Paris Olympics 2024: The best watches spotted on athletes and celebrities
In sports, time is of utmost importance, and a fraction of a second can make or break the run of a personal best time. With timekeeping so crucial, it is of no surprise then, that watches play a central role at the Paris Olympics, which is taking place until August 11. As Omega serves as the official timekeeper of the games in its 31st year running (an honour that the brand has held since 1932), several watches from the luxury Swiss brand have been spotted at the major sporting event. Other watches that have caught our eye include some from Rolex, Richard Mille, Audemars Piguet and more.
And as time continues to be of the essence, here are some of the best watches spotted on athletes and celebrities that caused serious wrist envy.
In case you missed it: Stylish moments at Paris Olympics: Simone Biles’ Swarovski crystal-studded leotard, Edgar Cheung Ka-long’s bracelets and more
Jagger Eaton in IWC Schaffhausen
Olympian Jagger Eaton of Team United States poses on the Today Show Set on July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)
Bearing a luminescent green dial, the IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 made for the perfect complement on American skateboarder Jagger Eaton as the silver medalist for the men's street skateboarding event posed in Team USA gear.
Pharrell Williams in Richard Mille
Pharrell Williams with the Richard Mille UP-01 Ferrari (Photo: Getty Images)
Decked in a warm brown ensemble, American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and fashion designer Pharrell Williams completed his look with a Richard Mille UP-01 Ferrari. Dubbed one of the world’s thinnest watches, with a thickness of just 1.75 mm, the exceptionally light watch is an eye-catcher, especially with its hot red straps.
Lewis Hamilton in Patek Philippe
Hamilton embracing Miles Chamley-Watson after his match (Photo: Getty Images)
Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton was spotted in a Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref 5740 Perpetual Calendar at the bronze medal fencing match face-off between France and the USA at the Grand Palais strip. Hamilton styled the elegant timepiece with a trendy bucket hat and a simple white tee.
Nick Jonas in Audemars Piguet
Nick Jonas at the women's artistic gymnastics event in Paris (Photo: Getty Images)
Singer Nick Jonas wore a bold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Montauk Highway as he witnessed gymnast Simone Biles from Team USA dominating the balance beam event.
Rafael Nadal in Richard Mille
The Spanish tennis legend, who had also partnered with Richard Mille in creating several series for the brand, wore the Richard Mille 27-05 Manual Winding Flying Tourbillon with a white strap at the opening ceremony. The timepiece is the first to bear the tennis player’s name and was the lightest watch in the world when it debuted in 2010.
Don’t miss: 3 Times Richard Mille’s High-Quality Movements Impressed The Racing Watch World
Tom Cruise in Rolex
Tom Cruise watches artistic gymnastics at the Bercy Arena (Photo: Getty Images)
Mission Impossible star Tom Cruise was in the stands in support of the American women’s gymnastics team. The actor wore a Rolex Daytona Meteorite Dial to compliment his black and white ensemble.
LeBron James in Cartier
LeBron James at the prelude to the Olympics with a monochrome outfit and a Cartier Crash timepiece (Photo: Getty Images)
American basketball player and notable watch collector LeBron James endorsed the Cartier Crash at the prelude to the Olympics. Arguably one of the world’s most coveted watches, the contorted oval face makes it an idiosyncratic characteristic of any timepiece.
Jon M. Chu in Cartier
Jon M. Chu at the Paris Olympics with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo (Photo: Getty Images)
Crazy Rich Asians and Wicked director Jon M. Chu wore a yellow gold Cartier Santos as he posed for a selfie with his seat mates, including Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the artistic gymnastics women’s qualification in the Bercy Arena.
Don’t miss: Watches and Wonders 2024: 5 Cartier watches that dazzled with their craftsmanship and striking designs
Thierry Henry in Patek Philippe
Thierry Henry in the Patel Philipe Nautilus x Virgil Abloh x MAD Paris (Photo: Getty Images)
The extremely rare Patel Philipe Nautilus x Virgil Abloh x MAD Paris (what a mouthful) graced the wrist of former French footballer Thierry Henry. From this distinctive collaboration with the late Virgil Abloh, the Patek Philippe Nautilus is re-articulated and coated in a diamond-like black carbon.
Serena Williams in Audemars Piguet
Complimenting a stunning red dress, longtime friend of Audemars Piguet and titan of the tennis world Serena Williams wore a Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked at the prelude to the opening ceremony. The open worked design showcases the complex mechanical beauty of the piece, reflecting Williams’s multifaceted career.
Read more: Game, Set, Match: Serena Williams & Audemars Piguet
Stephen Curry in Rolex
Stephen Curry in a Rolex President Day-Date II (Photo: Getty Images)
Basketball star Stephen Curry sported a Rolex President Day-Date II in his walk around Paris. The piece is a stunning rose gold with a complementary sunburst dial and 41 mm case.
Miles Chamley-Watson in Richard Mille
British-American fencer Miles-Chamley Watson proves that a good watch makes a great companion in the games. The Richard Mille 65-01 Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph in yellow stands out beneath the Olympian’s fencing gear. This striking contemporary piece features a sturdy quartz composite, making it a high-performance piece that is perfect for the field.
John Legend in Audemars Piguet
All of Me singer John Legend wore an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph in yellow gold at the Olympics prelude with his wife, Chrissy Teigen.
Don’t miss: An exclusive look at the new Audemars Piguet [RE]Master02 Selfwinding
Shaun White in Omega
White with his wife, actress Nina Dobrev at the Paris Olympics (Photo: Getty Images)
Gold isn’t just reserved for medals. Former American snowboarder and skateboarder wore the Omega Speedster Moonwatch at the opening ceremony in Paris. The iconic watch in Moonshine gold is just one of the many gold pieces in the athlete’s possession, previously snapping up multiple gold medals at previous games.
Don’t miss: Paris 2024: The best Omega Olympic timepieces
Jayson Tatum in Audemars Piguet
Jayson Tatum poses for a photo with the Audemars Piguet Code 1159 Openworked Tourbillon (Photo: Getty Images)
Audermars Piguet watches seem to be a recurring athlete favourite, now spotted on American basketball power forward Jayson Tatum. The Audemars Piguet Code 1159 Openworked Tourbillon was seen on his wrist at the prelude to the Olympics.
Noah Lyles in Omega
On the purple track in Paris, American track and field athlete Noah Lyles kept it clean and simple with a sleek black Omega Speedmaster Apollo 8. Equipped with a black skeletonised dial and a perforated black leather strap, its durability is evidently favoured by the track star.
Simon Delestre in Hermès
French equestrian Simon Delestre wore a Hermès H08 at the Team jumping event at Versailles. Celebrated for its fluidity and sturdiness, the timepiece embodies the prowess of the famous equine spirit.
NOW READ
Paris Olympics 2024: Meet the 23 Singaporean athletes who will be competing this year
Pharrell Williams wants to bring back art competitions to the Olympic Games