YouTube
Instagram
X(Twitter)
Facebook
TikTok
Good evening everyone.
Today, February 4, 2022, is the date of the Winter Olympics, a festival that takes place once every four years! The Olympics is a sports festival that excites the whole world. But did you know that the watch industry is also getting excited at the same time? If you're a watch lover, you'll probably get it right away...
Exactly!!
This is an Olympic limited edition model that is released for each Olympic Games.
Currently, OMEGA is the official ambassador for the brand, and they release wonderful limited edition models for each Olympic Games. And when the national team athletes wear these models, we all want them, creating an irresistible spiral for watch lovers. (laughs)
This time, we would like to introduce the limited edition models of the past five tournaments announced by OMEGA, the current ambassador, along with the highlights of each tournament. Please enjoy until the end.
2006 Turin Olympics
Speaking of the Turin Olympics, it was a tournament where the Japanese athletes did not achieve good results. They only won one medal, so it's probably a tournament that people don't really want to remember. The only one who lit up the lights all over Japan was Shizuka Arakawa, who took the world by storm with her "Ina Bauer." She won the gold medal with a flawless performance. "Ina Bauer" was also chosen as the buzzword of the year, so it's likely to remain etched in everyone's memories even now.
[Medal winners]
Gold Medal
Shizuka Arakawa (Figure Skating)
★Silver Medal
none
Bronze medal
none
"Turin" Olympic limited edition model [Omega]
"Speedmaster Torino 2006"
"Ref:3538.30.00"
The Speedmaster Torino 2006 features a clear white dial accented with a red minute track.
This is a watch that features a playful chronograph hand with an Olympic mark. The other two watches that were released at the same time are also attractive, with the blue hands being an exquisite accent. The "Rattrapante" on the right side of the photo is limited to 26 pieces, and the "Seamaster" on the left is limited to 206 pieces, so both are models that are not widely available on the market. I have seen a lot of limited edition models, but this is a series that I personally think is "purely cool."
2010 Vancouver Olympics
The star of Vancouver was unanimously the figure skater Mao Asada, who was competing in her first Olympic Games. Even though she won the silver medal, her interview in which she shed tears of regret moved the whole of Japan. In speed skating, she also won two silver medals and one bronze medal, showing the world her strength at this tournament.
[Medal winners] Gold Medal none ★ Silver Medal Mao Asada (Figure Skating) Keiichiro Nagashima (Speed skating) Women's Team Pursuit (Speed Skating) Bronze medal Daisuke Takahashi (Figure Skating) Joji Kato (Speed skating)
Vancouver Olympics Limited Edition [Omega]
"Seamaster Co-Axial Vancouver 2010"
"Ref:212.30.41.20.04.001"
The Seamaster was created with the image of the Canadian flag, the host country of the Olympics.
The vibrant red bezel and white dial create a stunning contrast, and the second hand features the same Olympic mark as the "Torino" Olympic limited edition model. I mentioned earlier that it was "purely cool" in my personal opinion, but I guess it was a popular design that led to it being continued? (laughs)
2014 Sochi Olympics
The Sochi Olympics saw Yuzuru Hanyu perform a spectacular performance and win the gold medal. Other notable events included ski jumping legend Noriaki Kasai winning a silver medal and Ayumu Hirano winning his first silver medal in the men's snowboarding halfpipe, making it a tournament that was sure to be a success.
[Medal winners] Gold Medal Yuzuru Hanyu (Figure Skating) ★ Silver Medal Ayumu Hirano (Snowboard Half-pipe) Noriaki Kasai (jump large hill) Akito Watanabe (Nordic Combined Normal Hill) Tomoka Takeuchi (Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom) Bronze medal Taku Hiraoka (Snowboard Half-pipe) Ayana Onodera (Freestyle Halfpipe) Men's Large Hill Team Jumping (Large Hill Jumping)
"Sochi" Olympic limited edition model [Omega]
"Seamaster Planet Ocean Sochi 2014"
"Ref:522.30.46.21.01.001"
"Planet Ocean" is a genuine diver's watch.
The bezel's scale is subtly colored in red and blue, which is said to have been inspired by the flag of the Russian Federation. Compared to the "Torino" and "Vancouver," the design has a more chic and subdued impression, and I personally think it could have had a bit more of an Olympic feel, but it's a highly versatile finish.
2018 PyeongChang Olympics
The Pyeongchang Olympics, which is still fresh in our memory, was a tournament where Japan won the highest number of medals ever, 13. Figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu won his second consecutive gold medal and was even awarded the People's Honor Award that year. He also showed his overwhelming strength by winning three gold medals in women's speed skating. Takagi Miho, who showed a spectacular performance winning gold, silver, and bronze medals, is also serving as captain of the team at the Beijing Olympics, which begins today.
[Medal winners] Gold Medal Yuzuru Hanyu (Figure Skating) Nao Kodaira (Speed skating 500m) Women's Team Pursuit (Speed Skating) Nana Takagi (Mass Start) ★ Silver Medal Ayumu Hirano (Snowboard Half-pipe) Shoma Uno (Figure Skating) Akito Watanabe (Individual Normal Hill) Nao Kodaira (Speed skating 1000m) Miho Takagi (Speed skating 1500m) Bronze medal Sara Takanashi (Individual Normal Hill) Daichi Hara (Moguls) Miho Takagi (Speed skating 1000m) Loco Solare ( Women's Curling Team Competition)
"Pyeongchang" Olympic limited edition model [Omega][Omega][Omega]
"Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Beijing 2022"
"Ref:522.10.41.21.04.001"
The Seamaster features a frosted white ceramic dial that evokes the snow of the Winter Olympics.
The hands and diamond-brushed indexes are filled with blue and white Super-LumiNova, while the "Seamaster" lettering and the red accents at 15, 30, 45, and 60 on the minute track perfectly embody the Olympic limited edition.
summary
We've looked at the limited edition Olympic models from five different Games and the competitions that took place at that time. What do you think?
For those who own limited edition models from the past Olympics, the scenes from those times may come to mind vividly, bringing back memories of the excitement and emotion. It may be fun to choose a watch that brings back memories like these.
Well, today marks the start of a day filled with excitement and emotion. Let's all cheer on the Japanese athletes and liven up the Beijing Olympics!
Once again, I hope that after reading this article, you will become at least a little interested in luxury watches.
see you!