The Schumacher Racing Legacy

With the Professional line cementing the Speedmaster’s status as the ultimate Moonwatch, the collection’s soul remains rooted in the tarmac. This racing pedigree was revitalized in 1996 when Omega signed a young Michael Schumacher as a brand ambassador. At the time, Schumacher was the reigning back-to-back World Champion and had just made his high-stakes move to Ferrari—a transition that would eventually define one of the greatest dynasties in Formula 1 history.

To celebrate this partnership, Omega moved away from the monochromatic Moonwatch aesthetic and launched the Schumacher series at the driver’s own home karting track in Kerpen, Germany. Using the Speedmaster Reduced as a canvas, the series introduced a younger aesthetic with punchy, vibrant colors that echoed the high-energy world of Grand Prix racing.

The CART Tribute: Ref. 3510.80.00

This particular model, the ref. 3510.80.00, is a standout piece from that era of peak Schumi-mania. While the series initially launched with red and yellow dials to match the Ferrari livery, this edition pays specific homage to the CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) series.

• The Dial: A brilliant cobalt blue that serves as a canvas for the CART logo at the 6 o'clock subdial.
• The Spirit: With its checkered-flag minute track and playful red and white accents, it leans into the "fun" side of watch collecting.
• The Build: Measuring 39mm with an automatic movement, it was designed for the daily driver rather than the astronaut - offering a more compact, wearable alternative to the manual-wind Professional.  

Maker: Omega
Model: Speedmaster Reduced
Reference: 3510.80.00
Year: circa 1998
Case No: 5570520X
Material: Stainless steel
Dimensions: 39mm diameter; 12mm thickness
Crystal: Plexiglass
Lume: Yes, tritium
Caliber: Omega, self-winding, caliber 1143
Bracelet/Strap: Omega, stainless steel, no. 32 ref. 1469 bracelet with 811 end links.  (Currently sized for a wrist size 7.1in / 180mm) with spare links included.
Lug Width: 18mm
Box/Papers: CART tire box and 3D-printed stand/No outer box/No card

The blue dial is this watches party trick, coupled with the reduced dimensions, this watch just feels playful straight off the line. From a collectors point of view, this watch comes with the original CART rubber tyre box - incredibly rare to source in comparison to the Schumacher signed tyre, i have also had a tyre stand scanned and 3D printed so not to roll away (not shown in pictures). I had originally planned to pair this with the original blue leather strap to follow roots with the Paul Newman story [purchasing a range of CART dialed watches to be gifted to his and Carl Haas racing team], but the original bracelet helps make the blue 'pop' even more. 

This Speedmaster Reduced CART Edition has clearly been looked after. The case is in original condition and is hard to find any blemish, with its polished and brushed finish looking as sharp as the day it was released. The Speedmaster medallion and serial number are very crisp. The rear of the lugs show no marks from the bracelet being removed. The black tachymeter bezel is well-preserved without any signs of wear.

The dial and hands are in lovely condition with a light patina throughout. The lume on the dial has developed patina and has aged to an attractive cream color. The lume on the hands has developed patina and matches the dial really well. There are a few small dark spots in the hand lume. The hands themselves have developed some patina.

The bracelet is in very good overall condition with next to no stretch and matches the case condition really well. The dial, crown, case, bracelet, movement, and crystal are all signed by Omega.