Christie’s Michael Schumacher Watch Auction Has Been Postponed Because of a Cyberattack
Christie’s Rare Watches auction didn’t run like clockwork on Monday.
The auction house had to postpone the Geneva sale due to a cyberattack, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The auction, which notably includes the timepieces of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher, has been moved to Tuesday, according to a Christie’s spokesperson.
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Christie’s website went offline on Thursday, due to what the house called a “technology security issue.” The full site was still down on Monday, though Christie’s has managed to add links to the catalogs of seven upcoming auctions. It is not known who or what caused the computer systems to collapse, but the house has been hacked previously. (Last August, The Washington Post reported that a German cybersecurity company had discovered a data breach at Christie’s.)
Christie’s controversial “Only Watch” auction still went ahead on Friday, as did an art sale in New York on Saturday. The tech issues prevented online bidders from participating in the events, though. (Even still, the Only Watch sale raised roughly $31.2 million for charity.) Christie’s CEO Guillaume Cerruti told The New York Times that eight auctions would proceed as scheduled this week, with bidding in person and by phone. “We are looking forward to welcoming you to our exhibitions and to registering you to participate in these auctions,” Cerruti wrote in an emailed statement.
Now taking place at the Four Seasons in Geneva on May 14, the Rare Watches auction includes a section dedicated to Schumacher’s timepieces. The eight watches on offer highlight key moments in the retired German driver’s three-decade racing career.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak crossing the block is “particularly notable,” according to Christie’s. Given to Schumacher by French racing exec Jean Todt, the custom chronograph (estimate: $166,000–$276,000) is replete with racing references. The seconds subdial features Ferrari’s famous Prancing Horse emblem, the 12-hour register showcases Schumacher’s red racing helmet, and the 30-minute counter is adorned with the numeral “1” and six stars that reflect Schumi’s victories between 1994 and 2003. Another standout is a unique F.P. Journe Vagabondage 1 Model ($1.1 million–$2.2 million) featuring a bespoke dial with numerous nods to Ferrari.
The racing legend’s wrist candy should collectively hammer down for millions—if nothing else goes awry, that is.
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