ReviewHoney, I’ve Shrunk The Kids: The New Reduced Jacob & Co Epic X Chrono 44MM

The American brand of Swiss-made watches, Jacob & Co posit their Epic X Chrono series as luxe sports watches. The Epic X Chronograph line carries forward design traits of the original 2015 Epic X in terms of the iconic ‘X’ claw-shaped lugs, connecting dual vertical bridges on the dial—and on each side of the movement—that enclose the bi-compax layout. They are the meeting grounds for quality horological design, precious metals, and technical solutions. The original iterations sported 47mm case sizes. However, the 2023 Epic X Chrono editions have been reduced to 44mm, are comparatively lightweight and sporty, and available in diverse materials­, colour combinations.

Continuing The Epic X Chrono Legacy

The Epic X Chrono 44MM is available in varying metal-ceramic-PVD combinations. There’s the 18-karat 5N rose gold with black ceramic bezel; the blue PVD titanium case, bezel, pushers, and rubber brown crown; the black DLC titanium satined case with ceramic bezel, with orange anodised aluminium pushers and crown; the light blue mineral dial with 18-karat rose gold; and more. One major design tweak while downsizing the 47mm iterations to 44mm is the removal of the push-down crown at ten o’clock, used to operate the inner rotating bezel with its 60-minute countdown timer.

Other major features have been retained. These include the iconic satin-finished X bars, which extend from the bezel to the lugs; dual counters for the small seconds at nine o’clock and chronograph minutes at three o’clock; baton-shaped skeleton hour and minute hands with Super-LumiNova tips; a long, tall, slim central chronograph seconds hand; sloping flange matching the case colour; crown with crown guards and two pushers on the right side of the case; and protective sapphire crystal for the dial, glass and caseback—a little tinted for the latter two. Not to forget the attached rubber straps with honeycomb-patterned perforations for ventilation, good fit, and firm grip that come secured to deployant clasp matching the case metal. Like the 47mm, the 44mm version also offers 200m water resistance. A column-wheel chronograph movement controls the functioning of the chronograph mechanism inside the Epic X Chrono 44MM. Start, stop and reset are all governed by this beautifully hand-finished movement: angled, polished and drawn.

Parts Of A Whole

The smoked sapphire crystal dial and caseback of the Epic X Chrono 44MM offers partial views of the JCAA05 bicompax chronograph calibre. Codesigned with Swiss watch manufacturer, Concepto and made from 260 components, the self-winding movement with 27 jewels, beats at 28,800vph.

Codesigned with Swiss watch manufacturer, Concepto and made from 260 components, the self-winding JCAA05 movement with 27 jewels, beats at 28,000vph

A noteworthy feature of the JCAA05 movement is the self-winding anthracite rotor with red lacquered Jacob & Co Genève engraving

When fully wound, its skeletal barrel can store upto 48-hour power reserve. Noteworthy finishes and decorations include the bevelled and polished bridges, the finely detailed skeletal mainspring barrel, the anthracite winding rotor with red lacquered Jacob & Co Genève engraving, and sprinklings of perlage circular graining throughout.