Olympian watches may not imbue you with their wearer’s superhuman abilities. But it’s fascinating to see what these athletes choose to wear and why.
With a history spanning over 2,000 years, wherever the Olympic games happen automatically turns that place into hallowed ground. At least, it does for the two weeks the games are happening.
For watch lovers, we can’t help but eagle-eye what the world’s best athletes strap on while on this hallowed ground.
More than just IDing these Olympian watches, you also can’t help but wonder why. Sometimes it’s because of sponsorships. Perhaps it’s just their style.
For athletes who are outed watch collectors, like Lebron James, you may wonder why that watch from his vast line-up?
Here are some identified watches from the sportsmen chosen to represent their countries in Paris this year.
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Novak Djokovic’s Hublot Spirit of Big Bang
I had a difficult time catching a glimpse of Novak Djokovic’s watch during his match with rival Rafael Nadal. It mostly stayed under his wristband, though I did see a black strap.
Djokovic is an ambassador for Hublot and wore a Hublot Spirit of Big Bang All Black Pavé at the Laureus Awards. It runs on the HUB4700 automatic chronograph and boasts a striking skeletonized dial. Plus, it’s made up of 330 diamonds.
It’s made of titanium, so though it’s huge, it’s pretty light on the wrist. I imagine a tennis player as strategic as Djokovic considers such things before getting on the court. And it’s not unlikely that he did, in fact, wear this Hublot at the Olympics.
Plus, he’s admitted to being highly analytical of his opponents. He watches them when they’re on their benches, as they drink water, and as they change ends.
Consequently, I wouldn’t be surprised if the skeletonized design is partly due to this interest in the inner workings of things.
Yusuf Dikec’s Nacar Aquamatic
Silver medalist Yusuk Dikec went viral recently. I wanted to add the Turkish shooter because, like the watch he wore, I’d never heard of him. Now, everyone knows him, but do we know his watch?
Images of Dikec portray a relaxed, understated gent. He almost looks like he accidentally rolled into one of the world’s most prestigious competitions.
Other than some yellow earplugs, he was pretty much gearless. Clad in a simple T-shirt, he showed such a devil-may-care attitude that led to many speculating that he’s a secret agent.
Still, he’d competed in the Olympics since 2008.
The watch he wears is a green Nacar Aquamatic. It’s not a famous brand, though Dikec’s virality has made some internet sleuths curious.
It’s a practical, green diver. It’s rugged but not fancy, which suits Dikec’s shooting style and personal style.
LeBron James’ Audemars Piguet Extra-Thin Royal Oak Tourbillon
Lebron James didn’t wear a watch on the court. He likely doesn’t want the extra weight. I’m sure the Sudanese basketball player he decked during the USA vs. South Sudan game wouldn’t have appreciated it either.
Still, James did bring a watch with him to Paris. He was the flag bearer for the US during the opening ceremony.
Clear to see on his wrist was the Audemars Piguet Extra-Thin Royal Oak Tourbillon. The 41-millimeter features a sapphire set bezel and indices against the famous Tapisserie dial.
And if that isn’t enough sparkle, the body and bracelet are a striking gold hue. The aesthetic matches his status as one of the basketball greats and his own bold and expressive sartorial proclivities.
If you ever have a chance to see one of these watches, you’ll notice that the Tapisserie dial actually warps around the tourbillon window.
It’s no surprise that James wore such a showstopper. He’s an avid watch collector himself. Some brands in his line-up include Richard Mille, Rolex, and Patek Phillipe. He has a penchant for loud, distinct, and unique pieces.
He even has a Rolex Daytona Eye of the Tiger, which has a diamond-set bezel and diamond-intertwined subdials.
It seems James loves a watch you can see from space.
Perhaps bringing the gold Audemars Piguet to Paris was Lebron’s way of manifesting a win for the US.
Rafael Nadal’s Richard Mille RM 27-05
While I didn’t get a clear shot of Djokovic’s watch during their match, I did see Rafael Nadal’s. The king of clay was clad in a Richard Mille RM 27-05, otherwise known as the RM Manual Winding Flying Tourbillon.
Not only could you see it during the match, but Nadal even wore the white-strapped timepiece as he carried the Olympic torch. He’s able to wear it effortlessly during the game because it’s actually the lightest tourbillon ever made.
It can withstand, and not distract from, the swings of a professional tennis player.
The watch is cast in Richard Mille’s Carbon TPT. This special carbon composite isn’t just lightweight but strong and incredibly versatile.
Nadal has had a long-standing relationship with Richard Mille. In fact, in 2020, they celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their partnership by debuting the RM 27-04.
This was the first watch that featured TitaCarb, an extra light polyamide that’s reinforced with carbon fiber to give it steel-like strength.
Richard Mille and Rafael first met in 2008. Ironically, Nadal wasn’t a watch wearer and was highly resistant to the idea of wearing one while playing tennis.
In an instance of necessity being the mother of invention, Mille understood he needed to offer something remarkable. The first RM 027 came from Nadal’s need for something durable but barely there on the wrist.
Leon Marchand’s Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra
Of course, record-holding swimmer Leon Marchand won’t be wearing a watch in the pool. However, he has a very apropos partnership with Omega.
Even more, the partnership also involves Michael Phelps. The theme behind it is how two generations of athletes inspire each other.
Phelps is the most decorated Olympian in history. With 23 gold medals, three silvers, and two bronze medals, his cosigning Marchand is a big deal.
Five-time world champion Leon Marchand will be wearing the new Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra when he isn’t in the pool. However, as a Seamaster, he could wear it in the pool if he wanted to.
Of course, men who spend as much time in the water as these two do sensibly opt for dive-style watches.
The black dial is highly versatile. Meanwhile, the black rubber strap that Marchand sporta with his Aqua Terra is appropriately aquatic. My favorite part about this watch is that it comes in three sizes.
There’s a 41-millimeter, a 38-millimeter, and a 34-millimeter. This is excellent news for us slender-wristed folk who want to emulate record-breaking Olympians.
I also think the Aqua Terra lends itself to more dress codes than the traditional Seamaster. It’s like a nautical, slightly sporty Oyster Perpetual. It’s a neutral design, but it doesn’t lack character.
Omega: The Official Timekeeper of the Olympics
Timing is key in many Olympic sports. Omega has served as the official timekeeper for decades. Speedmaster ancestors were used to keep time during the 1932 games.
As they do every Olympic year, Omega released sublines celebrating the 2024 Paris Games. The Olympics Seamaster was one of my anticipated watch drops for 2024.
The Speedmaster Chronoscope series comes in gold, white, and black, which are the official Paris 2024 colors. Meanwhile, the Paris 2024 Seamaster flaunts a beautifully textured gold bezel against an all-silver construction.
These tributes are appropriately ceremonial in aesthetics. I actually think they’re more celebratory-looking than past Omega Olympics releases. They have a monumental and sculptural look about them, a balance of sportiness and elegance, and they aren’t gimmicky.
Conclusion: Sports and Watches
As Omega’s decades-long relationship with the Olympics shows, sports and watches have always had an inextricable relationship.
Athletes need to tell time, and timekeepers need to provide sport-appropriate constructions. Truly, the Olympics are a fun time to watch watches.
What are some of your favorite Olympian watches? Let’s start a conversation in the comments!
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