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Whether you were there in Paris or watching it from your couch, this year’s Olympics have been thrilling to say the least. From some of the most viral moments to a number of controversies, the Olympics have had us glued even on social media. Aside from tracking the athletes, we at GQ started an Olympic sport of our own — spotting a cool timepiece on celebrities and sport-stars.
From Neeraj Chopra’s Rs 52 lakh Omega watch to PV Sindhu’s Chopard timepiece, here are some of the coolest luxury watches we spotted at the Paris Olympics
1. Neeraj Chopra’s Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra watch
Neeraj Chopra has etched his name in history as the first Indian athlete to win both gold and silver medals at the Olympics. In last week's thrilling javelin final, he sported wearing the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150 M Ultra Light, a luxury watch crafted from stainless steel. Equipped with the OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8928 Ti, this watch is the first Omega model to feature a movement crafted entirely from titanium, and weighs just 55 grams when worn with the fabric strap. Priced at Rs 52 lakh, this timepiece symbolises Omega's association with Chopra, who became the brand's sporting ambassador earlier this year.
Swedish-American pole vaulter and current world record holder (6.25m), Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, showcased a special Omega timepiece during the Pole Vault competition at the Paris Olympics 2024. The Seamaster “Ultra Light” features a 41mm sandblasted Gamma Titanium case and a matching sandblasted silicon nitride bezel ring. Its blue anodized dial, crafted from titanium, is adorned with blackened, lume-filled hands and hour markers, with bold yellow accents. These vibrant colours pay homage to Sweden's national flag and Duplantis' competition kit. If breaking Mondo’s record seems out of reach, you can still make a statement with this Rs 43,07,529 ($51,300) watch.
The Top Gun superstar is no stranger to major sporting events, whether at F1, Wimbledon or the Olympics. On Day 2 of the Paris Olympics, the American actor was spotted cheering for gymnast Simone Biles, sporting a Rolex Day-Date 40 in Platinum. This classic timepiece features a 40mm case, fluted bezel, and the iconic President bracelet. Its dazzling dial, possibly meteorite or mother-of-pearl, is adorned with 10 baguette-cut diamonds and showcases both a day display at 12 o'clock and a date window at 3 o'clock. If you too want to channel your inner Tom Cruise persona, depending on whichever movie of his you like, you can pick this watch up for about Rs 42,51,000.
The two-time Olympic medalist and badminton champion led a seven-member team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, wearing Chopard’s iconic Happy Sport timepiece. Introduced in 1993, the Happy Sport was groundbreaking as the first watch to combine diamonds with a stainless steel case. Today, the 36mm watch continues to be celebrated as one of the most iconic models in horology.
A longtime Audemars Piguet partner, Serena Williams was seen donning the new Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked (ref. 15407ST) at the Paris Olympics, making it one of the standout wrist-candy pieces of the event. This steel model is one of three new 41mm Balance Wheel Openworked references that was released recently. While the black ceramic and 18k yellow gold versions are impressive, this steel piece, with its skeletonized pink gold-tone movement, takes the spotlight. Priced at approximately Rs 64,14,869 ($76,400), it's a statement of both style and craftsmanship.
Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikeç became an overnight sensation, not just for winning the silver medal in the mixed team 10-metre air pistol event, Turkey’s first Olympic medal in shooting, but also for his effortless cool. Dikeç kept it simple, wearing a team-officiated T-shirt, standard glasses, and a Nacar watch, with one hand casually in his pocket. The military green Nacar, a 46mm quartz-powered diving watch with 200-metre water resistance, added to his understated style. A well-known brand in Turkey, Nacar has roots in Switzerland, with production starting in 1929 and entering the Turkish market in 1942.
Gymnast Simone Biles had an impressive lineup of A-list Hollywood stars cheering her on, including Tom Cruise, Greta Gerwig, and singer Nick Jonas. Jonas caught attention with his bold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Montauk Highway. This limited-edition watch, released in 2009 to commemorate the 95-mile Montauk Highway stretching to the southern tip of Long Island, was produced in just 300 numbered pieces. It was exclusively available through New York's London Jewelers, making it a rare and sought-after timepiece.
At the Olympics, LeBron James made waves not just with his performance on the court but also by sporting the iconic Cartier Crash Skeleton watch. The Crash, which debuted in 1967, originally sold for what would be around $9,000 today. The Skeleton version, released in 2016 and limited to just 67 pieces, quickly became one of the “It” watches. With its distinctive design, it remains highly coveted by collectors even today.
At the Olympics, the former Bond star unveiled a previously unseen timepiece inspired by past limited-edition 007 releases. The watch on Daniel Craig’s wrist appears to be a Seamaster Diver 300M, though it’s a stripped-down version of Omega’s flagship diver, according to GQ US watch editor Cam Wolf. Craig’s version features a sleek black dial and matching bezel with subtle greyish-white accents, forgoing the wave pattern typical of many Seamaster 300 models in favour of a more understated matte finish.
Four-time Grand Slam winner and now silver Olympic medalist Carlos Alcaraz has been sporting a true grail watch: Rolex’s Daytona in yellow gold, featuring a stunning meteorite dial and a sleek rubber strap. This 40mm Day-Date exudes elegance with its black baguette dial, making it as coveted as a gold medal. Priced at Rs 35,05,500, it’s a timepiece that perfectly complements his champion status.
Watching Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal play doubles was a standout moment at the Olympics, but Rafa’s wrist candy also drew attention. Nadal sported his signature Richard Mille RM 27-05, the newest release in his collaboration with the brand since 2008. Weighing just 11.5 grams without the strap, this manual-winding tourbillon can endure up to 14,000Gs—an impressive feat for any watch. With only 30 pieces available, it’s priced at approximately Rs 9.6 crore ($1,150,000).
American multi-talented star Pharrell Williams also showed off a Richard Mille timepiece, complementing his brown ensemble with the Richard Mille UP-01 Ferrari. Known as one of the world’s thinnest watches at just 1.75 mm thick, this exceptionally lightweight timepiece is sure to attract all the attention, thanks to the hot red straps.
