Baselworld 2013: Classic Revolution - The Jacob & Co. Palatial Automatic And Palatial Mechanical Collections

Baselworld 2013: Classic Revolution - The Jacob & Co. Palatial Automatic And Palatial Mechanical Collections

Jacob & Co. is world renowned for the bold and lavishly luxurious watches it's created for some of the fashion and entertainment world's most visible celebrities – but in recent years it's also surprised and enthralled the enthusiast world with fine mechanical timepieces that are often radical innovations in the art of mechanical watchmaking.

For the lover of classical proportions and design who wants something with just a bit more than the usual dose of savoir faire available from the usual suspects, Jacob & Co. presents its new Palatial Collections: the Palatial Automatic and Palatial Mechanical Timepieces.

The Palatial Automatic watches are the classic gentleman's self‐winding dress watch, reinterpreted through the codes of Jacob & Co.'s vision of horological design and in proportions well suited to the evolving tastes of today's fine mechanical watch lover. Each timepiece is powered by a self‐winding movement developed for Jacob & Co. by an independent partner, Timeless Manufacture, located in the heart of the traditional center of Swiss watchmaking in the Jura Mountains. The Timeless caliber 5010 is decorated with circular graining and Côtes de Genève, with a frequency of 28,800 vph to ensure accuracy and reliability.

The Palatial Automatic features gracefully swept lugs accented by the curves of the integrated crown guard, with classic sword hands and indexes on snailed dials. At a pleasingly svelte 6.8mm thin, this dare‐to‐be‐different take on classic dress watch codes is offered in a 42mm rose gold case, with an anthracite, rose gold, or parchment dial –and, of course, a bezel set with 70 diamonds is also available.

Joining it is the Palatial Mechanical, which is like the Automatic powered by a Timeless Manufacture movement –in this case, the hand‐wound Timeless caliber 1121, which offers a frequency of 28,800 vph with an impressive 50 hour power reserve. Though the caliber 1121 is slightly thicker than the caliber 5010 in the Palatial Automatic, it also features, in addition to a longer power reserve, a large date display and indication for the power reserve. It shares with the Palatial Automatic the same discreet yet sophisticated styling, as well as the beautifully sculpted rose gold case, and range of dials –anthracite, rose gold, or parchment opaline, with guilloché decoration. As with the Automatic, the Mechanical is available with a diamond set bezel as well.

Both new collections offer a compelling and sophisticated alternative to the discerning watch connoisseur who loves the language of classic mechanical horology, but who also wants something with just a bit more élan –the gentleman individualist for whom style is not just conforming to tradition, but a means of selfexpression as well.