Michael Schumacher’s F.P. Journe watches: Christie’s record 51.8 M€

On Monday 9 November 2026 in Geneva, Michael Schumacher’s F.P. Journe Ruthenium Collection led the independent watchmakers in the highest-grossing watch sale in Christie’s history. Published prices, models and the evening’s other results.

How much did Schumacher’s Journes fetch?

According to Christie’s results release of 9 November, the two most expensive lots in the set, the Tourbillon Souverain and the Chronomètre à Résonance, each achieved 1,536,000 Swiss francs, or 1,885,409 dollars. At the ECB reference rate of 11 November 2026 (1 euro to 0.9234 Swiss franc), that is about 1.66 million euros per watch. At Christie’s, published results include the hammer price and the buyer’s premium; estimates exclude premium. The house gives neither the prices of the other three watches, nor the total for the five lots, nor the number of buyers: the overall figure circulating since the sale is not confirmed.

Five watches numbered 92/99

The F.P. Journe Ruthenium Collection was offered complete: five matching watches, all numbered 92 of 99, from the collection of Michael Schumacher. Christie’s offered them to mark the 30th anniversary of the Formula 1 legend’s association with Scuderia Ferrari. They were sold as individual lots, with their original box. The release puts the set at the head of the independent watchmakers category, a driving force of the sale according to the house.

The Ruthenium series: five platinum models

According to F.P. Journe, the limited Ruthenium series comprises five models, each numbered 1 to 99: the Tourbillon Souverain and the Chronomètre à Résonance, produced from 2001 to 2005, the Octa Jour/Nuit (2002 to 2005), the Octa Chronographe (2002 to 2006) and the Octa Calendrier (2003 to 2005). All have a 40 mm platinum case and a dial in ruthenium on gold combined with whitened guilloché silver, with blued steel hands. The hand-wound Tourbillon Souverain pairs a constant-force tourbillon with a power reserve of about 42 hours; the Chronomètre à Résonance runs two balances and shows the time on two dials, one on 24 hours, the other on 12 hours. The three Octas are automatic: big date and day/night indication, flyback chronograph, or retrograde date calendar.

The Vagabondage, top lot at €2.75 million

The highest price of the sale went to another F.P. Journe: a limited-edition Vagabondage in pink gold with jumping hours and seconds, sold for about 2.75 million euros (2,536,000 Swiss francs). The trilogy of Vagabondage I, II and III in pink gold, with matching numbers, went to a single collector for about 7.27 million euros (6,709,200 Swiss francs). Of the 44 independent watches, seven were unique pieces, and every lot sold within or above its high estimate.

51.8 million euros, a Christie’s record

The sale, held at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, totalled about 51.79 million euros (47,824,592 Swiss francs) including premium, Christie’s highest total ever for watches: up 221% on the year, 100% of lots sold, 250% above the low estimate, registrants from 66 countries. Among vintage pieces, a Patek Philippe 1518, the first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, reached about 1.16 million euros (1,075,200 Swiss francs), and a gold Nautilus “Khanjar” 3700/1, made in 1978 for Sultan Qaboos of Oman, about 1.11 million euros (1,024,000 Swiss francs). The ten 2019 anniversary editions by A. Lange & Söhne, sold together, were led by the Lange 1 Tourbillon at about 568,000 euros (524,800 Swiss francs). The Watches for ELA charity section raised about 543,000 euros (501,400 Swiss francs) at hammer. Phillips had made about 100 million euros over the two previous days, in a week whose programme we previewed; to put these prices in context, see our ranking of the world’s most expensive watches.

Information checked on 12 November 2026. Sources: Christie’s results release of 9 November 2026 (PDF), F.P. Journe, Ruthenium series, ECB reference rates.