The 2024 Paris Olympics are in full swing and whether attending live or watching it from afar it’s almost impossible to not see the presence of Omega.
The Omega Paris 2024 Bronze Gold Edition watch uses gold, silver and bronze in one design
Omega
The Swiss watch brand has been the “Official Timekeeper” for the Olympics since 1932 and the Paralympics since 1992—a prestigious and highly responsible job where hundreds of a second separate winners from the rest of the field. There was already a tie for the silver medal Sunday at the men’s 100-meter breaststroke swim final, with the two racers literally 200th of a second behind the gold medal winner.
The high-profile sporting event also provides Omega with a stage to offer new product, enhance brand recognition and showcase Omega brand ambassadors.
The Omega Paris 2024 Bronze Gold Edition Timepiece
Gold, silver and bronze medals are the rewards for sporting success at the Olympics. The latest release for the Olympics, the Omega Paris 2024 Bronze Gold Edition, incorporates all three materials into one design. The 39mm case is crafted in Omega’s proprietary “Bronze Gold,” a radiant dial is made of Ag 925 silver, and slender hands are in proprietary 18k Sedna Gold with a special PVD bronze gold coating.
The vintage look of the Paris 2024 Bronze Gold Edition is inspired by an Omega wristwatch from 1939—going back to the brand’s earliest years of Olympic timekeeping. That vintage watch housed Omega’s 30T manual-winding small seconds caliber and featured the reference “CK 859” on the technical sheets in relation to material and case shape.
The caseback of the Omega Paris 2024 Bronze Gold Edition Timepiece
Omega
The new Paris 2024 tribute includes the engraving “BG 859” on the caseback, again symbolizing the case shape in the soft pink hue of Bronze Gold. The metal is corrosion resistant without verdigris oxidation, which can turn copper blue-green, the Swiss watch brand says. It is enriched with 37.5% 9k gold, palladium and silver.
Other notable features of the new timepiece include the “Clous de Paris” pattern at the center of the watch’s dial, which has its roots in French craftsmanship, and remains an authentic emblem of meticulous and elegant decoration. A circular brushed pattern is used on the minute track and small seconds subdial track at 6 o’clock. A dark grey Omega logo is presented in the brand’s heritage style. In addition to its its “BG 859” engraving, the caseback is further decorated with a stamped and frosted Olympic Games Paris 2024 medallion.
The timepiece is powered by the Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 8926. This manual-winding movement is a modern tribute to the vintage 30T2 movement used for the vintage timnepiece, the watch brand says.
Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford at the Omega House Olympics opening night party
Omega
The watch is completed with a brown calf-skin leather strap and a sandblasted Bronze Gold buckle with a polished vintage Omega logo in positive relief. The same vintage logo is embossed on the watch crown.
A certification card, proving that each watch passed Master Chronometer tests set by METAS (the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology) is included inside a special presentation box.
The Omega House And Cindy Crawford
As part of its hosting duties, the Swiss watch brand has created the Omega House at the Hôtel de Poulpry, Maison des Polytechniciens, a 7,900 square-foot, multi-story, indoor and outdoor event space on the “left bank” of Paris. The space is designed by Omega for invited guests to be a respite from the hustle and bustle of the Olympic Games while its promotes the Omega brand to a highly exclusive audience.
“We’ve designed Omega House to really bring guests into the heart of our brand,” Raynald Aeschlimann, president and CEO of Omega said in a statement. “There’s so much to explore and uncover, with surprises around every corner. It’s not just a beautiful place to relax and celebrate, but it’s also a showcase of everything that makes Omega special.”
The reception area of the Omega House, the exclusive event space for Omega guests
Omega
The interior includes a full timeline of Omega’s history at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This includes displays that reveal the technology used in modern timekeeping and a stadium experience. There’s also an installation of the history of the iconic Speedmaster “moonwatch,” and an exhibition of women’s watches for the past 100 years.
The space will be open till August 10, and throughout that time Omega will host special events. On Saturday, the event space was used for an Olympics opening night party featuring Omega’s longest serving brand ambassador, Cindy Crawford, and her daughter, Kaia Gerber, a model and an Omega ambassador since 2017.
Other guests for the evening included American sprinter and Omega ambassador, Gabby Thomas, French rapper, Rim’K, who performed at the Olympics opening ceremony, and French actresses, Karidja Touré and Kim Higelin.
The Omega Pavilion
The Omega Pavilion is for all Olympic attendees. It’s located in the center of Parc de Bercy, near the Bercy Arena, where many of the indoor sporting events are being held.
The installation begin with Omega’s history with the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the timekeeping innovations OMEGA has developed throughout its history as official timekeeper.
The entrance to the Omega Pavilion, open throughout the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics
Omega
There is a “race of champions” simulation experience, where people can test their sprinting skills with Olympic and Paralympic champions on the 10m running track with real starting blocks.
The electronic starting pistol and the new “Scan’O’Vision ULTIMATE” photo finish camera, provide insight into modern timekeeping.
In the “locker room,” visitors can experience a swimming starting block, while also opening the locker doors to read the biographies of Omega’s Olympic and Paralympic ambassadors. Athlete stories are on video screens inside the pavilion.
Inside the Omega Pavilion
enzoply
Omega also designed a “swimming pool” room with underwater effects. A film shows how Omega is bringing data measurement into swimming.
The pavilion will be open to the public throughout the Olympics and Paralympics and is free.
This article was first published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.
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