FeatureThe Clean, Uncomplicated Art Deco Vibe Of The Jacob & Co Palatial Classic Line

American-born luxe jewellery and watch retailer Jacob & Co are legendary for their phantasmagorical dials hosting miniature planetary systems, roulette tables, car engines, music boxes, oil refineries, reimagined myths such as the rising phoenix and film scenes from the likes of Hollywood superhit Scarface (1983), among others. Founder Jacob Arabo is in fact nicknamed ‘Jacob the jeweller’ for his eccentric diamond-studded jewellery and watch designs that are a hit with rappers, pop stars, athletes and entertainers like Sean Combs, Jay-Z, Madonna, Elton John, 50 Cent, and even Rihanna, who wore the blood-red-and-diamond combo—the Jacob & Co Brilliant Skeleton Northern Lights—for her recent Super Bowl performance. Before this baroque display, the art deco-inspired Jacob & Co Palatial Classic Automatic line of mechanical watches with their clean, minimalistic dials appear rather stark.

The title ‘palatial’, however, can feel misleading as it implies two things—spacious and ornate. Now all Palatial watches nail the ‘spacious’ bit with their 42mm oversized cases. But only selected Palatial models are ‘ornate’. Like the Opera Flying Tourbillon (studded with baguette-cut white diamond and mineral crystal) and the quartz-run Five Time Zone (showcasing home time plus four sub-dials indicating the time in four global cities). In comparison, the automatic and manual-winding versions—well-crafted but comparatively starker—fall within the brand’s entry-level range.

Palatial Class: The Power Of Simplicity

The Palatial Classic line introduces the concept of dress watches to the brand’s oeuvre that is mostly defined by highly complicated and sporty watches. While the Palatial Classic Manual Big Date watch has a double-date aperture at 12 o’clock and a sub-dial indicating power reserve at six o’clock, the Palatial Classic Automatic has no sub-dial but an encircled logo at nine o’clock gives out that illusion. On both dials—that is the logo with or without the sub-dial—connect to a minute track made from metal with a dotted pattern for light emphasis.

Jacob & Co. Palatial Classic Shop The Collection

Both models have guilloche dials in 11 hues such as 18-karat rose gold, blue and brown. There’s also the special version with an anthracite dial. These watches use polished dauphine hands and applied tapering hour markers for timekeeping. A fluted crown engraved with micro-blasted logo sits on the 42mm round steel case with a thickness of 6.8mm and shapely lugs. Enclosed within the automatic model is the self-winding calibre JCCA01 that offers up to 50m of water resistance and 36 hours of power reserve. The manual-winding version is powered by the calibre JCCM01, which is 5.80mm thick, and dispels 50 hours of power once fully wound. The rose gold version has square buckle, and is water-resistant up to 30m.

Another layer of protection is the antireflective scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass. This line has three kinds of finishes—côtes de Genève, circular graining and vertical satin—on the case, caseback, and movement.

The Jacob & Co. Palatial Classic manual and automatic winding watches are attached to either a brown alligator leather strap or an integrated steel bracelet

Bright, eye-catching shades of red, green, blue are usually associated with the dials attached to the steel bracelet

Jacob & Co. Palatial Classic Shop The Collection

Both the manual and automatic options are attached to either a brown alligator leather strap or an integrated steel bracelet ending in a pin buckle. Bright, eye-catching shades of red, green, blue are usually associated with the dials attached to the steel bracelet.