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Jacob & Co
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Jacob & Co. is an American privately held jewelry and wristwatch retailer founded in 1986 by diamond designer Jacob Arabo.[1] Its flagship boutique and corporate headquarters are located in Manhattan, New York City.[2]

Key Information

History

[edit]

After graduating early from a jewelry design course in 1981 in New York City, Jacob Arabo opened a small booth in New York City's Diamond District, where he began designing for jewelry labels and private clients.[3][4] In 1986, Arabo opened his own company, called "Diamond Quasar," and began designing under his own label, named "Jacob & Co."[3][4] The brand quickly gained popularity in New York and was able to expand its business to the luxury watchmaking industry in 2002.[5]

By the early 1990s, he had established his own kiosk in New York's Diamond District and his innovative jewels caught the attention of the late rapper Notorious B.I.G., who gave him the moniker "Jacob the Jeweler," and introduced him to his entertainment friends.[6]

The jeweler started collaborating with entertainers on custom designs. In the 1990s he was one of the first jewelers to create big diamond jewels for men, a trend that is mainstream today.[6]

Hip-Hop stars who were Arabo's clients included Sean "Puffy" Combs, Biz, Jay-Z, Drake, 50 Cent, and Big Sean.[7] His clientele expanded to various well-known entertainers and athletes, including Madonna, Rihanna, Pharrell, Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek, Sofia Vergara, Michael Jordan, and Mariah Carey.[8]

With his success in the jewelry business, Arabo turned to watches. In 2002, he created a quartz watch collection called the Five Time Zone that combined bold primary colors and with multiple time zone technology that attracted men and women. It was inspired by his clients' jet-setting lifestyle and became both a fashion statement and a usable timepiece for those who travel. Naomi Campbell, Bono, Angela Bassett and Derek Jeter were among international celebrities wearing the watch.[9]

Milestones

[edit]
  • 2002: Jacob & Co. unveiled the quartz-powered Five Time Zone watch collection with colorful, contemporary dials, interchangeable bezels and interchangeable straps. It was both a fashion statement and a usable world time zone watch.[9]
  • 2004: Jacob & Co. moved from the diamond district to a flagship boutique at 57th Street and Park Avenue.[10]
  • 2007: Arabo founded Jacob & Co. SA in Geneva, Switzerland, and introduced his first high-watchmaking timepiece, the Quenttin, the first watch to have a vertical tourbillon and a 31-day power reserve, at the time the world's longest power reserve.[11]
  • 2011: Jacob & Co.'s first brand ambassador, Chinese martial arts action star and director, Donnie Yen.[12]
  • 2012: Supermodel and actress, Milla Jovovich, became the next Jacob & Co. ambassador. The announcement was made at a reception during Baselworld 2012, the international watch and jewelry show in Switzerland.[13]
  • 2013: Jacob & Co. unveiled the Epic SF24, the first watch with a patented Split-Flap world time zone display.[14] The same year football star, Cristiano Ronaldo, was named as a Jacob & Co.'s ambassador to promote the Ghost Five Time Zone timepiece collection.[15]
  • 2014: Jacob & Co. introduced the celestial themed Astronomia Tourbillon, unveiled to the watch industry trade at Baselworld 2013. It featured an exposed vertical movement with four arms that rotate around a central gear in 20 minutes. On one arm is a magnesium lacquered globe of the Earth and on the opposite arm is an exclusive 288-facet 1-carat diamond known as the "Jacob Cut" that represents the Moon. Each satellite rotates on its own axis. The other two arms have a triple-axis gravitational tourbillon and a dial display with a differential gear system that maintains the proper 12-6 o'clock position as the movement rotates within the case.[16] Arabo called the Astronomia "revolutionary" and the "most important" Jacob & Co. watch.[17]
  • 2015: Jacob & Co. unveiled the Billionaire watch with a price tag of $18 million.[18] The 18k white gold case and bracelet was covered with 260 carats of diamonds, with each individual gem weighing 3 carats each.[17] It was purchased by professional boxer Floyd Mayweather in 2018.[19]
  • 2016: Jacob & Co. unveiled the Astronomia Sky, which introduced new complications of celestial inspiration to the Astronomia including a sidereal display, vertical month display, zodiac signs, day and night indication, as well as a celestial panorama, orbital second indication and a Jacob Cut diamond Moon;[20] and the Twin Turbo, the first watch to combine a twin triple axis tourbillon and a minute repeater, in a distinctly shaped case with sports allure.[21]
    • The same year the company opened a branded boutique in Dubai, UAE.[22]
  • 2017: Jacob & Co. unveiled the Astronomia Solar Planets Jewelry, which displays the precious planets of the Solar System as Jacob Cut, 288-facet gemstone spheres[23]
  • 2018: Jacob & Co. expanded upon the Twin Turbo with the Twin Turbo Furious, the first watch to combine a twin triple-axis tourbillon, decimal minute repeater, monopusher chronograph, and a time difference calculator.[24]
    • The same year, the company opened a branded store in Geneva.[25] and unveiled a new partnership with Lionel Messi, with limited-edition versions of the Epic X Chrono timepiece that incorporated Messi's professional signatures, such as the colors of the flag of Argentina, Messi's famous number 10, his stylized "M" logo, and his signature on the caseback.[26]
  • 2019: The year saw two more partnerships for Jacob & Co. The first was with French hyper sports car manufacturer, Bugatti, where they developed customized versions of the Jacob & Co. Epic X Chrono and Twin Turbo Furious timepieces.[27] Then they collaborated on a new watch, released in 2020, the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon, designed to emulate the Bugatti Chiron hyper sports car. Its movement includes a fully working engine animation designed to replicate the Bugatti W16 engine and a newly designed case inspired by the body of the Chiron.[28]
    • The second partnership was with Paramount Pictures, where the two entities collaborated on the Godfather Musical watch. A built-in musical complication plays the first 120 notes of The Godfather theme song while the watch contains artistic replicas of details from the film.[29]
    • The luxury brand also unveiled the Astronomia Casino, which features a fully operational miniature roulette wheel;[30] and the Mystery Tourbillon, the first watch to feature two linked central triple axis tourbillons placed back to back in the center of a gem-encrusted dial.[31]
    • In the same year, Jacob & Co. expanded its network of stores with points-of-sale in Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok.[32][33] The following year Jacob & Co. opened a second boutique in Beijing.[34]
  • In 2020, Jacob & Co. added five partnerships. The first was with NBC/Universal where the two companies created the Opera Scarface Musical watch, which contains the music and iconography from the movie, Scarface.[35]
    • The next was with menswear designer, Virgil Abloh, for a line of gold and diamond paperclip jewelry called "Office Supplies."[36]
    • Then Jacob & Co. partnered with American skateboarding lifestyle brand, Supreme, for an exclusively designed Four Time Zone watch.[37]
    • The fourth partnership was with UFC Champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, for a line of Epic X Chrono watches that incorporated Khabib's professional signatures, including his undefeated record, his nickname "The Eagle" and his unique Papakha headpiece.[38]
    • The fifth partnership was with explorer and environmental activist Johan Ernst Nilson. Together they launched the Astronomia Explorer, a watch that recreates Nilson's most iconic adventures with water from the North and South and a rock from the Himalayas with the Astronomia four-arm vertical movement and above a celestial base. The watch was designed to raise awareness of the dangers facing our planet.[39]
  • 2021: Jacob & Co. became the first luxury watch brand to sell an NFT with a digital version of the SF24 Tourbillon travel watch that fetched $100,000 and became the first luxury watch brand that accepts cryptocurrency.[40]
    • The same year, Jacob & Co. released the Astronomia Maestro Worldtime, the first watch with a minute repeater carillon chiming complication and a Worldtime complication.[41]
    • The luxury brand also unveiled three Twin Turbo Furious models with fully transparent sapphire crystal cases and a decimal minute repeater, the first watch to include these two distinct features.[42]
    • The company partnered with Universal Pictures to produce the Fast & Furious Twin Turbo, which takes the timepiece created to emulate high-performance sports cars and merges it with the iconic symbols inspired by one of the most popular movie franchises of all time - Fast & Furious.[43]
    • The same year, Jacob & Co. entered into an agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC to produce a new collection of Batman-inspired timepieces.[44]
    • Also in the same year, Jacob & Co. partnered with graffiti artist, Alec Monopoly to create the Astronomia Alec Monopoly, which places miniature sculptures of Monopoly's iconic pop culture creations.[45]
  • 2022: Jacob & Co. moved its Geneva boutique from the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues to a two-story dedicated space at Rue du Rhône.[citation needed]
  • 2025:
    • In February 2025, Jacob & Co. opened its first store in Seoul, South Korea.[46]
    • The company announced Jacob & Co. Beachfront Living by Ohana, a residential project in partnership with UAE-based Ohana Development, located in Al Jurf between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.[47][48]

Awards and recognition

[edit]

In 2006, the Jacob & Co. Five Time Zone - "The World is Yours” watch won the Travel + Leisure Design Award.[49]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jacob & Co

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Jacob & Co. is an American luxury jewelry and watchmaking brand founded in 1986 by in New York City's Diamond District, renowned for its bold, innovative designs that blend high-end gem-setting with groundbreaking mechanical complications inspired by extraordinary concepts such as and supercars. The company was established by Arabo, who immigrated to the from the former as a teenager and developed a passion for jewelry design after receiving a watch as a at age 13, leading him to drop out of high school at 16 to pursue formal training in the craft. After honing his skills in the Diamond District, Arabo launched the brand at age 21, initially focusing on custom diamond jewelry before expanding into timepieces that emphasize creativity, risk-taking, and technical innovation as one of the few American houses in the Swiss-dominated luxury watch industry. Jacob & Co. gained prominence in the 1990s and 2000s through its association with hip-hop culture and celebrity clientele, earning Arabo the nickname "Jacob the Jeweler" for crafting extravagant, diamond-encrusted pieces that symbolized success and excess. The brand's timepieces, such as the Astronomia Tourbillon—a space-themed watch with rotating planetary satellites and a differential hour display—and the Bugatti Tourbillon, which reinterprets the automaker's engineering in horological form, exemplify its commitment to "inspired by the impossible" aesthetics and complications like triple-axis tourbillons. High jewelry collections, including the Billionaire series such as the Billionaire III set with 129 carats of white diamonds, further highlight its expertise in lavish, one-of-a-kind creations. Under Arabo's continued leadership as Chairman and Creative Director as of 2025, with his son Benjamin Arabov as CEO, the company has grown into a global entity with boutiques worldwide, more than doubling revenue between 2020 and 2022 amid surging demand for its disruptive luxury offerings.

History

Founding

, born Yakov Arabov in 1965 in , (then part of the ), grew up in a Bukharian Jewish family. His early fascination with timepieces began at age 13 when his father gifted him a world time watch, sparking a lifelong passion for horology and jewelry design. Seeking better opportunities, Arabo's family immigrated to the from the former USSR, where he immersed himself in the craft by apprenticing as a during his first summer and receiving formal jewelry training through an immigrant program. While working at a jewelry factory for $125 per week, honed his skills by independently designing pieces after hours in his bedroom, drawing on influences from the New York where he learned the intricacies of the trade. This hands-on experience laid the groundwork for his entrepreneurial venture. In , at the age of 21, founded Jacob & Co. as a luxury jewelry brand in New York City's , starting with a modest workshop that emphasized bold, custom designs for an emerging clientele. Initially operating under the corporate name Diamond Quasar, the brand quickly established itself through 's innovative approach to diamond setting, marking the beginning of its rise in the high-end market.

Key Milestones

Jacob & Co. was established in 1986 by in New York City's Diamond District, initially focusing on high-end jewelry designs that quickly attracted attention from celebrities and affluent clients for their bold, innovative aesthetics. The brand's early success laid the foundation for its expansion beyond jewelry, emphasizing craftsmanship with rare gems and custom pieces that became synonymous with luxury and exclusivity. In 2002, Jacob & Co. marked a pivotal shift by entering the horology market with the launch of its first watch collection, the Five Time Zone. This quartz-powered timepiece, featuring sub-dials for major global cities like New York, , , and , revolutionized multi-time-zone displays and appealed to international travelers and high-profile figures, establishing the brand's reputation in watchmaking. The introduction not only diversified the product line but also positioned Jacob & Co. as an innovator in accessible yet luxurious complications. The 2014 debut of the Astronomia at represented a technical breakthrough, showcasing a revolutionary four-arm movement with a tri-axial , gravitational and lunar indicators, and a diamond-set time display—all rotating within a 50mm case. Developed in collaboration with master watchmaker Luca Soprana, this space-inspired creation highlighted Jacob & Co.'s commitment to pushing horological boundaries, earning acclaim for its engineering complexity and becoming one of the brand's most iconic models. A major strategic milestone occurred in 2019 when Jacob & Co. announced a multi-year partnership with at , uniting haute horlogerie with automotive engineering to produce limited-edition watches inspired by Bugatti's hypercars. This collaboration culminated in the 2020 release of the , featuring a sculptural movement mimicking the car's , with a flying , central hours, retrograde minutes, and power reserve, further elevating the brand's prestige in the luxury sector. The partnership continued with the June 2024 release of the , a limited edition of 250 pieces inspired by Bugatti's new hypercar, featuring a 30-second flying and a skeletalized movement evoking the . By 2023, Jacob & Co. reported a remarkable 132% increase from 2020 to 2022, fueled by surging demand for its high-complication watches amid a booming luxury market, underscoring the brand's sustained growth and global appeal. This financial milestone reflected the enduring impact of its innovative designs and strategic alliances. In 2025, Jacob & Co. introduced the Astronomia Revolution Fourth Dimension at Watch Days, featuring the world's first four-axis , further pushing the boundaries of mechanical complications.

Leadership

Jacob Arabo

, born in 1965 in , (then part of the ), emigrated with his family to the in 1979 at the age of 14, seeking better opportunities. The family settled in , New York, where Arabo's parents had also immigrated from the former USSR. Upon arrival, Arabo quickly entered the jewelry trade, beginning his apprenticeship with a during his first summer in America at age 14. By 16, he was formally apprenticed to a jeweler, spending his teenage years honing skills in the craft and eventually designing his own pieces. In 1986, at age 21, Arabo founded Jacob & Co. in New York City's Diamond District, starting from a modest kiosk and focusing on bold, custom jewelry that appealed to emerging celebrities in the hip-hop and entertainment worlds. Known as "Jacob the Jeweler," he gained prominence in the late 1990s for crafting extravagant pieces, such as diamond-encrusted watches and chains, favored by artists like "Puffy" Combs and , earning him the nickname "king of bling." His designs emphasized creativity and the "impossible," blending high-end watchmaking with opulent gemstones, which propelled the brand's expansion into luxury timepieces and international retail. Arabo's career faced significant challenges in the mid-2000s when he was indicted in 2006 by a on charges of for a Detroit-based cocaine distribution network linked to the . In 2007, he entered a plea deal with federal prosecutors, admitting to filing a false document and to investigators during the inquiry. As a result, in 2008, Arabo was sentenced to 30 months in prison, serving his time before returning to the business. Despite this setback, he rebuilt the company's reputation, establishing a watchmaking workshop in and fostering long-term relationships with global figures in sports and music. Today, serves as Founder and Chairman of Jacob & Co., having transitioned day-to-day leadership to his son, Benjamin Arabov, who became CEO in . Under his ongoing influence, the brand has doubled its revenue in recent years, emphasizing innovative, high-complication watches while maintaining its signature flamboyant style.

Current Management

Jacob Arabo serves as the Founder and Chairman of Jacob & Co., where he continues to oversee the brand's creative direction and innovation in luxury jewelry and timepieces. Having established the company in 1986, Arabo remains actively involved in guiding its artistic vision and high-complication designs, such as the Astronomia collection. Benjamin Arabov, son of Jacob Arabo, holds the position of Chief Executive Officer, a role he assumed in 2021 to lead the company's operational and strategic growth. Under his leadership, Jacob & Co. has doubled its revenue within two years (2020-2022) and expanded its global presence, including the opening of a boutique in Seoul, South Korea, in late 2024 with a grand event in February 2025. Arabov, with a background in marketing and data analytics from Pace University, focuses on disrupting the luxury watch market through innovative strategies and aims to position the brand among the top 10 global watchmakers as of 2025. In October 2025, under his direction, the company ventured into branded residences with a partnership for beachfront living developments. The executive team also includes key roles such as Faith Wall as Director of Licensing, who manages brand partnerships and extensions, and Apollinaria Bakhanova in a regional director capacity to support international operations. This structure emphasizes a blend of family legacy and modern business acumen to sustain Jacob & Co.'s reputation for extravagant, luxury goods.

Products

Jewelry

Jacob & Co.'s fine jewelry line emphasizes bold, innovative designs that blend extravagance with craftsmanship, often featuring lavish gem-setting in high-end materials such as 18-karat gold and exceptional . Founded as a jewelry in , the company has maintained a focus on creating unique, statement pieces that push the boundaries of traditional luxury jewelry, drawing from Jacob Arabo's vision of transforming radical ideas into . The collections typically incorporate white and colored , emeralds, and other precious stones, with an emphasis on one-of-a-kind or limited-edition items that appeal to celebrities and collectors seeking exclusivity. Key collections include the Lucky You line, inspired by koi motifs symbolizing prosperity and resilience, featuring elements like pendants in enamel and gems, and the Papillon series inspired by designs rendered in intricate and work. The Love Lockdown collection offers romantic hand-cuff themed pendants and bracelets, symbolizing enduring bonds through secure, diamond-encrusted clasps. Other notable lines, such as the Collection, pay homage to cinematic themes with bold, masculine elements like chain necklaces and rings in yellow accented by baguette diamonds. These pieces are designed in New York and handcrafted in , prioritizing innovation in gem placement and to achieve dramatic visual impact. The jewelry offerings include pieces from notable collaborations (see Collaborations section). Standout individual pieces include the Brilliant Riviera Necklace, centered on a 54.03-carat brilliant-cut white diamond flanked by a classic riviera arrangement, and the Queen's Diamond Ring, showcasing a central round-cut diamond for timeless elegance.

Watches

Jacob & Co. entered the realm of high-end watchmaking in the early 2000s, transitioning from its roots in luxury jewelry to create timepieces renowned for their bold designs and technical audacity. The brand's inaugural watch, the Five Time Zone launched in 2001, featured a quartz movement displaying five international time zones on a single dial, marking a departure from traditional horology toward accessible yet innovative functionality. This model established Jacob & Co.'s signature style of combining gemstone embellishments with practical complications, appealing to a clientele seeking statement pieces rather than understated elegance. In 2006, the Quenttin collection introduced Jacob & Co.'s first mechanical masterpiece, incorporating a vertical and a 31-day power reserve in an 18-karat gold case, priced at $360,000 upon release. This watch demonstrated the brand's ambition to push boundaries in complications, utilizing traditional Swiss techniques while incorporating unconventional like diamond-set bezels. By 2007, Jacob & Co. established its Geneva-based operations, enabling deeper collaboration with master watchmakers and elevating its mechanical prowess. The move solidified the brand's position in haute horlogerie, with subsequent models emphasizing skeletal architectures and visible mechanics to showcase intricate engineering. The Astronomia collection, debuted in 2014, exemplifies Jacob & Co.'s innovative spirit through its gravity-defying tourbillon that rotates on multiple axes, accompanied by rotating elements including Earth, a diamond, and a differential hour display orbiting the central axis—completing a full revolution every 20 minutes. Limited to just 18 pieces annually, this model integrates lacquered titanium cases and sapphire crystals, blending astronomical themes with high-jewelry elements like hand-engraved planetary details. Other notable lines include the Epic X, a sporty skeletonized chronograph with a patented vertical movement display, and the Bugatti Tourbillon collaborations, such as the 2020 Chiron edition in black titanium mimicking the supercar's dashboard aesthetics with an engine block automaton and power reserve indicator. In 2025, new releases included the Astronomia Solar Dragon, featuring zodiac elements and planetary orbits, and the Billionaire Ashoka with Ashoka-cut diamonds. Jacob & Co.'s watches often feature proprietary complications, such as the Opera's Godfather-inspired model with a chiming mechanism playing the film's theme and a laser-etched portrait, or the Billionaire series' invisible diamond settings housing twin tourbillons. These pieces prioritize visual drama and customization, with cases frequently crafted from precious metals and adorned with rare gems, reflecting the brand's evolution from innovations to mechanical extravagance. In recent years, watch revenue has driven significant growth, outpacing jewelry sales and fueling expansions into new limited editions.

Collaborations

Brand Partnerships

Jacob & Co. has established a reputation for strategic collaborations with luxury brands across automotive, entertainment, fashion, and sports sectors, often resulting in limited-edition timepieces, jewelry, and lifestyle products that blend innovative design with cultural icons. These partnerships emphasize exclusivity and craftsmanship, leveraging the partner's heritage to create items that appeal to high-end collectors. One of the brand's most prominent collaborations is with , initiated in 2019 to produce hypercar-inspired watches. The partnership has yielded models like the Tourbillon and Bugatti Tourbillon, featuring elements such as skeletonized dials mimicking engine components and materials drawn from Bugatti's engineering, with production limited to reflect the cars' rarity. By 2023, the collaboration extended to custom vehicle designs, including a Super Sport styled by Jacob & Co. founder . In the entertainment industry, Jacob & Co. has partnered with Paramount Pictures for officially licensed timepieces tied to cinematic franchises. The Opera Godfather collection, launched in collaboration with the studio, incorporates motifs from the film series, such as the iconic horsehead necklace, into mechanical tourbillon watches limited to 99 pieces each. Similar deals include Scarface-inspired designs and a Batman collection with Warner Bros., featuring bat-signal engravings and dark-themed aesthetics on Astronomia models. Fashion and lifestyle partnerships highlight Jacob & Co.'s expansion beyond horology. In 2025, the brand teamed with Loewe to launch sapphire and diamond-encrusted headphones priced at $135,000, marking a fusion of audio luxury with jewelry expertise. Earlier, a collaboration with , the creative label of artist , reinterpreted the daisy emblem into jewelry and accessories crafted in Jacob & Co.'s signature style. Additionally, a 2025 alliance with ONIRO Group introduced high-end furniture designs, combining the brands' commitments to innovation and opulence. Sports endorsements include a 2024 local partnership with Manchester City Football Club, producing co-branded limited-edition watches that celebrate club milestones and integrate soccer-inspired elements into mechanisms. In the luxury goods space, Jacob & Co. collaborated with La Aurora Cigars on a collection merging watchmaking with premium tobacco accessories, emphasizing shared values of perfection and tradition. Other notable ties involve MAD Paris for customized chronographs and artist for graffiti-infused timepieces, jewelry, and even whisky bottles.

Celebrity Endorsements

Jacob & Co. has cultivated a strong presence in the luxury market through high-profile associations with celebrities across , and , often involving custom timepieces and public displays that amplify the brand's image of opulence and innovation. These endorsements, ranging from official collaborations to prominent wearings at major events, have helped position Jacob & Co. as a favorite among elites seeking , diamond-encrusted jewelry and watches. In the sports world, soccer icon has maintained a longstanding partnership with Jacob & Co., spanning over two decades and culminating in the launch of an exclusive luxury watch collection in October 2024. This collaboration underscores Ronaldo's role as a key brand ally, with custom pieces reflecting his personal style and global influence. Similarly, NFL legend has collaborated on unique timepieces, including the one-of-a-kind Twin Turbo Furious Tom Brady Edition unveiled in July 2025, priced at $650,000 and featuring a manual-wind movement with dual independent inspired by high-performance engineering. Brady further highlighted the brand by wearing the $740,000 Caviar with yellow sapphires—adorned with 424 gems—at in February 2025. Bollywood superstar represents Jacob & Co.'s expansion into international cinema, with a dedicated collaboration announced in March 2025 for the limited-edition "The World Is Yours" Dual Time Zone watch. This piece, honoring themes of global unity and Khan's heritage, features a design that blends the actor's bold persona with the brand's signature flair, reinforcing Jacob & Co.'s appeal in emerging luxury markets. Khan's longstanding friendship with founder has further solidified this endorsement. Among musicians and entertainers, figures like rapper Travis Scott and singer Lana Del Rey have been frequently spotted wearing Jacob & Co. pieces, from sparkling Astronomia watches to elaborate jewelry sets at red-carpet events and performances. These visible endorsements extend to artists such as Jay-Z and Rihanna, who have integrated the brand's extravagant designs into their public personas, often referencing or showcasing them in media appearances that blend hip-hop culture with high jewelry. Such associations have notably boosted the brand's cultural cachet without formal ambassador contracts.

Recognition

Awards

Jacob & Co. has garnered recognition in prestigious watchmaking and luxury industry awards, particularly for its innovative complications and bold designs that blend high horology with contemporary aesthetics. The brand's timepieces have frequently been shortlisted for the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), often referred to as the "Oscars of watchmaking." In 2020, four Jacob & Co. models—the Astronomia Art Phoenix, Bugatti Chiron , Fleurs de Jardin Rainbow, and Mystery Full Ruby—advanced to the GPHG finals across categories such as Artistic Crafts and Jewelry. Similarly, in 2022, the Astronomia Metaverso NFT Venus was nominated in the Jewelry Watch Prize category, marking a milestone as the first digitally led, physically redeemable NFT timepiece to enter the competition. These nominations highlight Jacob & Co.'s boundary-pushing approach, though the brand has yet to secure a top GPHG prize. Beyond GPHG, Jacob & Co. has won accolades in specialized watch awards. At the 2023 Revo Awards, organized by Revolution Watch, the Astronomia Revolution 4th Dimension took the Best Tourbillon prize for its groundbreaking four-axis and rapid remontoir mechanism, which rotates once per minute—the fastest of its kind. In 2025, the brand's The World is Yours Dual Time watch earned the Best Vintage Inspired Watch at the WatchPro Awards, celebrating its nod to the iconic Five Time Zone model while incorporating modern dual-time functionality. These victories underscore Jacob & Co.'s influence in redefining luxury timepieces through mechanical innovation and cultural resonance. In broader business recognition, Jacob & Co. has been honored in the Stevie Awards, the international business awards program. In one edition of the American Business Awards, the company received 16 nominations across various categories, with multiple wins in product-specific honors for its watch collections, reflecting excellence in design and craftsmanship. Additionally, the brand's efforts have been acknowledged in the ; for instance, the "Viral Jacob & Co Chameleon Video" was recognized for its creative fusion of luxury and viral storytelling, where a changes colors across diamond-set watches, amplifying the brand's impact. These awards collectively affirm Jacob & Co.'s status as a trailblazer in the luxury sector.

Cultural Impact

Jacob & Co., founded by , has profoundly shaped contemporary luxury culture, particularly through its deep ties to hip-hop, where it popularized the "bling" aesthetic of oversized, diamond-encrusted jewelry in the 1990s and early 2000s. Arabo, often called "Jacob the Jeweler," became synonymous with the extravagant displays of wealth in , supplying custom pieces that symbolized success and status for emerging artists. His work aligned with hip-hop's evolution from street to global phenomenon, transforming jewelry from subtle accessories into bold statements of power and identity. The brand's cultural footprint is evident in its endorsements by hip-hop icons, who frequently name-dropped Jacob in lyrics and showcased his designs in music videos, embedding the pieces into the genre's visual lexicon. For instance, artists like , , and Diddy wore Jacob's diamond chains, crosses, and pendants, turning them into cultural touchstones that influenced trends beyond . This visibility helped Jacob & Co. bridge high-end craftsmanship with urban style, making luxury accessible in narrative form through songs like Jay-Z's references to "Jacob" as a marker of authenticity and affluence. In watchmaking, Jacob & Co.'s innovations, such as the Five Time Zone introduced in the early , revolutionized how luxury timepieces were perceived in pop culture by integrating them into hip-hop's narrative of global mobility and success. Worn by celebrities like and featured in rap videos, the watch's bold, multi-timezone design inspired a wave of complicated, visually striking models from brands like and , effectively mainstreaming haute horlogerie within street culture. This shift not only elevated Jacob & Co.'s status but also expanded the luxury watch market's appeal to younger, diverse audiences. Beyond music, the brand's influence permeated broader pop culture by channeling hip-hop's bold aesthetics into and , where oversized jewels and gem-set watches became staples of red carpets and urban luxury. Arabo's designs contributed to the of bling, influencing global trends in jewelry that emphasized and , ultimately redefining modern luxury as an extension of cultural storytelling rather than mere opulence.

References

  1. https://jacobandco.com/about
  2. https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/luxury/jacob-co-strategy-to-disrupt-luxury-watchmaking-benjamin-arabo-interview/
  3. https://barringtonwatchwinders.com/en-us/blogs/blog/a-fathers-gift-that-shaped-a-legacy-the-story-behind-jacob-co
  4. https://revolutionwatch.com/the-story-of-jacob-arabo/
  5. https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/jacob-and-co-interview-jacob-arabo/
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  7. https://jacobandco.com/timepieces/bugatti-tourbillon
  8. https://jacobandco.com/timepieces/billionaire-iii
  9. https://jacobandco.com/news/jacob-co-doubles-revenue-in-2-years
  10. https://jacobandco.shop/pages/heritage
  11. https://luxurylaunches.com/jewelry/inspiring-story-of-jacob-arabo-10112024.php
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  14. https://monochrome-watches.com/jacob-co/
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  16. https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/how-the-five-time-zone-shaped-modern-watch-culture
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  18. https://www.gq.com/story/drake-two-jacob-co-five-time-zone-watches
  19. https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/jacob-and-co-astronomia-tourbillon-jacob-arabo-luca-soprana
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  22. https://newsroom.bugatti.com/en/press-releases/bugatti-announces-partnership-with-jacob-co-at-baselworld-2019
  23. https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-jacob-and-co-x-bugatti-chiron-tourbillon-introducing
  24. https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertanaas/2024/06/24/jacob--co-bugatti-launch-340000-bugatti-tourbillon-watch-car/
  25. https://jacobandco.com/news/jacob-co-breaks-new-ground-with-the-world-s-first-four-axis-tourbillon
  26. https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/15/style/guru-jacob-arabo-quarry-of-choice-for-rappers-rocks.html
  27. https://www.businessinsider.com/an-afternoon-with-jacob-the-jeweler-2016-5
  28. https://www.forbes.com/sites/josephdeacetis/2018/05/16/why-jacob-co-launched-a-retail-store-in-the-heart-of-nyc/
  29. https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonydemarco/2021/03/15/father-and-son-join-forces-at-luxury-brand-jacob--co/
  30. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/13/business/how-the-king-of-bling-saved-my-marriage.html
  31. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/17/nyregion/godfather-of-bling-denies-he-aided-drug-ring.html
  32. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/01/nyregion/01jeweler.html
  33. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/18/fashion/watches-future-predictions.html
  34. https://wwd.com/pop-culture/celebrity-news/g-dragon-jacob-co-watch-astronomia-solar-1237006850/
  35. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-03-18/secrets-of-jacob-co-the-watchmaker-behind-tom-brady-white-lotus-bling
  36. https://wwd.com/home-design/architecture/jacob-and-co-residence-ventures-beachfront-living-oniro-1238292103/
  37. https://rocketreach.co/jacob-co-management_b5d821cdf42e5347
  38. https://www.watchtime.in/articles/people_and_watches/2217/the-descendants-how-ceo-benjamin-arabov-is-keeping-things-extravagant-at-jacob-and-co
  39. https://jacobandco.shop/
  40. https://jacobandco.com/shop-jacob-and-co
  41. https://jacobandco.shop/pages/collections
  42. https://jacobandco.com/product/brilliant-riviera-necklace
  43. https://jacobandco.com/product/the-queens-diamond-ring
  44. https://www.ethoswatches.com/the-watch-guide/jacob-co-intro-top-watches/
  45. https://jacobandco.com/timepieces/astronomia-solar-zodiac
  46. https://jacobandco.com/partnerships
  47. https://jacobandco.com/partnerships/bugatti
  48. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw49MlguK15/?hl=en
  49. https://www.exquisitetimepieces.com/watch-brands/jacob-co.html
  50. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeetendrsehdev/2025/09/01/how-loewe-and-jacob--cos-135000-headphones-signal-luxurys-future/
  51. https://jacobandco.shop/collections/g-dragon-peaceminusone-collection
  52. https://www.onirogroup.it/en/news/a-new-vision-of-luxury
  53. https://jacobandco.com/news/jacob-co-announces-local-partnership-with-manchester-city
  54. https://www.laaurora.com/pages/jacob-co
  55. https://jacobandco.com/partnerships/alec-monopoly
  56. https://news.dupontregistry.com/the-lifestyle/check-out-the-top-a-list-celebrities-wearing-jacob-co-watches-jewelry/
  57. https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/articles-video/cristiano-ronaldo-and-jacob-co-launch-an-exclusive-luxury-watch-collection-2024-10-13
  58. https://robbreport.com/style/watch-collector/tom-brady-jacob-co-custom-watch-1236894196/
  59. https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertanaas/2025/02/10/super-bowl-watches-from-tom-bradys-740000-jacob--co-onward/
  60. https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/jacob-co-salman-khan-collaboration-timepiece-1237062615/
  61. https://jacobandco.com/timepieces/dual-time-zone-salman-khan
  62. https://www.modernretail.co/retailers/an-organic-ripple-effect-inside-jacob-and-co-s-world-of-faceless-watch-influencers/
  63. https://www.naturaldiamonds.com/culture-and-style/how-jacob-the-jewelers-diamonds-helped-define-pop-culture/
  64. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2006/11/jacob200611
  65. https://www.revolt.tv/article/17-iconic-hip-hop-jewelers
  66. https://www.thefader.com/2023/03/09/a-brief-history-of-luxury-watches-in-hip-hop-videos
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