Sporting Performance Watches made by Audemars Piguet
Engineered by Audemars Piguet to the exacting standards of the world’s most successful race car driver, the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Michael Schumacher features an imposing, 44 mm case which is available in 1,000 pieces made from titanium; 500 pieces made from 18 carat pink gold and 100 pieces made from platinum 950.
The anthracite grey dial, decorated with the Royal Oak Offshore’s famous †Mega Tapisserie †pattern, is subtly marked at the circumference of the tachymetre scale between the 12 and one positions with two blue and five red stars symbolising the driver’s record seven championship victories, two driving for Benetton in 1994 and 1995 and five driving for Ferrari from 2000 – 2004.
The minute track, meanwhile, is depicted with a discreet, black and white pattern evoking the design of a chequered flag and the galvanic chronograph counters (black on the titanium and pink gold editions, blue on the platinum edition) feature raised frames based on the dashboard instruments of a high-performance car.
The automotive imagery is further extended to the hour and minute hands which are of a form never before seen. Made from facetted gold with a white luminescent coating, they are loosely inspired by the silhouette of a racing car’s monocoque. The red-lacquered chronograph hands that complement them have been designed with especially blackened heads in order to help focus the eye on the indication and, for the first time ever on a Royal Oak Offshore, the date display is also in red.
Although the Royal Oak Offshore’s instantly recognisable shape is retained, the case material and details of the Michael Schumacher limited edition are specific to this watch. The one-piece, octagonal bezel is made from ultra-resistant Cermet, a material that is seven times more durable than steel and secured with eight automotive-style domed and inset nuts.
The specially – designed rubber strap – grey on titanium and pink gold editions, blue on the platinum edition – is attached by microblasted, satin-brushed titanium studs which emulate a racing car’s cooling scoops, while the microblasted crown (made from either titanium, pink gold or white gold) is machined to resemble a gear wheel and adorned with a red anodised, aluminium plate carrying the Audemars Piguet logo. Microblasted titanium guards protect the polished black ceramic pushpieces, which are topped with caps of either titanium, white or pink gold.
Michael Schumacher – A life in Records
Michael Schumacher was born on January 3rd, 1969 and began his motorsport career as a boy, racing karts. By the age of 20 he had won German drivers’ championships in both Formula Konig and Formula Three, before being signed as a driver for Benetton Formula One in 1991. He won his first two world championships for the team in 1994 and 1995 before moving to Ferrari in 1996, with which he won five consecutive drivers titles between 2000 and 2004.
