News Central

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

Editorial

"I discovered the world of Audemars Piguet around 15 years ago after being introduced to the brand by Jean Todt when he was team principal at Scuderia Ferrari.

By then, I had already appreciated how watches were interlinked to the world of car racing, but it was not until that point I realized that the products of Audemars Piguet, especially the Royal Oak, are particularly highly prized by drivers.

From that day on I have been a huge fan of Audemars Piguet and am consistently impressed by the combination of design, hand craftsmanship, functionality and innovation which marks its watches out from the rest. It's a real honour to have been involved in the creation of this special model of the Royal Oak Offshore and a privilege to lend my name to it."

Michael Schumacher

THE ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE CHRONOGRAPH MICHAEL SCHUMACHER IS A HOROLOGICAL TRIBUTE TO A MOTOR RACING LEGEND, A DRIVER'S WATCH PAR EXCELLENCE WHICH SUBTLY INTEGRATES ELEMENTS OF HIS CAREER INTO A DESIGN THAT IS RECOGNISED THE WORLD OVER.

TIMING. PRECISION. INTEGRITY. EXCEPTIONAL ENGINEERING. SUPERLATIVE STANDARDS. NO COMPROMISES. ALL OF THE ABOVE CAN BE APPLIED TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF MOTOR RACING AS READILY AS THEY CAN BE APPLIED TO THE CREATIONS OF AUDEMARS PIGUET.

Now the two worlds come together in a special edition of the Royal Oak Offshore dedicated to the man regarded as the greatest race car driver of all time - Michael Schumacher. Winner of a record seven world championship titles, Michael Schumacher has achieved more race victories, more pole positions and scored more points than any other driver in the history of his sport.

Michael Schumacher was personally involved in the creation of the watch which bears his name, working closely with Audemars Piguet's Chief Artistic Officer, Octavio Garcia. Applying the same, rigorous standards to the project which he applies to his profession, he immersed himself in making a watch which follows the Royal Oak Offshore's heritage of functionality and aesthetics while incorporating pointers to a remarkable life behind the wheel.

Designed with

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

"THERE IS A SIMILARITY BETWEEN CAR RACING AND WATCH MAKING, PRINCIPALLY IN THE FACT THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO TAKE CARE OF THE SMALLEST DETAILS BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED."

"The performance of each component relates directly to that of another. This means that, in both cases, it is necessary to strive for daring solutions which result in greater functionality," says Michael.

The Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Michael Schumacher was designed in direct collaboration with the legendary driver who fully immersed himself in the project, often marvelling at the innovative solutions developed by Audemars Piguet's engineers.

A long-time admirer of the Royal Oak Offshore, Michael has always appreciated its unique and innovative design as well as its craftsmanship and functionality. By working closely with the team involved in the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Michael Schumacher he was able to understand the challenges of developing a watch which is not only distinctive but also attractive, robust, functional and comfortable to wear.

Sporting Performance

Watches

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.

IN EACH INSTANCE, THE DESIGN CODES HAVE BEEN DRAWN FROM MICHAEL SCHUMACHER'S HIGH-SPEED WORLD IN WHICH TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

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.

Calibre

3126 / 3840

Turning the watch over reveals a minimalist caseback, loosely based on the look of a race car's wheel spokes and fitted with a sapphire crystal centre which allows the superb, 365-part, selfwinding calibre 3126/3840 of the Royal Oak Chronograph Michael Schumacher to be seen to the full.

MOST STRIKINGLY, THE 22 CARAT GOLD OSCILLATING WEIGHT HAS BEEN GIVEN AN ANTHRACITE, GALVANIC TREATMENT AND DECORATED WITH BOTH THE AUDEMARS PIGUET LOGO AND MICHAEL SCHUMACHER'S FAMOUS " MS " SIGNATURE WHICH APPEARS IN RAISED, THREE-DIMENSIONAL FORM.

The design of the oscillating weight takes inspiration from the race track - its two cut-outs are based directly on the aerodynamic " NACA " ducts seen on high performance cars.

In keeping with the sophisticated finishing techniques applied to the outside of the watch (which is variously polished, microblasted, satin brushed and anodised - much like an automobile engine), the movement is decorated to the typically high standards for which Audemars Piguet has become renowned: a circular-grained mainplate; bridges which are rhodiumed, hand-bevelled, snailed and adorned with Côtes de Genève and jewel-sinks which are diamond-polished.

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.

STATISTICALLY, HE IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL DRIVER EVER TO COMPETE IN FORMULA ONE.

HIS RECORDS INCLUDE

The greatest number of World Championship wins - 7

The greatest number of Grand Prix victories - 91

The greatest number of victories in a single season - 13 in 2004

The greatest number of pole positions - 68

The greatest number of podium finishes - 155

The greatest number of fastest laps recorded in a single Grand Prix – 76

MOVEMENT

Mechanichal selfwinding movement with driving hour & minute hands, small seconds, date display and chronograph functions. Total diameter : 29.92 mm (13 ¼ lines). Casing diameter : 26 mm. Thickness : 7.16 mm. 59 jewels. 365 parts. Up to 55-hour power reserve. Cadence of the balance : 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz).

Finishing & Decoration : mainplate circular grained, bridges rhodiumed, bevelled, snailed and adorned with Côtes de Genève, diamond-polished jewel sinks, diamond-polished countersinks and bevelled wheel spokes, bevelled screw rims. Partially openworked 22-carat gold oscillating weight with anthracite galvanic treatment and raised MS signature and Audemars Piguet logo.

Reference

26568IM.OO.A004CA.01

Titanium Case and Cermet Bezel

Limited edition of 1000 pieces

CASE

Titanium case / Cermet bezel (extra-hard, almost scratchproof) / Titanium attachment studs / 8 polished stainless steel bezel screws / Micro-blasted titanium pushpiece guards / Pushpieces are composed of a polished black ceramic base, topped by micro-blasted titanium cap / Micro-blasted titanium crown / Titanium caseback with sapphire crystal opening, different finishing and engraving.

DIAL

Anthracite galvanic centre with " Méga Tapisserie " pattern / Black external zone with fine circular groves, printed white scale inspired by a checkered flag / Anthracite date window / White gold AP applique / " Audemars Piguet " printed in white at 3 o'clock / Black galvanic counters, finely grooved, with raised frames blackened inside and rhodium coloured polished on the top / Different layout for 6 and 9 o'clock counters to enhance focus on time keeping / 8 white gold applied hour-markers and one double hour-marker at 12o'clock, with white luminescent coating / Anthracite inner bezel ring with tachymeter scale, 2 blue stars (Benetton) and 5 red stars (Ferrari) symbolizing 7 world champion titles / Red date on black date disc.

HANDS

Facetted white gold hour and minute hands with white luminescent coating / Red accent on chronograph function hands, with blackened heads.

STRAP

Grey rubber strap with titanium pin buckle.

Reference

26568OM.OO.A004CA.01

18-carat Pink Gold Case and Cermet Bezel

Limited edition of 500 pieces

CASE

18-carat pink gold case / Cermet bezel (extra-hard, almost scratchproof) / Titanium attachment studs / 8 polished stainless steel bezel screws / Micro-blasted titanium pushpiece guards / Pushpieces are composed of a polished black ceramic base, topped by micro-blasted pink gold cap / Micro-blasted pink gold crown/18-carat pink gold caseback with sapphire crystal opening, different finishing and engraving.

DIAL

Anthracite galvanic centre with " Méga Tapisserie " pattern / Silvered external zone with fine circular groves, printed black scale inspired by a checkered flag / Anthracite date window / Pink gold AP applique / " Audemars Piguet " printed in white at 3 o'clock / Black galvanic counters, finely grooved, with raised frames blackened inside and polished pink gold coloured on the top / Different layout for 6 and 9 o'clock counters to enhance focus on time keeping / 8 pink gold applied hour-markers and one double hour-marker at 12 o'clock, with white luminescent coating / Anthracite inner bezel ring with tachymeter scale, 2 blue stars (Benetton) and 5 red stars (Ferrari) symbolizing 7 world champion titles / Red date on black date disc.

HANDS

Facetted pink gold hour and minute hands with white luminescent coating / Red accent on chronograph function hands, with blackened heads.

STRAP

Grey rubber strap with 18-carat pink gold pin buckle.

Reference

26568PM.OO.A021CA.01

950 Platinum Case and Cermet Bezel

Limited edition of 100 pieces

CASE

950 platinum case / Cermet bezel (extra-hard, almost scratchproof) / Titanium attachment studs / 8 polished stainless steel bezel screws / Micro-blasted titanium pushpiece guards / Pushpieces are composed of a polished black ceramic base, topped by a micro-blasted white gold cap / Micro-blasted white gold crown / 950 platinum caseback with sapphire crystal opening, different finishing and engraving.

DIAL

Anthracite galvanic centre with " Méga Tapisserie " pattern / Tuscany blue external zone with fine circular groves, printed white scale inspired by a checkered flag / Anthracite date window / White gold AP applique / " Audemars Piguet " printed in white at 3 o'clock / Tuscany blue galvanic counters, finely grooved, with raised frames blackened inside and rhodium coloured polished on the top / Different layout for 6 and 9 o'clock counters to enhance focus on time keeping / 8 white gold applied hour-markers and one double hour-marker at 12 o'clock, with white luminescent coating / Anthracite inner bezel ring with tachymeter scale, 2 blue stars ( Benetton) and 5 red stars (Ferrari) symbolizing 7 world champion titles / Red date on black date disc.

HANDS

Facetted white gold hour and minute hands with white luminescent coating / Red accent on chronograph function hands, with blackened heads.

STRAP

Blue rubber strap with 950 platinum pin buckle.

MADE IN

LE BRASSUS

The Audemars Piguet manufacture was founded in 1875 in the Joux Valley in Switzerland by two keen watchmakers, Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet.

At the time their motivation was to bring every stage of watchmaking, from the initial design right down to the finished product, under a single roof. It was a bold challenge but their decision to marry ancestral know-how with the spirit of innovation turned out to be right. Since then, Audemars Piguet has become master in the art of watchmaking, combining a sense of tradition and creative perfection while retaining complete independence.

Press Release