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Jacob and Co. Caviar Tourbillon

After announcing the “Office Supplies” collaboration with Virgil Abloh, Jacob & Co. took to Instagram to show the two founders shaking hands. In the picture, Abloh can be seen wearing a very special watch — a 1-of-3 Jacob & Co. Caviar Flying Tourbillon in Ruby.

The watch lists at a staggering $1.8 million USD (one has been seen trading near the $950,000 USD mark) and features a full 47mm rose gold case that has invisibly-set rubies. The watch contains over 424 stones with a single rose-cut stone placed at the crown, giving the watch a total carat weight of 44.35 ct. At the six o’clock position is Jacob & Co.’s one-minute flying tourbillon that’s part of the manual-winding caliber JCBM05 movement. This Jacob & Co. Caviar Flying Tourbillon watch has a power reserve of 100 hours.

Coming with a green alligator strap and gold tang buckle, Virgil Abloh couldn’t have worn a better statement watch to this partnership signing.
Today, Jacob & Co. Caviar Flying Tourbillon unveiled their latest creation: the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon. After spending nearly a year thoroughly developing a timepiece that honors the legendary Chiron hyper sports and reproduces the sensation of the renowned Bugatti 16-cylinder engine. Designed in a stunning, rich blue shade, the fully transparent sapphire crystal case is inspired by the flowing lines of the Chiron and reveals every aspect of the 578 hand-decorated and hand-assembled components of the JCAM37 manual wound caliber, including the fully functional replica of the Bugatti W16 engine. The case’s design is a true testament to Jacob & Co.’s expertise and high watchmaking as the brand continues to push the boundaries in craftsmanship. The movement powers the timing functions and a 60-second flying tourbillion—which is the same movement that powers the Bugatti W16 engine recreation inside the case. When the automation is activated, the “engine” comes to life with its 16 pistons pumping and two turbochargers spinning—a groundbreaking feature for the timepiece. The Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon features a 30º inclined tourbillon, marking the first time Jacob & Co. has ever used an inclined tourbillon.

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Jacob and Co. Rasputin Tourbillon

The Jacob and Co. Rasputin Tourbillon by Jacob & Co. is a watch with multiple secrets, but to reveal them you first have to break through a seemingly impenetrable barrier of diamonds. The 47.6mm diameter case in 18-carat white gold is fully paved with the stones, from the case band to the bezel, lugs and crown. The case also has a diamond-set slider on the side, which indicates that this watch has a minute repeater function.

But the Jacob and Co. Rasputin Tourbillon is so much more. Fully depress the slider and you will be treated to an audible time signal, broken down into hours, quarters and minutes. Press the slider down slowly and carefully, however, and you will see three baguette rubies set beneath it. If you move the slide just enough to expose these rubies, then release it and depress it fully again, an altogether different secret is revealed. The minute repeater will chime, the two swans in the upper half of the dial will move and a sector that has been hand engraved with a motif resembling curtains (the only part of the watch not covered with diamonds) will open up in the lower half of the dial to reveal a hand-painted erotic scene beneath.
Even without the animations, the dial itself is a work of art. Crafted from 18-carat white gold, it is invisibly set with 188 baguette diamonds arranged diagonally. There is a red heart-shaped ruby (0.70 carats) set between the two swans just below 12 o’clock. A further 178 baguette diamonds are set on the case, 100 on the bezel and 14 on the crown, plus a 1.02-carat diamond cabochon on the end of the crown. The slider is set with 12 baguette diamonds, bringing the total number of diamonds on this piece to a staggering 515, representing an unprecedented 40.28 carats by weight! All of them are IF-VVS clarity and G+ colour, non-fluorescent.

The power for the minute repeater and erotic animation functions, as well as the hour and minute display by the two skeletonised blue leaf-shaped hands, is provided by the Jacob and Co. Rasputin Tourbillon JCAM27 manually-wound movement. It beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour, offers a 50-hour power reserve and has a tourbillon regulator that is visible only through the sapphire crystal case back at 9 o’clock with a mirror-polished carriage, as are the two mirror-polished hammers and the gong for the minute-repeater mechanism. All bridges and all steel components in the movement are straight drawn with polished bevels. The mainplate has a circular graining decoration, while the gear train and balance have a 2N gold coating. The watch is water resistant to 30 metres and is fitted with a black alligator leather strap with 18-carat white-gold folding clasp set with 22 baguette diamonds.

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Frédérique Constant Classics Worldtimer Manufacture

Presented in 2022, the Frédérique Constant Classics Worldtimer Manufacture imposed itself in record-breaking time as one of Frederique Constant most sold timepieces, widely acclaimed by the watchmaking community. A success which shows no sign of abating, today celebrating its 10th anniversary with two very exclusive limited editions: the first in 18-carat pink gold, a production of just 88 watches and the second in steel comprising 1,888 pieces. Dedicated to the art of travel and exploration of the world, they illustrate to perfection the watchmaker’s international history, from the Netherlands to Switzerland, taking in Hong Kong on the way. It is a special creation, dear to Frederique Constant’s history, which itself crosses continents and transcends borders. A true travel icon presented for the first time in 2012, the Classics Worldtimer Manufacture, now a must, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2022. To mark the event, Frederique Constant is now presenting two exclusive limited editions, for the greatest satisfaction of fine watch collectors and fans.
To celebrate this anniversary in a befitting way, Frederique Constant has decided to take a new path and break with traditional watchmaking by offering its icon a journey into Web 3.0: the Classics Worldtimer Manufacture has become an NFT.

An NFT (Non Fungible Token) is a digital asset inside a contract drawn up in a blockchain. It guarantees ownership of a digital asset that can be of any kind: an artistic work, an avatar, a collectible, a musical production, etc. It can be bought and sold in specialised market places, but can also offer exclusive experiences to the holders of these assets (utilities).

The creation of exclusive NFTs of the Frédérique Constant Classics Worldtimer Manufacture will be entrusted to Rarecubes, a Geneva-based studio specialised in blockchain technology. More details will soon be available on the official Frederique Constant website.
The two versions on offer are coloured a deep blue which represents the oceans of the central planisphere, executed in relief and in grey. All around luminescent indexes are applied to ensure perfect readability, even at night – like the hour and minute hands, marked in the same way. To finish the assembly, a white disc displaying 24 cities unfolds on the flange. Finally, at 6 o’clock the date is displayed by a hand on a blue, fine sunray guilloché dial.

The first version, rarer and more prestigious, will be limited to just 88 pieces and offers an 18-carat pink gold case. The second, produced in steel, will be limited to 1,888 pieces. The hands of the hours, minutes and seconds – as well as the contour of the indexes – also elegantly reflect the case, using the same hue. Sharing the same 42 mm diameter, these two timepieces are worn on a navy blue alligator strap with a folding buckle, decorated with the emblematic seal of the Frederique Constant Manufacture, an eternal passport for escape.

How does the Frédérique Constant Classics Worldtimer Manufacture today manage to impose itself in collectors’ hearts? A single question, but several answers, all combined within its new variations.

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Jacob & Co. Jean Bugatti

For their latest expression of horological masterwork, Jacob & Co takes inspiration from the heady, fuel-injected and supercharged world of the automobile. Except the source of inspiration in this instance isn’t the world of Formula 1, or even some sort of theoretical hypercar. No, Jacob & Co. Jean Bugatti has dug into the history books for one of the most interesting and inspired car designers: Jean Bugatti.
Son of Bugatti founder Ettore, it’s unsurprising that automotive design loomed large in his future. But few could have imagined that Jean Bugatti’s designs, like the duotone Type 50, the Type 41 Royale and the incredible Type 57SC Atlantic would become some of the most iconic industrial designs of the modern age, an aerodynamic design of elegance and speed.
It’s this spirit that Jacob & Co. Jean Bugatti has evoked with the Jean Bugatti watch. Created in two versions, white or rose gold, each limited to 57 pieces, this chronograph stands out not just because of the twin flying tourbillons that dominate the bottom of the dial but for the unusual chronograph layout. Rather than the standard array of registers, Jacob & Co has looked to the dash for inspiration. So it is that we’re treated to a retrograde chronograph display, the shorter hand indicating elapsed seconds, and the larger measuring tenths of a second, resulting in a display of whipping retrograde hands across the dial whenever the chronograph is actuated.
On top of that, there’s a digital jumping minute disc nestled between the two tourbillons to record up to 30 minutes. And what about the regular time? Well, that’s handled via the red indicators at the periphery of the dial. As you might have guessed, this level of engineering genius isn’t a simple task, a hunch quickly confirmed by a quick glance at the epic JCFM09 calibre which has the unenviable task of managing energy, torque and tension while keeping accurate time. It took them 470 components and a whopping 92 jewels, but this calibre is an engine that lives up to the Bugatti name.
Comparing yourself to the incomparable Type 57SC Atlantic is not for the faint of heart, and certainly, for a car manufacturer, it would be madness. But for Jacob & Co. Jean Bugatti, it’s a spiritual evocation rather than a literal one. And on this front, they have done a fine job of honoring the designs of Jean Bugatti while keeping true to the spirit of Jacob & Co. Technically peerless and aesthetically accomplished, the Jean Bugatti delivers.

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Jacob and Co. Bugatti Twin Turbo

The unthinkable happened on August 2, 2019, when the magical 300 mph barrier was shattered by the Jacob and Co. Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+.

Driven by Andy Wallace, Le Mans winner and official Bugatti test driver, the Chiron zoomed past 300 mph, topping out at 304.77 mph.

A monumental achievement, the record sets Bugatti apart from the rest of the automotive industry.

Created to celebrate the world’s fastest series production hypercar, the Jacob & Co. Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti 300+ echoes the hypercar’s materials and colors, while introducing a brand-new aesthetic. The black titanium twin triple-axis tourbillon movement includes a decimal minute repeater and a mono-pusher chronograph with reference time. Housed in a forged carbon case, to echo the exposed carbon fiber bodywork of the hypercar, this timepiece is limited to three pieces for the world.

Both Bugatti and Jacob and Co. Bugatti Twin Turbo put a premium on performance, while also emphasizing absolute exclusivity, luxury, unrivalled beauty and exceptional craftsmanship. This new Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti 300+ is no different – the grand complication offers a combination of complications no brand has ever done before, while at the same time it is comfortable and sporty, perfect for everyday wear. Dynamic and supremely comfortable, the Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti 300+ matches Bugatti’s performance and excellence standards, while also fulfilling the Bugatti promise of versatility.
In 2019, Bugatti and Jacob & Co. signed a multi-year partnership to create unique, never-before-seen timepieces. These watches are true to the spirit of both companies, while taking watchmaking to impossible heights.

To inaugurate this partnership led by performance, two timepieces were created. These watches, based on the Twin Turbo Furious and the Epic X Chrono, were directly inspired by the unique design and spirit of Bugatti hypercars.

In 2020, Jacob & Co. and Bugatti introduced the Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti 300+, the Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti La Montre Noir, and the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon.
In the world of watchmaking, the presence of a tourbillon in a watch’s movement places the piece among the elite. Jacob & Co.’s Twin Turbo Furious sets itself apart from this rarified group, incorporating two accelerated triple axis tourbillons into its striking design. The tourbillons work to compensate for the effects of gravity on the precision of the movement.

This grand complication movement is made up of 832 individual parts, incredible to consider that many parts coming together, and amazing to see in action. The twin triple-axis tourbillons are in constant motion, completely visible under the special, curved sapphire crystal.
Minute repeaters are the most prized complications by collectors and they are among the most difficult complications for watchmakers to conceive. Nevertheless, Jacob and Co. Bugatti Twin Turbo sought to push the boundaries of what was considered technically feasible when bringing the Twin Turbo Furious to life. Most minute repeaters conform to the hours, quarter hours and minutes standard, but the Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti 300+ chimes on demand ten-minute intervals after the hours and before the minutes, a decimal repeater that is very rare in high watchmaking. In fact, you can count the number of manufacturers presenting decimal minute repeaters on one hand and have a few fingers left.
With the Twin Turbo Furious, Jacob & Co. goes even further by adding a very specific monopusher chronograph function. Embodying the brand’s determination to always seek new solutions or to create never-before-seen functions, the Twin Turbo Furious chronograph is equipped with a “reference time” indicator. Inspired by pit boards in motor racing, the Twin Turbo Furious reference time display is located in the center of the dial, indicating the difference in seconds in comparison to a reference time
The power reserve is labeled “300+” for this edition of the Twin Turbo Furious, and this is displayed on the dial side at six o’clock. Thanks to an ingenious planetary system comprising a differential gear mechanism, the hand points to a full power reserve on the left, then moves to the right as the 50 hours of reserve winds down. The watch is wound up through the crank placed on the crown at three o’clock.

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Jacob and Co. Gotham City

In 2022, Jacob & Co. partners with Comics powerhouse DC Comics to design an entirely new timepiece. Jacob & Co. Gotham City is a batman-themed watch that draws inspiration from Jacob Arabo’s personal taste and preferences. He is a fan of the Batman, just like Benjamin Arabov, Jacob & Co.’s CEO. This timepiece is the result of deep individual involvement and a symbol of what Batman and Bruce Wayne represent. In the mind of creator Bob Kane, vertical and dark Gotham City is a stand-in for New York City, whence Jacob & Co. was created and operates.

The Jacob & Co. Gotham City is destined for a Jacob & Co. audience that also relates to his secret identity : that of a playboy billionaire, nonchalant and gifted with extremely good taste. The duality of the comic’s character invented by Bob Kane is furthered in the Gotham City. The 18K Rose gold version of the Gotham City is edited as a 36-piece limited series. Like the town it’s named after, Jacob & Co. Gotham City is an architectural construction. Its movement, its case, its layered structure are the result of a comprehensive and advanced design process. It goes beyond aesthetics to enter the realm of symbolism. Every part of the watch, be it visible or hidden, carries meaning. A symbolic capsule, it honors both Batman and Bruce Wayne, and everything they stand for.

The crown is covered with a rubber band shaped like the Batmobile’s tires. The shape of the lugs is meant to resemble the Batsuit’s multi-faceted design. The flying tourbillon cages are shaped like grappling hooks. And prominently, the central part of the dial is cut from a slab of back onyx and shaped like the Batman’s emblem. Highlighted by a neoralithe outline which glows blue in the dark, this is a tribute to the BatSignal. Calibre JCFM10 features off-centered hours and minutes, a power reserve topping out at 48 hours and is regulated by twin, flying, sequential, triple-axis tourbillons located at 5 and 7 o’clock. Its highly advanced technical nature is on par with the technological array of tools, devices, machines and equipment Batman has at his disposal.

This 382-component calibre is also part of a broader ambition. Much like everything that composes this timepiece, its design is a tribute to symbols and features of the Batman. The way the tourbillon cages are designed, the bat-shaped bridge that occupies the most part of the movement’s back, all carry meaning and participate in making this timepiece a creation halfway between the Dark Knight’s toolkit and Bruce Wayne’s attire. Calibre JCFM10 features a pair of triple-axis, sequential, flying, high-speed tourbillons. Each one of them rotates along three different axes. Each axis drives a separate cage. The first, outermost one makes a full turn in 180 seconds, the second one in 24 seconds and the third one, closest to the 3 Hz balance wheel, in 48 seconds. Compared to the traditional one-minute rotation of a flat tourbillon, and to many multi-axis tourbillons, 24 and 48 seconds are very high figures. This explains why Jacob & Co. calls them high-speed tourbillons.

Mounted on the wheel that drives the tourbillon, a spring accumulates energy to allow the cages to jump forward. They don’t just move in small incremental moves, but large ones, creating a series of sequential, very visible moves, with pauses in between.

The tourbillons inside calibre JCFM10 have no upper bridge. Their only grounding in the black-chromium mainplate happens underneath, which makes them flying tourbillons.

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Jacob and Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon

The Jacob and Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon is the most recent exercise in extreme automotive engineering from Bugatti, and for car lovers, it seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it proposition. I had an opportunity to experience the Veyron when it first came out, and although I am pretty sure I am as far from its target demographic as it is possible to be and still be a member of the species H. sapiens, I thought it was a ton (well, two tons and change, to be more exact) of fun, and I am glad that it exists. I feel the same way about watchmaking from Jacob & Co. The company continues to practice a kind of watchmaking which at one point many were attempting and at which few succeeded: Maximalist, irrepressibly over-the-top timepieces which were time-telling instruments only incidentally. These were and are wrist-mounted mechanical fantasies that have, perhaps, more in common with mechanical entertainments like automatons than with conventional watches.

The recent partnership between Bugatti and Jacob & Co. has just given birth to one of the most exuberantly diverting watches I have seen in a long while: the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon. The Chiron is an exercise in pure excess – the centerpiece of the car is its huge, mid-chassis mounted 8-liter W16 engine, which puts out – hold onto your knickers, Gertrude – 1,479 horsepower and easily propels the car to its electronically limited top speed of 261 miles per hour. (HODINKEE’s James Stacey has driven the Veyron and tells me it could find 200kph in fourth gear “on any on-ramp, no exaggeration.”) The Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon, natürlich, is also an exercise in pure excess. Albert Einstein’s theory of Special Relativity came about from asking a very simple but penetrating question: “What would the world look like if you rode on a beam of light?” The Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon, likewise, came about from asking an equally simple and penetrating question: “What would you get if you made a miniature, working mechanical model of the W16 engine in the Bugatti Chiron, and put it in a watch, oh, and we should probably throw a tourbillon in there, and don’t forget the turbochargers?” What you get is the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon. As the saying goes, “Just What It Says On The Tin.” This is indeed a tourbillon watch, of Brobdingnagian heft and Herculean impact – 54mm x 44mm. But then, the basic dimensions dwindle into insignificance when considered next to the actual watch. The case is occupied by the caliber JCAM37, hand-wound, with a tourbillon regulator and an honest-to-Betsy working W16 engine inside, which takes up at least half the volume of the case. You push an actuator on the side of the case, and the crankshaft turns, pistons move, and miniature turbochargers begin to rotate. If there were ever a watch that demanded to be seen in action to be appreciated, this is it. It is a truism that you can only go so far judging a watch from a photograph without seeing it in the metal; it is absolutely true that to get a sense of the impact of this watch, you have to see it doing its thing.
There is a famous line in the movie Jurassic Park, in which the chaos mathematician Ian Malcolm reproves the dinosaur-maker, shouting, “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should!” Of course, the fact of the matter is, the moment you see the T. rex, you’re on the side of the dinosaur makers – institutional ethics review boards be damned, making a dinosaur is cool. I kind of feel the same way about this watch. Certainly, there is no reason for it to exist; inarguably it is as damnably indefensible a way to blow a quarter of a million bucks as the Chiron is to blow four (or more, at that point, though, who’s counting?).

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Jacob and Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon Baguette

Sometimes owning a multi-million-dollar supercar isn’t enough. Some folks also need a diamond-encrusted replica of the engine mounted on their wrist as well. This is why Jacob & Co.’s Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon Baguette Black and Orange Sapphires watch exists.
In partnership with Bugatti, noted luxury watch brand Jacob & Co. has just released a highly technical watch inspired by the absurdly powerful Bugatti Chiron. The tourbillon houses a blinged-out miniature reproduction of the Chiron’s W16-cylinder engine.

Sporting 190 baguette white diamonds, 169 baguette black sapphires, and 42 baguette orange sapphires invisibly set in an 18k white gold case. To properly fix the stones in the case, Jacob & Co. stated that the get-setters used new proprietary techniques and advanced technologies.

The 55mm by 44mm case sports the similar flowing lines of the Chiron and a few Bugatti logos to make the watch’s inspiration clear. Inside the case is a replica of the Chiron’s 1,500 horsepower 8.0-liter 16-cylinder engine, with 16 tiny pistons and a steel crankshaft that actually move as they do in the real engine. To complete the illusion, two turbochargers spin in tandem with the cylinders (two less than the actual car, but likely two more superchargers than you’re wearing right now). Framing the engine are two “exhausts” which complete the theme.
It’s equipped with Jacob and Co.’s 578-component JCAM37 manual winding movement, which is suspended in four places with parts reminiscent of the Chiron’s automobile shocks. The shocks are visible through the sapphire crystal window and provide a 60-hour power reserve that’s indicated by the gas pump symbol on the side of the gauge (because why not).

Even the crowns pay homage to the famed supercar. Set into the back of the case like exhaust pipes, the left crown sets the time, the middle crown winds both the movement and the engine animation, and the right-hand crown starts the animation.
Yes, it is an extremely gaudy and intricate timepiece, but if you’re a Bugatti fan, subtlety is probably not your thing anyway. While most people aren’t in the market for a watch in this price range, it is a beautiful example of artwork, engineering, and design. Just like the car that serves as its inspiration.

If black and orange sapphires aren’t your thing, the watch is also available in black, blue, or grey titanium, rose gold, and diamond baguette versions as well as one with a case made entirely out of a single block of sapphire crystal.

Jacob & Co.’s Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon Baguette Black and Orange Sapphires is going for $560,000, which is a steal compared to the 3 million dollar supercar on which it’s based. Good thing you loaded up on all that Dogecoin.

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Jacob and Co. Bugatti Chiron Sapphire Crystal

Few names command as much respect as Bugatti. In the automotive world, and for most luxury lifestyle blogs, the brand is the definition of performance, luxury, excess, style, and exclusivity. Crafted individually by hand and styled as a unique work of art unto itself, Bugatti transcends the idea of a car, sports car, or even a hypercar and breaks into its own halcyon tier where it only has to compete and reference itself. It can be said that, in the realm of watches and, particularly, one-of-a-kind timepieces, Jacob & Co. has much the same tradition and reputation. Thus, when Bugatti’s Veyron ended its run in 2016, there was little doubt that the successor vehicle would be anything less than pushing the envelope even further than Bugatti had done before. Now that the Chiron is nearing its 500 unit production run, Bugatti is tasked yet again with showing the world the limits of performance, the heights of design, and the embodiment of art in motion that their vehicles symbolize. To help the company commemorate the end of such a legendary run, horological masters Jacob & Co. are honoring the Chiron’s legacy with a one-off piece of art in the form of the Jacob and Co. Bugatti Chiron Sapphire Crystal. And, like the car it honors, the watch itself will not come cheap; in fact, at $1.5 million, the watch is almost as much of a statement about luxury as the car that inspires it. Part jewelry, part expertly-engineered timepiece, the Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal is a striking example of the craftsmanship at work at Jacob & Co. whose partnership with the Bugatti brand is well-documented. In essence, Bugatti wanted a watch that evoked the spirit and engineering of the Chiron and Jacob and Co. Bugatti Chiron Sapphire Crystal are the world’s experts at demonstrating artisanal excellence with a artist’s eye for details and styling. The watch is notably similar to other examples from Jacob & Co. except for one major difference: The construction of the case in this piece uses a transparent gemstone material instead of metal. This can be seen in the tonneau itself which transitions from a deep blue color around the base to a crystal clear at the top. Utilizing the Jacob & Co. JCAM37 manual caliber, the main attraction here is a complication resembling the engine of the hypercar that inspires it. The blue sapphire and contrasting metal accents further underpin the hypercar aesthetic while also imbuing the entire piece with a traditional automotive vibe. Designed from the top-down with the end collector in mind, the watch invites appreciation with a transparent case that allows you to examine the intricate inner workings of the timepiece. For collectors that love to show off their wrist candy, or those of us that appreciate the construction and quality that goes into such a product, the Jacob and Co. Bugatti Chiron Sapphire Crystal is an excellent demonstration of horology as art. Interestingly, Jacob & Co. opted for a white silicon rubber strap for the wrist that mirrors the automotive theme while also tying the rest of the design’s elements together in a cohesive fashion.

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Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date

The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date is currently the premium option if you’re craving the squared-case and seventies-inspired Seventies collection. Slightly redesigned, finely improved and also offered in two exclusive limited series, including a vivid yellow-dialled model, the new Chronograph Panorama Date epitomizes the brand’s expertise in crafting rugged and refined integrated chronograph movements and works as its flagship in the fiercely-competitive luxury sports segment.
I like its design and believe it’s well-conceived; nonetheless, square cases are often polarizing. The TV Screen inspired case is smoothened, with rounded edges and pushbuttons; yet it’s quintessentially Saxon, as you can tell by the logo, the applied indexes, the font. It measures 40 x 40 mm and sports a 14-millimetre thickness, which proves as a constraint to many enthusiasts who’ll love to wrap a chronograph this refined around their tiny wrist.
By taking a quick look at the dial, you’ll spot all the main functions provided; at six o’clock is the signature Panorama Date; alone, it is a statement that this is a Saxon-made luxury timepiece and a feature you won’t easily find elsewhere. The pleasant, well-organized layout includes three counters, despite looking like a two-register chronograph instead. At twelve, a tiny arch works as a 12-hour counter, while the two oversized central registers elapse, left to right, the running seconds, and the first 30 chronograph minutes. In the running seconds’ counter, you’ll spot the power reserve indicator. The only feature you won’t discover that quickly is the integrated Flyback function.
The blue dial is, as usual, manufactured in the Pforzheim headquarters; as with previous iterations, we’re familiar with the superior Glashütte Original Sixties collection’s craftsmanship, proved by several examples of their mastery in producing unique palettes and patterns. Overall, the execution is top-notch inside and out and flawless.
The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date mechanical movement is a close call to the most demanding and expert watch connoisseur. The 37-02 is an integrated chronograph with a Flyback function, a remarkable 70 hours power reserve, big date complication all encompassed with details and finishes you’ll hardly find in this class of products. The execution includes the Glashütte ribbon-finished bridges, a (fine) swan neck regulating system and a skeletonized rotor with oscillating weight crafted in solid 21-karat gold.
In this regard, the Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date is a class of its own and the only sports chronograph in this price range with such refinement and engineering. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the only letdown is its size; the brand design philosophy is about building solid and long-lasting calibres, which won’t usually come with ultra-slim mechanical movements.
The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date comes in three options; you can choose it with a nubuck leather strap, a more traditional Louisiana alligator leather, a rubber strap or, finally, a steel bracelet. Unfortunately, you’re not offered a quick-change strap; it’s not possible to swap from one to another at the push of a button.