Arthur Touchot and Alex Rose face off and discuss their pick from the 2017 cheap replica Jacob & Co. line-up. How do the Palatial Flying Tourbillon Minute Repeater and the Epic X Tourbillon Baguette compare?
Arthur’s Pick: The replica Jacob & Co. Palatial Flying Tourbillon Minute Repeater
Jacob & Co. unveiled a stunning minute repeater, which can be fully admired through a translucent blue, red or green mineral crystal.
Verdict: The Palatial Flying Tourbillion Minute Repeater highlights a complication that is usually hidden away from view under the dial. And I absolutely love that! Next to the brand’s other novelties, it looks like a vintage watch. While it’s available in several references, I’ve got a small preference for the titanium model with rose gold crown and lever and a green mineral crystal.
Alex’s Pick: The Epic X Tourbillon Baguette
The Epic X is an fascinating project led by Jacob & Co. to develop a modern interpretation of traditional watchmaking. To the Epic X’s already outstanding skeleton movement design, the brand has this year added a tourbillon, the ultimate complication, in the Epic X Tourbillon Baguette. And once again it shows its own DNA with a watch that mixes high horologry with high jewlery.
Verdict: Every now and then, there’s a time for some bling in your life, and when Mr. Jacob Arabo handed me the Epic X Tourbillon Baguette he was wearing, I was won over. Although I’m not usually drawn to gem-set watches, there is something about this piece for me that just works. Maybe it’s the highly detailed skeleton movement or the tourbillon ot the vertically aligned balance wheel, but this watch also won me over for its traditional horological crafstmanship. The 18-carat white gold case is surprisingly light due to the design and the watch has a sporty feel but the real draw is are the 121 baguette cut diamonds and blue sapphires. My time for bling has come and if you’re looking for a gem set watch you cant beat a fake Jacob & Co. The Epic X Tourbillon Baguette is my pick of the lot this year.