All The Watches at the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

This year, the Olympics started with a bang. In the best tradition of one of the most vocal democracies, the opening ceremony was not confined to a single super-exclusive venue or a stadium, but the streets of Paris. The colorful performances remain a topic of polarizing conversations and undoubtedly a source of feverish nightmares among the conservative (see: Christian nationalist) crowd. However, social media discourse aside, the 2024 opening ceremony is bound to make its way into textbooks as one of the most impactful celebrations of sportsmanship and athletic excellence in modern history. 

As always, while our hearts sang and our feet tapped to the beat of Celine Dion and Lady Gaga’s powerful opening performances, we remained focused enough to spot exciting watches at the ceremony. 

Serena Williams and Her Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked Steel 41MM

One of the greatest tennis players of all time, philanthropist and activist Serena Williams is somebody who broke more glass ceilings than one can count. So, it’s only natural that a landmark watchmaker like Audemars Piguet recruited this conqueror of courts as its ambassador. And, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Williams once again pledged her allegiance to the maison when she wore the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked Steel 41MM in stainless steel with a captivating pink gold movement and bezel. 

LeBron James and His Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin with Sapphire-set Bezel 41MM

One of the greatest basketball players of our time, LeBron James was also among the guests at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. As an avid watch collector, James has a few timepieces that could make any horological aficionado jealous. This Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin, for example, is a true charmer. The sapphires on its bezel and hour marks, for instance, harmonize beautifully with its tapesserie dial, which warps around the tourbillon window. And did we mention that it also comes in stunning rose gold? 

Coco Gauff and Her Rolex Datejust 36 White Gold & Steel with Diamonds

American tennis player Coco Gauff, who won seven career singles titles, was one of the esteemed guests at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Her watch of choice was a Rolex Datejust in white gold and steel. What elevated this classic timepiece were the sparkling diamonds that punctuated its hour markers. 

Rafael Nadal and His Richard Mille RM 27-05 Manual Winding Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal Carbon TPT® B.4

Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal was a torchbearer at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. While fulfilling this honorable duty, Nadal wore his Richard Mille RM 27-05 Manual Winding Flying Tourbillon which, naturally, bore his name on it. This timepiece, cast in Carbon TPT, is the lightest tourbillon ever produced, which isn’t surprising given how it’s specifically designed to withstand the ferocious swings of the hand of someone like Nadal.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and His Breitling Chronomat B01 42MM Piece Unique

Greek-Nigerian basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA, Giannis Antetokounmpo (also known as “Greek Freak” among his fans and peers) represented Greece at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. To the opening ceremony, the player wore his Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Giannis Antetokounmpo Red Gold with Arabic Numerals 42MM Piece Unique. This timepiece features ancient Western Arabic numerals and a military-green dial, which looks simply stunning against its rose gold case and bracelet. 

Anthony Davis and His Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph “25th Anniversary” Pink Gold 45MM

American power-forwarder for the LA Lakers, Anthony Davis represented the USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics stunned at the opening ceremony. No less of a stunner was a timepiece he was wearing – the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph “25th Anniversary” Pink Gold. This watch is part of a limited edition of only 50 pieces and features an avant-garde design with a semi-detached dial and a futuristic case. 

Vincent Cassel and His Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel White Gold & Black Ceramic 41MM

Veritable legend of French cinema and one of the most coveted guests at any cultural event not only in France but globally, actor Vincent Cassel was spotted at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. On his wrist, Cassel wore an AP Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Starwheel White Gold & Black Ceramic. This watch, created in collaboration with French artist Ugo Gattoni, features a wandering hours complication that dates back to the 17th century that displays the hours using a system of satellites that gravitate along a minute scale arranged in the form of an arc, which was rediscovered by Audemars Piguet in the 1990s and dubbed “Starwheel”. 

Devin Booker and His Cartier Tank Asymétrique Rose Gold 47MM x 26MM

American basketball guard for the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, Devin Booker, who was part of the team representing the USA at the 2024 Olympics, attended the opening ceremony wearing a rather interesting watch. On his wrist, we saw the Cartier Tank Asymétrique in rose gold. This striking timepiece features a skewed rectangular dial in a gorgeous slate-gray color with large Arabic numerals. 

Stephen Curry and His Cartier Santos de Cartier Steel 39.8MM

American basketball point guard for the Golden State Warriors of the NBA, Stephen Curry, also represented the USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Curry’s timepiece of choice was the ever-sleek and versatile Santos de Cartier in steel. This watch has a beautifully textured navy-blue dial with Roman numerals, which matches its strap. 

Pharrell Williams and His Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari

The man, the legend, the vision himself, Pharrell Williams never fails to impress with his watches. The creative director wore a rare Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari to the Olympics opening ceremony in Paris. The unique design of this timepiece echoes Williams’s eclectic vision. The ultra-flat “racing machine for the wrist” features a limited-edition manual winding movement and a case made from Grade 5 titanium designed in a monobloc construction that maximizes its water resistance. 

Jayson Tatum and His Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked 41MM

Star player for the Boston Celtics, Jayson Tatum rocked up to the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris wearing his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked in stainless steel – much like fellow athlete Serena Williams. His timepiece of choice, however, had the movement of black rhodium instead of pink gold, save for, of course, the double balance wheel itself, hands, and hour markers.  

Shaun White and His Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Moonshine™ Gold 42MM

Veteran American snowboarder and skateboarder and three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White was also spotted among the attendees at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony. White donned a watch from the brand that sponsored this year’s Olympics – Omega. His timepiece of choice was the Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Moonshine in gold with a stunning emerald-green dial. 

John Legend and His Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph Yellow Gold 41MM

Singer, record producer, actor, Oscar- Emmy- and Grammy-winner John Legend was also among the esteemed guests at the 2024 Paris Olympics. On the occasion, Legend wore his beloved Royal Oak. Weighing in at 41mm and powered by the caliber 2385, this three-counter chronograph rendition of Switzerland’s most famous luxury sports watch boasts a rather unique silvery-white “Grande Tapisserie” dial, and both a case and integrated bracelet made out of brushed 18ct yellow gold.

Dennis Schröder and His Richard Mille RM 055 “Bubba Watson” Dubai Edition

German basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA, who represented Germany at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Dennis Schröder, has some impressive watches in his collection. During the opening ceremony, Schröder wore his Richard Mille RM 055 “Bubba Watson” Dubai Edition, which was first designed in 2012 in collaboration with the PGA Tour-winning golfer Bubba Watson. Its manual highly skeletonized winding movement is made in grade 5 titanium with a PVT and Tytalit treated baseplate and bridges. These choices are not only aesthetic, they also allow the movement to withstand accelerations of over 500 g’s.

Lindsey Vonn and Her Rolex Daytona Yellow Gold 40MM

American former World Cup alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn was also an honored guest at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. On this occasion, Vonn wore her Rolex Daytona in yellow gold. This impressive watch measures 44mm and features an elegant black dial, which looks striking against its gold-brimmed subdials. 

Miles Chamley-Watson and His Richard Mille RM 65-01 Automatic Winding Split-Seconds Chronograph Dark Yellow Quartz TPT®

13-time Pan-American champion, fencer Miles Chamley Watson, competed for the men’s team foil at the 2024 Paris Olympics. To the opening ceremony, Chamley-Watson wore his Richard Mille RM 65-01 Automatic Winding Split-Seconds Chronograph Dark Yellow Quartz TPT – a selfwinding rattrapante chronograph with in-house caliber RMAC4 and a retina-busting yellowish orange case. 

Gina Alice Redlinger and Her Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Beige Ceramic & Titanium with Diamonds 39MM

German pianist Gina Alice Redlinger attended the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris with her husband, pianist Lang Lang. Redlinger wore her Hublot Spirit of Big Bang cast in ceramic and titanium in a beautiful beige shade. This delicate timepiece is also studded with sparkling diamonds all around its bezel. 

Tony Parker and His Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 Steel & Gold 40MM

French-American former basketball player (and Eva Longoria’s ex-husband), Tony Parker was also spotted at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. We weren’t the only ones surprised by the athlete’s timepiece of choice – the Tissot PRX Powermatic. This ever-simple and elegant watch features a dial and bracelet of stainless steel with a rose gold bezel, hour markers, and bezel as pleasant accents.