Cristiano Ronaldo’s wrist has become almost as recognisable as his goal celebration. Over two decades, the footballer has built one of the most talked-about watch collections in sport, and a large part of it comes from a single maker: Jacob & Co. From gem-set showpieces to watches carrying his own image, the Cristiano Ronaldo Jacob & Co. watch collection is estimated to be worth well over $5 million.
Why Ronaldo Chose Jacob & Co.
The relationship started as a friendship. Ronaldo has worked with Jacob & Co. founder Jacob Arabo for around 20 years, since the early days of his career, commissioning custom pieces long before any formal partnership existed. Arabo has often delivered watches to him personally.
It is easy to see why the two clicked. Jacob & Co. is bold, technical and unafraid of spectacle, qualities that mirror Ronaldo’s own public persona. Where traditional Swiss houses lean on understatement, Jacob & Co. leans into drama.
The Standout Pieces
The Twin Turbo Furious Baguette. One of the most valuable watches associated with Ronaldo, this limited model has been valued at around $1.3 million. It combines Jacob & Co.’s high-complication engineering, including twin tourbillons, with a case and dial set with baguette-cut gemstones.
The Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon. As a Bugatti owner, Ronaldo has been linked to Jacob & Co.’s collaboration with the French hypercar maker. The watch features a miniature engine block inside the case, with tiny pistons that move at the push of a button, a mechanical tribute to Bugatti’s W16.
The Caviar Tourbillon. Covered almost entirely in gemstones, the Caviar series is among the most dazzling watches Jacob & Co. produces and one that Ronaldo has been photographed wearing.
The CR7 Epic X collection. In 2023, Jacob & Co. made the partnership official with watches bearing Ronaldo’s name, including the Heart of CR7 and Flight of CR7. Built on the sporty Epic X platform, they feature a 44mm case with X-shaped lugs, a skeletonised dial divided by two pillars, one showing Ronaldo in different poses and the other carrying the CR7 logo and his signature. A barrel cover shaped like a football and a gold-printed image of Ronaldo in his number 7 shirt on the case back complete the theme. Prices started at around $28,000.
What Makes Jacob & Co. Different
Founded in New York in 1986 by Uzbekistan-born jeweller Jacob Arabo, Jacob & Co. began as a jewellery house beloved by musicians and athletes. Over time it moved into serious watchmaking, opening a manufacture in Geneva and producing some of the industry’s most complex pieces.
Its signature is the mix of extreme complications and extreme design. Watches like the Astronomia, with its rotating globe and orbiting tourbillon, show that the brand can compete technically with traditional maisons while looking nothing like them.
The Engineering Behind the Spectacle
Many of Ronaldo’s watches rely on tourbillons, a complication invented in the late 18th century to counter the effect of gravity on a watch’s accuracy. The balance wheel and escapement are mounted in a rotating cage, averaging out positional errors. Today it is valued as much for its beauty as its function.
Jacob & Co. takes the concept further with multiple tourbillons, multi-axis rotations and automaton-like features such as the Bugatti watch’s moving pistons. Skeletonised movements like the JCAM45 used in the Epic X pieces expose these mechanisms so they can be admired.
The Art of Gem Setting
Gem setting is the other half of the Jacob & Co. story. Baguette-cut stones, used on pieces like the Twin Turbo Furious Baguette, are especially difficult to set because each stone must be cut to fit precisely, with no gaps. A single watch can require hundreds of stones and hundreds of hours of work.
The result is a piece where the jewellery is as much a part of the engineering as the movement.
How Celebrity Collections Shape the Market
When Ronaldo wears a watch, hundreds of millions of people can see it within hours. That visibility turns specific models into talking points and can drive demand, particularly among younger buyers discovering luxury watches through social media.
For Jacob & Co., Ronaldo is one of the most powerful ambassadors in the world. His long association with the brand gives it a credibility that a short-term campaign could never buy.
Beyond Price
Price tags grab headlines, but what gives these watches lasting value is rarity, craftsmanship and story. Limited editions, complex movements and pieces with a direct link to one of the greatest athletes of all time are likely to remain desirable among collectors.
A Reflection of Modern Luxury
Ronaldo’s collection captures a shift in luxury. It is not about quiet heritage or conservative design; it is about personal expression, technical showmanship and a direct connection between the owner and the object. Watches bearing his own image are the ultimate example.
More Than Watches
For Ronaldo, these pieces chart a career: from a young player buying his first special watch to a global icon with his own collection. For Jacob & Co., they represent one of the longest and most visible partnerships in modern watchmaking.
FAQ
Which Jacob & Co. watches does Cristiano Ronaldo own?
He has been associated with pieces including the Twin Turbo Furious Baguette, the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon, Caviar Tourbillon models and his own CR7 Epic X watches.
How much is his Jacob & Co. collection worth?
Estimates put it well above $5 million, with single pieces such as the Twin Turbo Furious Baguette valued at around $1.3 million.
Why does Ronaldo wear Jacob & Co.?
He has a friendship with founder Jacob Arabo going back about 20 years, and the brand’s bold, technical style fits his personality. The relationship became an official partnership with the CR7 Epic X collection in 2023.
What makes Jacob & Co. watches so expensive?
Complex movements like multiple tourbillons, extensive gem setting, limited production and many hours of skilled handwork.
Are Jacob & Co. watches collectible?
Limited editions and pieces with strong stories, especially those linked to figures like Ronaldo, can attract strong collector interest, though values vary by model.
