2024-03-21 10:05:12
On May 13, Christie’s will auction eight watches belonging to seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher to help fund his treatment. He has been in a waking coma for more than 10 years after a skiing accident.
The collection includes a unique 2004 FP Journe Vagabondage 1 model that commemorates each of his Formula 1 championship victories.
It was a gift to the pilot personally from the president of Ferrari at the time, Jean Todt.
This watch is “perhaps the most important Vagabondage FP Journe ever made,” said Remi Guillemin, Christie’s Europe and US head of watches.
The bespoke watch has a platinum case, red dial and gold movement, and displays the Ferrari logo as well as Schumacher’s distinctive helmet. As one-of-a-kind, the item could fetch more than 1 million Swiss francs ($1.1 million) at auction, Guillemin added.
Other watches in Schumacher’s collection are the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in white gold with a white dial bearing the Ferrari logo.
Another of the dials has six stars to symbolize the six Formula 1 championships Schumacher won between 1994 and 2003. This watch was also a gift to him from Todd and is valued at between 150,000 and 250,000 francs, according to Christie’s.
The sale will also include a “Paul Newman” Rolex Daytona. The black dial chronograph reference 6262 with exotic subdials is estimated at 200,000 to 400,000 francs.