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As we use to say, the world of watchmaking, as different as it may be considered, shares much more than you might imagine with the four wheels. Suffice it to say that one of the most famous complications of all time, the chronograph, proved to be of fundamental help to the first drivers in history ready to hurtle down the motor racing tracks.
This instrument, which was precisely honed for the motorsport, was of paramount importance to drivers who needed to time their laps.
From the very first Speedmaster in history, to many other iconic chronographs, watchmaking has seen a succession of incessant research and development aimed at reaching the perfection in chronometry. Hand in hand, over the years, a number of chronographs have appeared on the wrists of some of the best and most famous racers in history and have become true icons precisely because of them.
Among them, we cannot fail to mention one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of Formula One.
For those who have not yet understood who I am talking about, I am referring to Michael Schumacher, a true legend not only of F1, but of Motorsport in general. A driver who was able to make every child, as in my case, fall in love with this enthralling and adrenaline-fueled sport that glued everyone to the TV every Sunday.
Over the course of his 21-year career, including a 4-year stop from 2007 to 2010, he collected no less than 7 world drivers’ championships aboard his single-seater. A record that to date has not yet been broken but eventually equaled by 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Throughout his career, like any sportsman of such caliber, Michael Schumacher collaborated as a testimonial with some of the biggest brands in different industries. Among them, given the champion’s professional strain, he certainly could not miss a watch brand that could crystalize his moments of victory.
In fact, Omega was the maison that from 1996 to 2004 formed a winning partnership with the 7-time world champion giving birth to several watches that have become the object of research by collectors and fans of the driver. Let us now discover, within this article, all the details of the watches that Omega dedicated to Michael Schumacher during their enduring collaboration.
The collaboration between Omega and Michael Schumacher
August 25, 1991, was the date that marked the German driver’s debut aboard the single-seater of the Jordan team in the Formula One World Championship. From there on it would only be a matter of time before he would, at the age of 25, achieve his first F1 drivers’ championship victory aboard his signature Benetton single-seater. Marked by an innate gift for racing, with Michael Schumacher came an era when young and old alike were always trackside, or glued to the television screen, ready to cheer his victories.
The First Speedmaster Schumacher
In 1996, Schumacher was approached by Omega to become a brand ambassador. Given the character’s importance and his countless victories, it was a short step from there to creating various editions in his honor.
In 1996, in Kerpen, Germany, directly inside the very same kart track where Schumi took his first steps aboard four wheels, the first version of the Omega Speedmaster Schumacher was unveiled. This watch was declined in two different versions, which went to recall the iconic colors of the prancing horse car, Ferrari. Since Schumacher was driving Ferrari for his first season, Omega made the two Speedmasters in with a yellow and red dial respectively.
In addition to a steel bracelet, it was also possible to choose a leather strap in the same color as the dial. Bringing the watch to life, inside the 39 mm diameter case was the automatic caliber 1141. Produced from 1996 to 1999, this special Speedmaster was presented inside a beautiful tire-shaped box with the champion’s signature.
The Speedmaster Schumacher World Champion 2000
Arriving at the year 2000, coinciding with the pilot’s winning of his third world title (first two where in 1994 and 1995), Omega decided to pay tribute with the presentation of the Speedmaster Racing Schumacher World Champion 2000. A limited edition watch that the company produced in a total of 10,000 pieces of which 6,000 had a black dial and 4,000 a white dial.
Looking at the dial, in addition to the marked presence of the red and orange checkerboard on the edge, it is possible to notice, in both versions, the inscription “racing” above the chronograph counter at 6 o’clock precisely as a reminder of the racing world.
Powered by the Omega caliber 3220, this movement is protected by a steel case back above which is engraved the German champion’s name in addition to his autograph and watch number. Made with a 39 mm diameter steel case, like the two previous models, this watch dedicated to Schumacher was available with a steel bracelet or, alternatively, a black leather strap.
Speedmaster World Champion 2001
In the following year, 2001, Schumi’s fourth world championship victory, again aboard the Ferrari single-seater, was not long in coming. To celebrate the victory, Omega again made a limited edition watch of 11,111 pieces worldwide.
It was the Omega Speedmaster World Champion 2001 Schumacher equipped with the Omega 1152 automatic caliber. Looking at the carbon fiber dial of such a watch, one can see the emphasis placed on the index of 1 just to show that they wanted to pay homage to the driver who wore the number 1 printed on his single-seater in the race.
Omega Speedmaster Schumacher World Champion 2002
As they say, good things come in threes… and indeed, after the two world championships won consecutively, in 2002 came the German driver’s third consecutive victory in the F1 drivers’ championship. It already rises to a total of five in his career.
For this occasion Omega made the Speedmaster World Champion 2002 Schumacher, a watch limited to 5,555 pieces made with a carbon fiber dial. Above it can be seen the chronograph counter at 6 o’clock with a checkered flag representing the world of motorsport, as well as the racing inscription placed at 3 o’clock.
The real curiosity of such a model, however, lies in the day display window at 12 o’clock above which, unlike all days which are shown in white lettering, that of Sunday is highlighted in red so as to emphasize the most important day for F1: the race.
Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow Michael Schumacher
With the occasion of celebrating Schumacher’s fifth world championship victory, which made Schumacher surpass Argentine racing legend Juan-Manuel Fangio’s record, Omega decided to make yet another entirely unique model dedicated to the driver.
This watch, which took the name Speedmaster Broad Arrow Michael Schumacher, was made with an 18-carat rose gold case paired with a bracelet of the same material or, alternatively, a black leather strap. For the first time since the collaboration began, the Swiss watchmaker decided to place the German driver’s signature at the bottom of the black dial.
Turning the watch around we can see the iconic Speedmaster logo and the engraving “Michael Schumacher – Five Times World Champions” with the winning years all around the caseback. Behind it, we have the 3303 automatic caliber by Omega.
Omega Speedmaster 6th World Title
In 2003, again aboard Ferrari, came Schumacher’s new championship victory, bringing the driver’s tally to six titles. For the occasion, Omega made what became the iconic Speedmaster Sixth World Title Schumacher, a limited edition watch of 6,000 pieces worldwide.
Distinguished by a “panda” dial, the back of this watch was personalized with the words “Michael Schumacher – The Legend.”
Settimo e ultimo: Speedmaster Legend Schumacher
Coming to 2004, with the winning of his seventh and final world title, Schumi closed what was an unforgettable era for the F1 world. Coinciding with the victory also came the last watch that Omega made with the driver.
This was the Speedmaster Legend, a watch distinguished by a dial above which the first seven indexes were replaced by the numbers of world titles won during the pilot’s career. In addition to a carbon-fiber dial, this watch was distinguished by a completely unique bezel above which were all the years in which the German champion won the world title.
Final thoughts
After seven world titles, 250 F1 races, 68 pole positions, 91 victories and 154 podiums, in 2012 came Schumi’s final retirement from the world of single-seaters after a previous break that lasted from 2006 to 2010. In December 2013, a year after his retirement, unfortunately came the tragic skiing accident that shook the whole world.
Although almost 10 years have passed, very little is still known about Schumacher’s health condition. What is certain, however, is that the passion that the multiple world champion managed to ignite within many people around the world will never disappear.
Along with this, all the watches created over the years by Omega to celebrate the German driver’s victories will forever remain not only collector’s items but also true pieces of history that can immediately evoke all of Schumi’s victories aboard his single-seater.
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