Well-situated in the famed Swiss Alps, Davos, Switzerland, may be the most sophisticated and renowned winter sports destination in the world. And although widely known for being the largest ski resort in Switzerland, Davos has a rich association with the sport of figure skating. For many years, the International Skating Union (ISU) was headquartered in Davos, before the organization relocated to Lausanne. The European Figure Skating Championships and World Figure Skating Championships have been hosted in Davos an impressive 21 times combined, the last being the 1966 World Figure Skating Championships.
If there is never to be another European or World Championship event contested in Davos—which seems likely after a 54-year absence from the city to date—then the pin issued for the 1966 World Championships was an outstanding way to end an impressive run. The pin is among the most beautiful and substantial ever to commemorate an ISU event, showing both the sleekness and smartness of Swiss design that rose to prominence in the 1950s and had its glory days in the 1960s. The Curator of The Netropolitan places the Davos pin as the second-most significant made to mark a World event, the other being the main pin issued for the 1965 World Figure Skating Championships, detailed in this blog.
The pin is among the most beautiful and substantial ever to commemorate an ISU event, showing both the sleekness and smartness of Swiss design…
The large, slightly convex pin—measuring 1-5/8″ in diameter (4.1275 cm)—is on a warm gold base metal with a stylized figure skating pair filled with blue, yellow, and white enamels. One could easily see a gold medal in the shape and design of the pin. The event location and year are marked simply around the circumference: “Davos World’s.” In the gallery below are the main logo pin and a version issued to a judge for the event, which includes a separate pin inscribed “Judge.” It is not known if the identifier was meant to be displayed above or below the main pin, but other pins from the era—which were generally one piece rather than two—typically placed the identifier at the bottom. Accordingly, the Davos pin is displayed that way in the gallery.
Enjoy Swiss Gold. 1966.
