The 2024 Olympics are kicking off in Paris on Friday, 26th of July, with the opening ceremony taking place right in the city center – or more precisely: on and along the Seine. Brand sponsorships for sporting events are nothing new, and based on how common they are, perhaps they’re quite successful, too. Hublot has seen an uptick in interest on the Chrono24 marketplace thanks to this year’s UEFA Cup. Every rookie in the NBA receives a Tissot. And LVMH may overtake Rolex as the main watch sponsor for Formula 1 now that the crown’s contract is coming to an end.
One sporting sponsorship that seems rock solid is Omega’s duty as the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games, a partnership that you can read more about in our article “Omega and the Olympic Games”.
With the 2024 Paris Olympics just around the corner we thought: what better time to host a little contest of our own? So, our competition today is this: scour through the 50+ Omega Olympic spcial editions on the marketplace to determine which games reign supreme for having the best lineup. The brand is no stranger to creating limited edition watches, and the Olympics occur more often than space missions, so there are a lot out there to choose from, many you’ve likely never seen before. In true Olympic fashion, we will be handing out medals for gold, silver, and bronze.
Things to Consider When Choosing an Omega Olympic Special Edition Watch
The specs for these limited editions are the same as the standard models, meaning you’re still getting the same great Speedmaster even with the snazzy Olympic color scheme. This makes your selection process a little simpler, but you’ll still need to determine what type of watch suits your lifestyle best. You may fall in love with a dress watch or a chronograph, but if you’re someone who’s around water often, a diver may be the better option for you. The only other consideration to take into account will be the level of visibility for the Olympic elements. Some of the following watches look undeniably Olympic, while others look like standard issue Omegas. This is a matter of personal taste, so follow your gut here. Now, onto the competition!
London 2012 – BRONZE
We’re starting with our bronze medal winner, the London games in 2012. There are three watches here to point out, each with the same advantage: the only thing indicating that these watches are Olympic editions is the caseback. There are some instances where the Olympic branding is more apparent and used in a way that makes the watches feel special, as opposed to, well, ugly. The former you’ll find sprinkled throughout this article, and the latter failed to make the podium here. And since the English capital is a bastion of subtlety, it only makes sense that their Olympic watches would be too.
The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Chronograph (ref. 522.10.44.50.03.001) comes in a handsome blue dial with a vertical wood plank applique, the model line’s distinctly sharp hour markers, and punches of red on the chronograph seconds hand and the Seamaster logo. The 4:30 date window can be a controversial touch in the watch community, but it’s discreetly placed here and leaves the subdials uninterrupted. Also, this model typically comes in some form of white, black, or gray dial, so this Olympic edition offers an uncommon blue dial that changes with the light. There’s also a two-tone version available with rose gold, but this could be one element too many for some. And for those who prefer their watches smaller and simpler, this special Aqua Terra also comes in a 34mm time-only configuration.
For a supreme dose of subtlety, consider the Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial “London 2012” Limited Edition (ref. 522.23.39.20.02.001). This 39mm watch echoes the London games of 1948 and honors the first automatic Omega Seamaster. The opaline silver dial sports a vintage-inspired applied Omega logo and hour markers, all in 18kt white gold. The hands are diamond-polished, and for a modern touch, the watch houses Omega’s chronometer-certified Caliber 2202 with their proprietary co-axial escapement.
Rio de Janeiro 2016 – SILVER
While London is simply subtle, Rio is loud and proud. A great example of this is the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M (ref. 522.30.41.20.01.001). What from a distance may look like your standard 300M gives way to a samba of color on the bezel. Add these chromatic touches to the 300m of water resistance and you have a summer-ready watch that doesn’t necessarily scream “Olympics” either.
While the 300M sports the colors of the Olympic rings, the Omega Speedmaster Mark II (ref. 522.10.43.50.01.001) uses its three subdials to host the gold, silver, and bronze motifs. The already funky Mark II case, which is imbued with 1970s space-age case architecture, gets an added dose of quirkiness through the metallic rings. This watch is perhaps the most clearly Olympic-themed so far, and with a not two-tone but three-tone dial, it’s not going to be everyone’s taste.
Finally, a watch that is overflowing with personality is the Rio edition of the Omega Seamaster Bullhead (ref. 522.12.43.50.04.001). Yes, there’s a bright red chronograph seconds hand. Yes, there’s a blue internal rotating bezel. Yes, there are colorful pops for the minute markers. And of course, there are the signature “bullhead” chronograph pushers on the top of the dial with a gnarly crown at 6 o’clock. This watch is certainly not for everyone, but it’ll be the life of the party wherever it goes.
Tokyo 2020 – GOLD
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic editions are the winner not only because the lineup is full of watches that could stand on their own but because the Tokyo Olympics didn’t even take place until 2021. The watch world loves an oddity, and while this technically isn’t a factory misprint, it is an unusual time capsule in world history, not just watch history.
The most popular watches coming out of these games are the five Omega Speedmasters, each representing the color of an Olympic ring. You have blue (ref. 522.30.42.30.03.001), red (ref. 522.30.42.30.06.001), black (ref. 522.30.42.30.04.001), gold (ref. 522.20.42.30.01.001), and green (ref. 522.20.42.30.06.001). While some Olympic games are lucky to get one (hopefully attractive) Speedmaster, Tokyo was blessed with five that could each serve as the foundation for a watch collection.
Up next, we have an Omega Seamaster Diver 300M (ref. 522.30.42.20.04.001). The white dial and blue ceramic bezel aren’t noticeably themed, for better or for worse, but it’s a handsome combination that looks great in and out of the water. For something similar but louder and larger, consider the white and red Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean (ref. 522.33.40.20.04.001). Here, you have applied numerals, 600m of water resistance, Omega’s signature broad arrow hands, and sparks of red on the lollipop seconds hand and on the bezel’s 20-minute marker made special for the 2020 games.
Finally, we’ve saved the best for last. It doesn’t look like an Olympic watch, but it certainly feels special. And if you’re a fan of the Rolex Datejust’s new “fluted motif” dial, then check out the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m “Tokyo 2020” (ref. 522.12.41.21.03.001). You get everything you know and love about the Aqua Terra, but with this blue checkered dial that’s perfectly imperfect. In low light, the visual effect is practically non-existent, but flick your wrist towards the sun, and the shimmering dial really comes alive. This is a fantastic example of a watch doing just enough visually, and it secures the gold medal for the Tokyo games in today’s competition.
