Luxury watch - The matching watch for the new Bugatti Tourbillon - for a mere 340,000 dollars
For those frequently active in social media, Jacob & Co. is a name that cannot be bypassed. The watch manufacturing company of Jacob Arabo frequently appears when it comes to very expensive, very exclusive, and admittedly, sometimes acquired-taste watches. The founder often presents prominent customers such as Messi, Ronaldo, DJ Khaled, or Justin Timberlake with his creations in front of the camera.
For several years, Jacob & Co. has been the official watchmaker for the French luxury brand Bugatti, whose cars it accompanies with special watches. This is also the case with the recently presented Bugatti Tourbillon, the newest hypercar from Molsheim for 3.8 million Euros before taxes (find out more here).
It seemed almost inevitable to dedicate a watch to the vehicle – after all, the Bugatti is named after an exclusive device from the watch world.
A Watch with a V16 Engine
The heart of the Jacob & Co. Bugatti Tourbillon is once again an actual motor. In the lower part of the rather large watch, you'll find, fittingly for the car, a V16 engine block with pistons, cylinders, exhausts, and a crankshaft. This automaton does not drive the watch but can be brought to life with a button press and mimics the function of a real engine. The energy for the sequences comes from the two mainspring barrels that sit in the lower part of the watch.
The upper part of the watch is modeled after the cockpit of the new Bugatti. In total, there are three round openings – just like in the original. On the left, there is, as should be expected, a tourbillon. This is the name for a popular – and very expensive – complication in mechanical watch movements that allows for the effects of gravity to be neutralized and thus improves timekeeping accuracy. A tourbillon has been considered the "pinnacle of watchmaking art" for over 200 years and is typically only found in the most expensive models of various manufacturers.
In the middle, there is indeed a more or less classical dial for reading the time. However, it quickly becomes apparent that it is not fully numbered, meaning the hour and minute hands do not make a full rotation. The Jacob & Co. Bugatti Tourbillon uses a so-called retrograde display instead. This means that the hands return to their starting point whenever the measured segment, either the 60 minutes or the 11th hour, is reached. Noon is displayed when both hands are on the zero.
With this unusual display, the manufacturer aims to mimic the tachometer and speedometer of the car. This is also evident on the right side, as the power reserve looks like a fuel gauge. Without a winding mechanism, the watch can run for 48 hours, after which it must be wound. A winding automatism is not available.
Bugatti Role Model: High Price and Strict Limitation
Jacob & Co. plans to produce 250 examples of the watch – also in line with the strict limitation of the Bugatti Tourbillon. Initially, the watch will only be available in brushed titanium, with later models in precious metals and a diamond bezel to follow. The black watch will be produced 150 times at a price of $340,000 each.
- The football legend, Ronaldo, has been a prominent customer of Jacob & Co., receiving exclusive watches from the company during public events.
- For the launch of the new Bugatti Tourbillon, Jacob & Co. designed a watch with a true-to-life V16 engine automaton in the lower part, mimicking the car's engine.
- Justin Timberlake, DJ Khaled, and Lionel Messi are among the other celebrities who have received luxury watches from Jacob & Co., showcasing their association with high-end brands.
- The Bugatti Tourbillon, priced at 3.8 million Euros before taxes, has a limited production of 250 units, following Bugatti's tradition of strict quantity limitations for their luxury cars.
