Everyone has their motorsport heroes, and as someone who learned to drive in the 1990s, I feel as if mine was naturally destined to be Michael Schumacher. Especially as the German was the definitive Ferrari driver, and I too cut my teeth in a piece of bright red Italian exotica: a one-litre Fiat Uno, to be precise. You may laugh, but the venerable Fiat in question is now a considerably rarer sight than any Ferrari on the road.
A whopping 193 examples of the Ferrari Testarossa – an Italian masterpiece of a similar vintage - are still out there somewhere on UK roads, which clearly now makes my superannuated Fiat way more desirable than anything that Schumacher ever drove. However, what’s been almost impossible to get your hands on until recently was one of Michael Schumacher’s watches. The seven-time champion was actually a huge collector, with many watches gifted to him as well.
Lot 135b: Presentation box housing Michael Schumacher's F.P.Journe Ruthenium collection. © Photo courtesy of Christie's Images Ltd. 2024.
Christie’s in Geneva recently sold eight of the former F1 world champion’s watches for a total of just under four million Swiss Francs: around three and a half million pounds. In total, six of the eight Michael Schumacher watches offered for sale in Geneva were made by Francois-Paul Journe (with a five-watch box set also up for auction), all featuring touches of personalisation such as Schumacher’s helmet logo. But there were a couple of notable exceptions.
Lot 136: F.P.Journe Vagabondage and Lot 130: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. © Photo courtesy of Christie's Images Ltd. 2024.
Nearly a third of that total was raised by just one watch: the 18-carat white gold F.P.Journe Vagabondage, given to him by Ferrari boss Jean Todt, to celebrate Schumacher’s record-breaking seven F1 world championships, back in 2006. It’s a record that still stands now, which he holds jointly with Lewis Hamilton – who is also off to Ferrari next year.
Lot 130 was an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak chronograph that was another much earlier gift from Todt, commemorating what was then Schumacher’s total of six F1 championships.
Lot 130: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. © Photo courtesy of Christie's Images Ltd. 2024.
The final Schumacher watch that found a new home was a very rare Rolex Daytona, which was only produced between 1970 and 1972 (reference 6262). This changed hands for a shade over £27,500: a relative bargain that underlines how much values for even the top watches have dramatically softened. However, the sale nearly didn't happen at all, after a well-publicised cyber-attack brought the Christie’s website down shortly before the auction was about to take place.
Lot 137 Rolex Daytona 'Paul Newman' Model Ref. 6262. © Photo courtesy of Christie's Images Ltd. 2024.
For those looking for a slightly cheaper racing watch – and aren't we all? – there are alternatively three new Seiko watches that have recently been released, called the Circuit Race, Grand Touring, and Racing Sports. All three are rather brilliant, featuring solar quartz movements, with the reliability, go-anywhere toughness, and user-friendliness that are hallmarks of Seiko.
Seiko Prospex Solar Speedtimer Chronograph. Credit: SEIKO.
The Circuit Race is a classic chronograph with hints of black and gold: 1960s-inspired, yet very recognisably a modern Seiko. The second of the new Seiko Prospex Solar Speedtimer Chronographs is the ‘Grand Touring’, distinguished by its blue bezel and more muted dial. Finally there’s the Racing Sports watch, which stands out most and somehow feels the most retro too, with a British Racing Green bezel combined with an ivory and black panda face. Pair it with a rally strap, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that it was a vintage piece.
You can get the full low-down here, but for those whose interests are piqued, prices range from £590 to £620, catering for all those people who have made a small fortune out of motorsport. Contrary to what many think, that’s relatively easy to achieve. All you need to do is start off with a large one…
