinum. Like the Royal Oak, it was a Christmas gift from Jean Todt. The watch was donated in 2004, when Schumacher won his 7th world title and set a record that only Lewis Hamilton could repeat.
The uniqueness of the model lies in the fact that Schumacher received this watch before the release of the 2006 limited edition and after 3 special Vagabondage I models in gold cases were sold at the Antiquorum auction in April 2004. The proceeds from the sale were donated to ICM (Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière), a medical research center in Paris that specializes in diseases and injuries of the nervous system and spinal cord. It is curious that both Schumacher and Todt at one time became co-founders of this organization.
In addition to the platinum case, the watch is distinguished by a red dial, which depicts 7 emblems of Schumacher's victorious world championships, as well as his helmet and the Scuderia Ferrari logo. Another important detail is the engraving with a Christmas greeting from Jean Todt, which can be seen on the mechanism of the model.
Estimate: CHF 1,000,000 – 2,000,000
