Sometime around 2010, F1 legend and Audemars Piguet ambassador Michael Schumacher wondered if it were possible to create a mechanical wristwatch designed specifically for use in motorsport, made for measuring and recording an extended series of consecutive lap times. It was explained to the engineers that the purpose of said watch was to be used outside of the cockpit, where young drivers and their performances could be monitored and improved upon.
This unique challenge had been accepted by the renowned Swiss watchmaker, especially since this had never been tried with a mechanical watch before. The watch had to be able to time and compare multiple, consecutive laps.
Five years later, Audemars Piguet is honoured to pay tribute to the greatest F1 driver of all time by unveiling the Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher. This is the world’s first luxury watch to feature two angular indexing systems on a single chronograph, each with an independent ‘memory’.
Continuing along with premiers, it is the first motorsport-specific watch to feature a complication imagined by the celebrated driver, and it is the first time that a movement has been developed from scratch by Audemars Piguet at the behest of an ambassador.
The Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher will be the second Audemars Piguet chronograph to carry the name of the celebrated driver, with the first being the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Michael Schumacher of 2012.
The complex timepiece features a single chronograph driving two central hands which can be controlled independently via three pushpieces – the first located at the conventional two o’clock position, to start and stop the chronograph; the second positioned at the four o’clock position to reset the chronograph, and the all-important third pushpiece sitting at the nine o’clock position. The third pushpiece makes it possible to simultaneously stop either of the two chronograph hands, while returning the other to zero and restarting it.
The Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher is the world’s first mechanical chronograph with alternating consecutive lap timing and flyback function, specifically designed and engineered for continuous action and precision.
Developed by the design and technical department of Audemars Piguet, it a pending patent functionality, which is based on a mechanism incorporating no fewer than three column wheels. The gear train is driven by two mainspring barrels set in parallel which provide double the usual amount of torque and 80 hours of power reserve.
The Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher features a 44mm case made from forged carbon. The bezel, case edges and caseback were made from titanium and the pushpieces from ceramic and pink gold. The blackened openworked dial, like the back of the watch, is protected by a glare-proofed sapphire crystal with the watch being supplied on a black rubber strap with a titanium AP clasp.
Seven stars, for example, are marked on the left side of the case in honour of Michael Schumacher’s seven F1 World Championship titles, and his celebrated ‘MS’ monogram appears on the laptimer pushpiece.
Furthermore, in honor of his extraordinary career, the Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher will be made available in a strictly limited edition of 221 pieces in recognition of the number of F1 World Championship point-winning races in which the champion competed.
We really hope we’ll see Michael Schumacher back healthy one day, sporting this jaw dropping watch on his hand.
