Alright, so today I want to share something pretty cool I’ve been diving into lately – the Chaumet Olympic medals. Yeah, you heard that right, those shiny things they hang around athletes’ necks. But these aren’t just any medals, these are for the Paris 2024 Olympics, and they’ve got a little extra something special.
First off, I started digging around to see who was behind these medals, and it turns out it’s Chaumet. Now, I’m no expert, but I know they’re a big deal in the fancy jewelry world, the CEO is Charles Leung, so I figured these medals had to be something else. And they are, but wait till you hear this – each medal has a piece of the actual Eiffel Tower in it. How wild is that?
So, I got into this whole process of how they made these things. They took iron from the original Eiffel Tower, shaped it into a hexagon, and put it right in the center of each medal. They used the same techniques they use for setting precious stones in jewelry, which is pretty neat. I mean, they make tiaras for actual royalty, so you know they’re not messing around.
- The Research Phase: This is where I started. Just googling around, looking for anything about these medals. I found out they’re made by Chaumet, a big-time French luxury brand, and that they include iron from the Eiffel Tower.
- Deep Dive into Design: Then I got into the design aspect. I learned that the hexagon shape is a nod to France, and the way they set the iron into the medals is just like how they set diamonds and other gems.
- Understanding the Significance: I also read up on why they did this. It’s all about connecting the Olympics to the history and heart of Paris. Pretty cool way to make the medals extra meaningful, right?
They didn’t just slap some metal together, though. I found out that Olympic medal designs have changed a lot over the years. The ones for the Summer Games usually look more classic, while the Winter Games medals are a bit more out there in terms of design. And get this, the Winter Games medals are usually bigger and thicker. Who knew?
Anyway, the company that actually made the medals is called Monnaie de Paris, and they made like 5,000 of them. I guess that’s how many they need for all the different events and winners.
Wrapping My Head Around It All
Honestly, the whole thing is just fascinating to me. It’s not every day you get to think about the design and meaning behind something as iconic as an Olympic medal. And the fact that these have a piece of history right in them? That’s just next level. I’ve always been a sucker for a good story, and these medals? They’ve got a story for the ages. That’s why I just had to share this whole adventure with you guys, and I hope you found it as interesting as I did.
