Jacob Arabo: The Story of Jacob & Co., 40 Years of Bold Innovation and Spectacular Creations

In 2026, Jacob & Co. reaches a symbolic milestone: forty years since the creation of the house founded by Jacob Arabo in 1986. Over four decades, the brand has built a singular identity in the world of luxury, combining expressive jewelry, watches with bold design, and technical ambition.

Behind this adventure lies a creator who never wanted to limit his ideas to what already existed. Initially known for his jewelry, Jacob Arabo gradually developed a watchmaking activity that reflects the same philosophy: imagine distinctive pieces, then bring together the necessary skills to bring them to life.

« When I design, I don't limit myself to what is or isn't possible. I create, then I look for how to make my idea a reality. »

— Jacob Arabo, English translation of an excerpt from his interview with Haute Time.

From his early days in jewelry manufacturing to collections like Five Time Zone and Astronomia, a look back at the career of an entrepreneur who made boldness one of the signatures of Jacob & Co.

Jacob Arabo: The Beginnings of a Creator

Before becoming the founder of an international luxury house, Jacob Arabo began by learning the basics of jewelry making. In an interview published by Haute Time, he recounts that at age 17, he enrolled in a six-month training program dedicated to jewelry manufacturing. He then completed an internship with a local manufacturer before obtaining a full-time position as a jeweler and designer.

This first experience allowed him to develop his technical skills, but also to affirm his own creative vision. In parallel with his job, he began designing his own jewelry and manufacturing it in an improvised workspace in his bedroom.

His creations gradually attracted clients. According to his account, this side activity became significant enough that he decided to devote himself entirely to his project.

In 1986, he left his job and founded Diamond Quasar, a jewelry business operating under the name Jacob & Co., as reported by Haute Time.

This step marks the beginning of an entrepreneurial venture in which creation occupies a central place. Jacob Arabo does not simply wish to manufacture jewelry: he wants to offer pieces that have their own personality.

Jacob & Co.: Jewelry That Embraces Its Character

From its inception, Jacob Arabo develops an approach to jewelry that prioritizes personal expression and visual impact. His creations stand out through their presence, their use of diamonds, and their ability to step outside the most classical codes of men's jewelry.

In the 1990s, he begins collaborating with personalities from the entertainment world, particularly in music. He creates custom jewelry for clients seeking original pieces capable of reflecting their style and personality.

Rapper The Notorious B.I.G. contributed to making his nickname known, "Jacob the Jeweler," which would remain associated with the creator. His proximity to the hip-hop scene participated in the visibility of his jewelry and the recognition of his name in popular culture.

In his interview with Haute Time, Jacob Arabo also recounts that Sean "Puffy" Combs had asked him to set diamonds on the bezel of his gold Rolex. According to the creator's account, this request represented an unusual approach for a men's watch at the time.

This anecdote illustrates his way of working: listen to clients' desires, explore new possibilities, and seek to transform their ideas into singular pieces.

Over the years, Jacob & Co. thus affirms an identity founded on customization, the brilliance of stones, and a certain aesthetic freedom. At Jacob Arabo, jewelry is not limited to a precious object: it becomes a means of expressing one's style and individuality.

The Five Time Zone: A New Chapter for Jacob & Co.

Although Jacob Arabo is primarily known for his work as a jeweler, he also nurtures a marked interest in watches. He wishes to develop timepieces that carry the same visual identity as his jewelry.

With the Five Time Zone, Jacob & Co. transposes this spirit into the watchmaking universe. The watch stands out for its display of five time zones, its world map, and its colorful aesthetic. Powered by a quartz movement, it also offers various customization possibilities, particularly in terms of bezel and bracelet.

The concept responds to an international lifestyle: tracking multiple time zones while wearing a watch with a distinctly bold character. The practical dimension combines with an immediately recognizable aesthetic.

The Five Time Zone constitutes an important step in the evolution of Jacob & Co. It illustrates the house's desire to apply to watchmaking an approach already present in its jewelry: creating functional pieces that also stand out through their personality.

This watch contributes to affirming the brand's identity in the watchmaking universe and announces creations that will grant an increasingly significant place to mechanical innovation.

The Quenttin: An Unprecedented Power Reserve

With the development of his watchmaking activity, Jacob Arabo explores ambitious technical solutions. The Quenttin illustrates this desire to push the boundaries of watchmaking design.

In his interview with Haute Time, he discusses the development of a vertical tourbillon with a 31-day power reserve. He also recounts having proposed giving this watch a name inspired by filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, who wore the piece.

The Quenttin testifies to Jacob & Co.'s desire to distinguish itself not only through the design of its creations, but also through their mechanical characteristics. A power reserve of this duration represents a design challenge, as it requires storing and transmitting sufficient energy to ensure the movement's operation over an extended period.

Beyond its spectacular character, this achievement highlights another dimension of Jacob Arabo's universe: the search for technical solutions capable of giving form to ambitious ideas. An approach that relies on collaboration between the creator and the specialists responsible for realizing his vision.

Astronomia: A Vision of the Universe at the Heart of the Watch

Among Jacob & Co.'s collections, Astronomia occupies a special place in the eyes of its founder. In an interview with Haute Time, Jacob Arabo explains that his childhood interest in the mysteries of space inspired him to represent the solar system within a watch. This inspiration is reflected in the Astronomia collection from Jacob & Co., whose creations combine visual imagination and watchmaking expertise.

Astronomia translates this inspiration into a watchmaking construction where the various visible elements fully participate in the piece's identity. With the Astronomia Tourbillon from Jacob & Co., the movement becomes a true mechanical spectacle, at the heart of a creation that combines visual imagination and watchmaking expertise.

This approach reflects Jacob & Co.'s philosophy, which combines watchmaking expertise and visual imagination. The mechanisms are not simply concealed within the watch: they become central elements of its aesthetic and identity.

For Jacob Arabo, Astronomia also represents the fulfillment of a personal dream. This dimension helps us better understand the place of imagination in his work: an ancient fascination can become a concrete creation when it meets watchmaking design and engineering.

A Philosophy Founded on Boldness and Perseverance

Jacob Arabo summarizes his creative approach with an essential idea: not determining in advance the limits of what is possible to achieve. He prefers to start with a vision, then seek the technical and human means to bring it to life.

In his interview with Haute Time, he explains:

« When I design, I don't limit myself to what is or isn't possible. I create, then I look for how to make my idea a reality. »

— Jacob Arabo, English translation of an excerpt from his interview with Haute Time.

He also emphasizes the role of perseverance, the choice of the right teams, and loyalty to a guiding idea in the realization of a project.

This approach does not mean that technical constraints are secondary. On the contrary, the more complex a creation is, the more it requires specialized skills and close collaboration between the creator, designers, and craftsmen.

Jacob Arabo also emphasizes the quality of materials, the choice of suppliers, and the reliability of watches over time. A piece can impress through its aesthetic, but it must also meet the manufacturing requirements inherent to jewelry and watchmaking.

At Jacob & Co., boldness is thus a starting point. To become a fully realized creation, it must be supported by expertise, precision, and technical mastery. It must be accompanied by technical mastery to become a fully realized creation.

Jacob & Co.: Between Jewelry, Watchmaking, and Popular Culture

The history of Jacob & Co. is closely linked to the universes that nurture the imagination of its founder. Music, cinema, and an attraction to spectacular creations have contributed to shaping the house's identity and its visibility in popular culture.

Collaborations notably provide the opportunity to explore themes that go beyond the scope of traditional watchmaking. They allow for transposing a partner's universe into a watch or piece of jewelry while preserving the aesthetic codes specific to Jacob & Co.

This approach extends the custom work developed by Jacob Arabo from his earliest days. Attention to clients' expectations and the desire to create singular pieces remain at the heart of his approach.

The house's reputation, however, does not rest solely on its connections with celebrities. Its watchmaking development also relies on the search for distinctive designs and the desire to realize ambitious technical projects.

It is in this meeting of aesthetic expression, customization, and watchmaking research that an important part of Jacob & Co.'s identity resides.

40 Years of Jacob & Co.: Four Decades of Creation

Founded in 1986, Jacob & Co. celebrates its forty years in 2026. This anniversary makes it possible to measure the distance traveled from Jacob Arabo's first jewelry creations to the watches that have become emblematic of the house's universe.

This evolution was built gradually. Jewelry constituted the initial foundation of the business, before the Five Time Zone marked an important step in its watchmaking development. Subsequent creations allowed Jacob & Co. to explore more ambitious mechanisms and visual presentations characteristic of its identity.

Over the decades, the same desire emerges: to move away from the most conventional forms and bring distinctive ideas to life. Whether it is a personalized piece of jewelry, a watch displaying multiple time zones, or a creation inspired by space, Jacob Arabo seeks to combine personal expression and creative research.

The house's forty years thus represent not merely an anniversary date. They testify to the evolution of a business that has gradually expanded its range of expression, from jewelry to watchmaking.

Boldness as a Signature

Over four decades, Jacob Arabo has evolved his business from jewelry to a universe where watchmaking holds a major place. With Jacob & Co., he has built an identity founded on expressive creations, a taste for customization, and an ambition that seeks to push beyond conventions.

The Five Time Zone marked a decisive step in the house's watchmaking development. The Quenttin illustrated its interest in ambitious mechanical solutions, while Astronomia gave concrete expression to its founder's imagination.

These creations reflect the same approach: start with a singular idea, explore its possibilities, and bring together the necessary skills to bring it to life.

In 2026, the forty years of Jacob & Co. thus recount the journey of a house that has succeeded in developing its own language at the intersection of jewelry, watchmaking, and contemporary creation. A story where boldness does not replace expertise, but gives it direction.

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FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Jacob Arabo and Jacob & Co.

Who is Jacob Arabo?

Jacob Arabo is a creator and entrepreneur known for founding Jacob & Co., a luxury house specializing in jewelry and watchmaking. He became known through his customized jewelry before developing watches with distinctive designs and ambitious mechanisms.

When Was Jacob & Co. Founded?

Jacob & Co. was founded in 1986 by Jacob Arabo. In 2026, the house thus celebrates its forty years, marked by its evolution from jewelry to fine watchmaking.

Why Is Jacob & Co. Known?

The house is renowned for its expressive jewelry, watches with bold design, and spectacular watchmaking creations. Its identity is built on the combination of aesthetics, customization, and technical research.

What Is the Five Time Zone Watch?

The Five Time Zone is one of Jacob & Co.'s emblematic models. It stands out for its display of five time zones, a world map, and a colorful design. Powered by a quartz movement, it combines functionality with a distinctly bold identity.

What Is the Astronomia Collection from Jacob & Co.?

Astronomia is a watchmaking collection that showcases visible mechanical elements in a spectacular three-dimensional construction. Inspired notably by Jacob Arabo's childhood interest in the universe and space mysteries, it illustrates the house's creative approach.

Why Is Jacob Arabo Nicknamed "Jacob the Jeweler"?

This nickname, associated with rapper The Notorious B.I.G., contributed to Jacob Arabo's fame in hip-hop culture. His customized jewelry and relationships with entertainment personalities participated in making his work known to a wider audience.

What Does Jacob & Co.'s 40th Anniversary in 2026 Represent?

This anniversary marks four decades of creation since the house's founding in 1986. It makes it possible to review Jacob Arabo's journey, from his early days in jewelry to the development of watches that have become characteristic of Jacob & Co.'s identity.