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Good evening everyone!
In July 2024, the Olympic Games, the world's most popular sporting event, will be held in Paris every four years. The best athletes from around the world will gather at the Olympics, and as watchmakers, we are interested in the watches worn by the top athletes.
So this time, we would like to take a closer look at the watches of the athletes competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In addition to the results of the competition, take this opportunity to take a look at the watches. So, enjoy watching until the end!
Yuta Watanabe (Basketball)
The first person we would like to introduce is Watanabe Yuta, captain of the Japanese national basketball team.
He will be playing in the world's top professional basketball league, the NBA, for about five years until the 2023-2024 season, and is one of the great players who ignited basketball fever in Japan. From the 2024-2025 season, news spread that he will be moving to Japan's B League, and while fans are disappointed, there are also voices of joy at being able to watch him play live, making the Japanese basketball world very lively.
He is particularly praised for his defensive ability, which makes use of his 206cm height, which is comparable to overseas players, his abundant energy and long wingspan, but he also has excellent 3-point shooting accuracy, and is expected to be a major weapon for the Japanese national team on both offense and defense.
The watch that Watanabe is wearing is
Hublot Big Bang Unico [Ref.441.VX.1131.RX]
The Ref. 441.VX.1131.RX is an 18KYG (yellow gold) version of the famous Big Bang Unico, an iconic model from Hublot.
The case, hands, indexes and sub-dials are all made of yellow gold, giving the watch a gorgeous design. It also has a flyback chronograph function , which allows you to reset the time to zero and restart the watch by pressing the reset button when the chronograph is in operation.
With a case diameter of 42mm and a case thickness of 14.6mm, this model has a strong presence and I hope it will lead Japan to the gold medal, just like the shining YG (yellow gold) model! Let's cheer it on with all our might!
Ai Takahashi (Volleyball)
Next up, we would like to introduce Takahashi Ai, who combines a sweet look with star quality and is leading the volleyball world as Japan's ace.
He won the All Japan High School Championship in his third year of high school, and after entering university he was selected to represent Japan and compete in the Tokyo Olympics. He is a promising new star who is active on the world stage at a young age, playing in the Italian Serie A, the world's top league.
The watch that Takahashi is wearing is
Grand Seiko Sports Collection [Ref.SBGE201]
From Grand Seiko, a brand that Japan is proud of around the world, comes the "Sports Collection" Ref. SBGE201, which can be worn in active situations.
This model is equipped with a unique movement "Spring Drive" that combines mechanical and quartz movements, and also has a GMT function, providing unquestionable performance and practicality. In addition, the black dial with the GMT hand and the GMT notation in red is an indicator color, making it easy to read and stylish. It was probably chosen because it is very important for Takahashi, who is active on the world stage, to know the second time zone.
The current Japanese men's volleyball team is ranked second in the world (as of July 2024) and is the team with the best chance of winning a gold medal in history, so we look forward to seeing even more success from Takahashi!
Alexandre Lacazette (footballer)
From here, we will introduce some notable players from the host country, France.
First up is France's number 10 player, Lacazette, who is considered a favorite to win.
Lacazette, who has a ball-keeping ability that rivals that of larger players and a decisive striker, is a prolific goal-scorer and is playing as an overage player this time and leading the team as captain. It is no exaggeration to say that whether France can win the championship or not depends on Lacazette.
The watch worn by Lacazette is
Rolex Submariner Green [ Ref.126610LV ]
From the Rolex Submariner, the epitome of diver's watches, comes the "Ref. 126610LV," which features distinctive green coloring.
This watch is reminiscent of the original "Submariner Green," combining a green bezel, which is Rolex's corporate color, with a black dial . The movement is equipped with the "Cal. 3235," which boasts a power reserve of about 70 hours, making it highly practical.
Lacazette owns many other watches. If he wins a gold medal, he may buy one as a memento, so it will be interesting to see what kind of watch he has on his wrist.
Leon Marchand (Swimming)
Leon Marchand is France's young swimming treasure.
He is a thoroughbred in the world of competitive swimming, with both parents being Olympic swimmers. At the 2023 World Championships, a prelude to the Paris 2024 Olympics, he achieved the feat of breaking the world record for the men's 400m individual medley, which had been held by the famous Michael Phelps for 15 years. It may not be an exaggeration to say that the swimming competitions at this tournament are his.
The watch that Marc-Martin wears is
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M [Ref. 210.32.42.20.01.001]
Since its introduction in 1993, the Seamaster Diver 300M has established a solid position as Omega's diver's watch, and the sporty and stylish "Ref. 210.32.42.20.01.01" is part of the series.
This watch features a polished black ceramic dial with a laser-engraved wave pattern and date display, and is equipped with OMEGA's proud Master Chronometer Coaxial Movement "Cal. 88 00" . In addition to a power reserve of approximately 55 hours, this is a "masterpiece" movement with ultra-high magnetic resistance of 15,000 gauss.
Last summer, Marchand was appointed as a brand ambassador for OMEGA. By teaming up with OMEGA, which has a deep connection to the Olympics, we are sure that he will be able to further liven up the Olympics in the future.
summary
We have introduced the watches worn by Japanese athletes and athletes from the host country, France. What do you think?
Each of them was wearing a unique and wonderful watch, and I think you could see their own preferences. Even so, during the Olympics (Friday, July 26th to Sunday, August 11th), there will be a lot of exciting events every day, so it looks like there will be no time to rest, but because of the time difference, there will be many broadcasts from late at night to early in the morning, so I'm worried that I will continue to be sleep-deprived every day... (laughs)
So how many medals will Japan win? I'm sure they will bring a lot of excitement and courage to Japan! Let's all come together and give it our all!
See you next time!!
