MICHAEL Schumacher’s family will auction off the German F1 great’s personal luxury watch collection in a matter of weeks.
The condition of the former racing driver remains a mystery to the public after he suffered a serious brain injury while skiing in 2013.
Schumacher’s wife Corinna, 55, is said to be the driving force behind the decision to auction off her husband’s watches.
She has previously sold other family assets including Schumacher’s private jet and his house in Norway.
The sale is expected to earn her family some $6million (£4.8million), which could be used to help care for the stricken Schumacher, 55.
Eight watches will go up for sale on May 13 in Geneva, Switzerland, according to British auction house Christie’s.
Two of the most notable pieces in the auction are custom-made gifts from close family friend and former Ferrari boss Jean Todt.
One of the watches, a one-of-a-kind FP Journe Vagabondage 1 Model gifted at Christmastime from Todt to Schumacher in celebration of the F1 star’s seventh world championship in 2004, is expected to fetch between $1.7million (£1.4million) and $3.4million (£2.7million).
Along with the Ferrari emblem, Schumacher’s helmet design, and symbols representing the driver’s seven titles, the watch features an engraved message which reads: “Xmas 2004 – Jean Todt for my friend Michael Schumacher.”
A second Christmas present from Todt to Schumacher, a customised Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch from 2003, is also up for auction – and is expected to sell for between $255,000 (£200,000) to $425,000 (£340,000).
Five limited edition 2004 FP Journe watches will also be available for purchase, to be sold separately, for an estimated total of between $1.8million (£1.4million) and $3million (£2.4million).
A “historically important, extremely rare and highly attractive” 14K gold Rolex Daytona – a gift from Schumacher’s long-time manager Willi Weber – is also expected to sell at the auction next month, for between $425,000 (£340,000) and $850,000 (£680,000).
The Rolex was said to have been gifted to the F1 star in 2021 – two years before Weber told of being frozen out by Schumacher’s family.
He said in December: “When I think of Michael now, unfortunately I don’t have anymore hope that I will see him again.
“No positive news after ten years,” Cologne Express reports.
Weber had earlier demanded that Schumacher’s family come out with the truth about his health, and said he was “angry” that no one had kept him in the loop with how he was faring post-ski accident.
He told Italian sports outlet La Gazetta dello Sport in 2022 that he “tried hundreds of times to contact Corinna” and she never answered.
Corinna has fiercely protected her husband’s privacy ever since the accident, allowing very few details of his condition to be made public.
Today, she not only cares for Schumacher but also manages their family’s massive $970million (£780million) fortune.
Schumacher and Corinna married in 1995 and share two children, Mick and Gina-Maria.
The auction house said of the upcoming sale: “Christie’s expresses sincere thanks to the Schumacher family for their trust in us and their wish to share these masterpieces of horology with other passionate collectors around the globe.
“We are proud to present these iconic and unique timepieces belonging to one of the most celebrated Formula 1 legends.
“An exceptional moment, for watch and F1 enthusiasts alike. We are looking forward to meeting with passionate collectors during our international exhibitions and the auction on 13 May in Geneva.”
