ReviewMonumental Pride: The Jacob & Co Epic X India Edition In Rose Gold And Titanium

Everyone wants a slice of India. Louis Moinet added a vivid ‘Only India’ watch to their Mechanical Wonders collection last year. The dial had a tiny piece of Shergotty—a Martian meteorite that landed in Bihar in 1865—inside a floral motif, fanned out 20 miniature pillars/spokes of the Ashoka Chakra on the dial strewn with peacock feathers, for a peek-a-boo of iridescence between the spokes. For another Swiss watchmaker Jacob & Co, India is seemingly a perennial muse. Their older Astronomia Art India model had four 3D hand-painted miniatures of the Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, India Gate and Lotus Temple, on the aventurine dial of the double-axis tourbillon movement. A few days ago, the brand revisited India with their skeletal Jacob & Co. Epic X India Edition in a 11-piece limited-run iteration in titanium, showcasing a flattened, 2D representation of four Indian landmarks. And now, the brand has unveiled another 11 pieces, this time in 18-karat rose gold. “In the world of haute horology, Jacob & Co stand as a beacon, a pinnacle of craftsmanship and innovation,” expresses Pranav Saboo, CEO, Ethos Limited. “This exclusive piece isn’t just a watch; it’s the embodiment of the camaraderie between Switzerland, India, and the USA, a testament to the enduring friendship between Ethos and Jacob & Co.”

Quintessentially Indian: The Epic X India

As with the previous models of the Jacob & Co. Epic X collection launched in 2015, this Epic X Titanium and Rose Gold variants also follow the see-through skeletal make-up on the dial and caseback. Lending some symmetry to the maze of mechanical inner workings are the two signature vertical bridges and the outer minute ring made from the exotic neoralithe. The earlier Epic X models featured a plaque engraved with Jacob & Co. on the right bridge. The Epic X India, however, moves the plaque to the left bridge, and in its place posits 2D versions of four historic monuments from India, situated in Delhi, Agra and Mumbai, handcrafted from pure titanium.

The Epic X India Edition posits four Indian landmarks side-by-side situated in Delhi and Agra, handcrafted from pure titanium

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The third monument on the Epic X India Edition is the Gateway of India, the 20th-century arch monument to commemorate King-Emperor George V, the first British monarch’s visit to India in 1911

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The four monuments on the India Editions watches occupy a pride of place in India and the world

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The four monuments occupy a pride of place in India and the world. From the left, the lineup on the Epic X India starts with India Gate, the war memorial that honours 84,000 soldiers who died in wars between 1914 to 1921. Next, is the Taj Mahal, the ornate and symmetrical wonder in marble that Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan built for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal as her final resting place. The third monument is the Gateway Of India, the 20th-century arch monument to commemorate King-Emperor George V, the first British monarch’s visit to India in 1911. And lastly, the Qutub Minar, the tallest minaret in the world built from bricks.

Nothing To Hide

The 44mm case of the Epic X India iterations are made from titanium and 18-karat rose gold with protective antireflective sapphire crystal on both sides. Four X-shaped lugs unite the bezel made from brushed and satin polished edges with black rubber straps, punctured with hexagonal honeycomb patterning and fitted with a reliable tongue buckle. These traits together offer upto 100m of water resistance. Despite the array of textures, shapes, and patterns, the black and grey timepiece exudes old world charm like a classic black-and-white film.

Four X-shaped lugs unite the bezel made from brushed and satin polished edges with black rubber straps

The black rubber strap is punctured with hexagonal honeycomb patterning and fitted with a reliable tongue buckle

The India Edition iterations are powered by the in-house JCAM02 calibre, made from 158 parts, beats at 28,800vph and offers up to 48 hours of power reserve. This manual-winding skeleton movement charges the balance spring and wheels, mainspring barrel with a ‘sliding clamp system’, 21 purple jewels and balance screws. The barrel sits at 12 o’clock, and the balance wheel at six o’clock. The movement looks resplendent with design techniques such as vertical graining, Clous de Paris guilloche, sandblasting and perlage.

With its formidable nod to India’s monumental past, the Jacob & Co. Epic X India Edition will resonate with both history buffs and diasporic Indians.

Both iterations look timeless; the rose gold iteration resembles heirloom jewellery, while the titanium, like a classic black-and-white film. With its formidable nod to India’s monumental past, the Jacob & Co. Epic X India Edition will resonate with both history buffs and diasporic Indians.