Luxury brand adds touch of prestige to Olympic medals

As the 2024 Paris Olympics draw to a close, all eyes are on the final medal count. And this year, the Olympic medals hold special significance, paying homage to one of France's most iconic landmarks — the Eiffel Tower.

Charles Leung, CEO of French luxury jewelry brand Chaumet, shares the intriguing story behind the medal's striking appearance."The Olympic committee gave us a very special brief — to create a medal that has never been seen before in Olympic history, one that would make France shine on the global stage," Leung told China Daily.

Chaumet's storied history with the French royal family made them the natural choice for this prestigious commission. "More than 240 years ago, when Napoleon was crowned, he came to Chaumet for his coronation crowns. We've had the honor of designing tiaras and crowns for the French royal court over the centuries," Leung explained. "So when there was something this important for France, the country turned to us again."

Chaumet's opportunity to design the medal for the 2024 Paris Olympics was largely due to its parent company, LVMH Group, a premium partner of the global sporting event.

Antoine Arnault, head of image and environment at LVMH, emphasized the significance of the 2024 Paris Olympics. "It's an exceptional event that hasn't been held in France for 100 years, one of the most closely followed in the world, and it's taking place in the city where most of our maisons were born," Arnault said. He added that as the leading French group, being involved in the Paris Olympics "was not only an obvious choice, but also a responsibility".

Chaumet's design team set out to integrate the Eiffel Tower into the medal's structure, using recycled steel bars from the iconic landmark itself. "The Eiffel Tower was originally meant to be a temporary structure for the 1889 World's Fair, but it was such a sensation that Paris decided to keep it," Leung said.

"The issue was that the material was not good enough to last for so long. So what happened was that, over the years, little by little, bar by bar, section by section, the original metal framework has been replaced with stronger steel to ensure the tower's longevity."

Chaumet's designers had the idea of cutting the Eiffel Tower steel into a hexagonal shape, as it holds deep symbolic meaning for the French."The hexagon represents the shape of France itself," said Leung, adding that it also evokes the image of the humble but hardworking bee, which the French have long associated with national unity and industriousness.

Adding this slice of Parisian history into the medal's core was a delicate process. "We wanted each athlete to be able to bring home a piece of the Eiffel Tower, a tangible connection to the host city that would stay with them forever," Leung explained. The team carefully engineered the setting to showcase the recycled metal, surrounding it with a sunray pattern that radiates outward.

Strict specifications

Leung also said the designers had to meticulously adhere to the Olympics' strict specifications. "The weight, thickness and other technical details had to be perfect. This is not just another piece of jewelry — it's a prize that carries immense meaning and prestige," he said.

Additionally, the design incorporates France's rich history of world fairs. "The Eiffel Tower was actually built as a temporary structure for the 1889 World's Fair. That was the first time Chinese migrants came to Paris," he said.

Leung reflected on the honor of crafting these unique medals. "This is one of the most prestigious orders we've ever received, second only to Napoleon's crown. However, that was for personal use. We believe these medals will become the most beautiful jewels ever crafted by human hands," he said.

"These medals can't simply be bought. They must be won, earned through an arduous journey filled with sweat, tears, successes and failures. It requires the love and support of an entire community to achieve."

wangmingjie@mail.chinadailyuk.com