[Explanation] Recently, the "skin" of the Tokyo Olympic medals has aroused heated discussion, and many netizens recalled the 2008 Beijing Olympics medals "golden inlaid with jade".
On August 30, a reporter from China News Agency interviewed Zhang Tiecheng, one of the masters of Chinese arts and crafts and the designer and producer of the "Golden Inlaid Jade" medal, recalling the ingenuity in the medal design.
[Commentary] Zhang Tiecheng said that the design of "Golden Inlaid Jade" was praised by the International Olympic Organizing Committee when it was released, but immediately raised questions. After winning, the athletes may be too excited, or throw medals in the air, or even throw them at the audience. While jade is a fragile material, the result of throwing out the Beijing Olympic medals inlaid with jade must be "broken jade tiles."
How to make the medal fall-resistant has become the biggest problem for the design team.
[Concurrent] A Tiecheng of Chinese Arts and Crafts Master, "Golden Inlaid Jade" Medal Design and Producer
After three months, we tried repeatedly.
Why tempered glass is not afraid of being broken, it is actually (has) a layer of explosion-proof film. We wonder if we can use its principle. At that time, we made an explosion-proof film behind the jade ring of the medal. The explosion-proof film is actually not drop-proof. It’s okay to hit frequently, it’s not fall-proof, and it will crack after a fall, including falling flat and standing.
I have thought of many ways, including increasing the size of the medals and thickening the metal edges of the medals, which do not solve the problem of drop resistance.
[Explanation] After trying various "high-tech" methods to no avail, Zhang Tiecheng introduced that the design team thought of a simple solution to solve the problem of anti-fall.
[Concurrent] A Tiecheng of Chinese Arts and Crafts Master, "Golden Inlaid Jade" Medal Design and Producer
It’s the principle of this kind of “pressure cooker ring” that we talk about. It’s a silicone ring. In fact, we opened a one-millimeter O-ring behind the thin side of the medal three millimeters. A groove is actually The metal part of the medal also has a groove, and an O-ring with a diameter of one millimeter and a thickness of one millimeter is inlaid in it. When it is finished, it is stuck on the medal, so as to prevent it from falling down. Completely removed.
Falling flat is actually relatively simple. We added a two-millimeter silicone pad at the bottom to prevent it (flat) from falling down.
[Explanation] Zhang Tiecheng said that in order to find the ultimate anti-fall method, the test process was not only difficult but also "heavy losses."
[Concurrent] A Tiecheng of Chinese Arts and Crafts Master, "Golden Inlaid Jade" Medal Design and Producer
(Experiment) It is as simple as throwing, but for example, it is very difficult for you to make grooves, including grinding discs.
The matching ratio, including its size, is very strict, and it is not so simple to do it like this.
But just like this, we have broken this kind of sapphire medal during the experiment. More than 300 medals have been broken. I have also fallen with white jade before, and sapphire has also fallen. Later, I really can’t afford to fall. If we get it, let's throw sapphire, just replace it with sapphire and we have fallen so much.
[Explanation] Revisiting the experience of designing and producing medals, Zhang Tiecheng said that being able to participate in this work is both stressful and exciting. The design team also has many stories that keep him fresh in his memory.
[Concurrent] A Tiecheng of Chinese Arts and Crafts Master, "Golden Inlaid Jade" Medal Design and Producer
Back then, Mr. Wang Jian and I were very excited and happy to be involved in the design of the medal.
But it is very difficult when it is really done, especially when you are under a lot of psychological pressure and you can't sleep well.
Once I remembered it very clearly, I finished this "circle" and threw it all away, and my hand shivered and fell to the ground. Fortunately, I took a foot pad when I fell.
I said it was broken. At that time, I didn't dare to see if it was broken, because it was taken to the Olympic Organizing Committee in a while, so what if you let people see you broken?
I didn't dare to look at it. Everyone was quiet there for a long time, and no one (dare to look) waited for a long time. I picked it up and took a look. It was all right.
Dong Zeyu reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Lu Yan]