On Tuesday, Christie’s will auction eight exquisite luxury watches from the collection of Formula One legend Michael Schumacher. Organized by his family, this special sale coincides with the 30th anniversary of Schumacher’s first Formula One Drivers Championship victory in 1994.
Highlighting the auction is a unique watch that was presented to Schumacher by Jean Todt, former Ferrari CEO and ex-president of the motorsports governing body FIA, as a Christmas gift in 2004. This period marked Schumacher’s reign as a dominant figure in F1 racing. Crafted from 18-carat white gold, the watch features a striking red face adorned with the Ferrari logo, an image of Schumacher’s racing helmet, and the number 7—symbolizing his seven World Championship titles. Christie’s has estimated that this custom-made timepiece could fetch up to 2 million Swiss francs (approximately $2.2 million).
Additionally, the auction will feature five watches from a single box set, each to be sold individually. These pieces were showcased in New York and Taipei prior to the sale, which forms part of a broader auction of luxury timepieces at Christie’s in Geneva.
Eli Fayon, a specialist in watches at Christie’s, noted that the family approached them to auction these iconic items, although the reasons remain undisclosed.
The auction unfolds alongside another notable event at Sotheby’s, which features a jewelry auction that includes a 100-carat yellow diamond, expected to draw bids of up to 6.5 million francs ($7.2 million).
Michael Schumacher, who retired from Formula One in 2012 and is tied with British driver Lewis Hamilton for the most F1 titles, suffered a severe brain injury in December 2013. While skiing at the French Alpine resort of Meribel, he experienced a critical fall that resulted in his helmet splitting upon striking a rock. Despite surgical efforts to remove blood clots, some remained due to their deep embedment in his brain. Since September 2014, Schumacher has been receiving private care at his family home in Switzerland.
Comments