See Chaumet’s Paris Olympic Medals Inspired by its High Jewelry

Paris—Chaumet has made its mark as the first jeweler in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to design the medals.

The LVMH-owned brand’s creative team worked with the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, led by Olympic canoeist Tony Estanguet, to create the medals, first revealing them in February.

“This first ever Olympic medal created by a jeweler is emblematic of LVMH’s role as creative partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024,” said Antoine Arnault of LVMH Image and Environment.

“In a close creative dialogue between Paris 2024 and Chaumet, the artisans of the maison delved into their archives and explored powerful symbols of Olympism to imagine a medal inspired by high jewelry creations. Building on its centuries of rich history, Chaumet is writing a new page that will remain engraved in the heritage of the Maison for eternity.” 

One side of the medal pays tribute to Paris while the other showcases the design heritage of Chaumet and the history of the Olympic Games.

“The medal design is both confident and bold, perfectly matched to the sporting feats of the athletes,” said LVMH.

The medal features a series of rays, symbolizing the radiance of Paris, also known as the City of Lights, with the medals’ faceting meant to reflect light. 

“At the same time, it imparts a special brilliance to the athletes who will wear the medals around their necks. These rays engraved in the metal breathe dynamism and life into this exceptional object,” said LVMH.

As is tradition, the metals used were gold, silver, and bronze, but the designers also added something special.

The hexagon-shaped center of each medal is an authentic piece of iron from the Eiffel Tower, preserved during the monument’s renovation, allowing the winners to keep a piece of Paris close to their hearts.

The iron center was set using a technique called “griffe setting,” which Chaumet uses for gemstones in its high jewelry pieces. 

“This setting evokes the ‘Clous de Paris’ hobnail motif found in fine jewelry, as well as the pattern of rivets on the Eiffel Tower itself,” said the brand.

The hexagon shape is meant to be a symbol of both France and Chaumet, who has often incorporated the eight-sided shape into its jewelry.