Jacob & Co. Bugatti Tourbillon Sapphire Crystal Watch: 360-Degree Transparency
Two years after the Bugatti tourbillon stunned the watchmaking world, Jacob & Co. takes the concept to its extreme. This Bugatti Tourbillon Sapphire Crystal Watch, to be released in April 2026, features all its external components—including the case back, case sides, and upper bezel—made from solid laboratory-grown corundum. Jacob & Co. presents two versions: one in their signature green, and the other in Jacob Arabo's personal favorite light blue. Each is truly unique. Jacob & Co. bugatti tourbillon sapphire crystal
Dial Mechanism
The dial design directly replicates the dashboard of a Bugatti supercar, with an exquisite layout worthy of close examination. The left side features a 30-second flying tourbillon; the right side features dual power reserve subdials that independently display the movement's 80-hour power reserve and the 20-series playback capability of the V16 automatic tourbillon—a rarity in contemporary watchmaking. At the center of the dial, both the hour and minute hands move in a 270-degree retrograde arc before returning to zero. The hour hand jumps precisely to each new hour and locks in place, while the minute hand increments in one-minute increments rather than sweeping continuously. The three subdials all feature a harmonious color scheme—green or blue—and are adorned with a contrasting central outline and a red Bugatti logo. Jacob & Co.'s in-house designers crafted lacquered white hands to ensure excellent legibility against the complex background; while the PVD-coated exhaust manifolds in the same color further enhance the dial's automotive element. luxury replica watches
JCAM55 Caliber: This manual-winding JCAM55 movement measures 38.60 x 46 mm and is 10.80 mm thick. Composed of 557 parts, it vibrates at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz). Notably, its crown, resembling the control knobs of a Bugatti dashboard and adorned with fine knurling, provides a precise tactile feel and winds both the movement and the automatic mechanism simultaneously. Time setting is achieved via a flip-up bow mechanism integrated into the case back, while the crown focuses entirely on the winding function. The tourbillon cage rotates once every 30 seconds—the fastest tourbillon Jacob & Co. has ever produced—encircled by a sapphire crystal upper bridge that does not obstruct the view. The V16 engine block automatic mechanism is the watch's focal point: Jacob & Co. carved it from a single block of transparent sapphire crystal, drilling out 16 cylinders. Sixteen titanium pistons are driven by a single-axis crankshaft, supplying oil to these cylinders. Pressing the crown button triggers a 20-second program during which all 16 pistons cycle synchronously. Furthermore, a PVD exhaust manifold system consisting of 16 pipes is directly connected to the automatic mechanical module, making it one of the most intricate and complex sub-components in watchmaking history. https://www.moon-watch.co.uk
Sapphire Crystal Case
This watch features a case measuring 55 x 44 mm, 15 mm thick, and is water-resistant to 30 meters. Each structural component of a Jacob & Co. timepiece is crafted from a single piece of laboratory-grown corundum, a material with a Mohs hardness of 9, second only to diamond and some industrial ceramics. Because pure corundum contains no elemental impurities, it possesses complete optical transparency. Jacob & Co. fully utilizes this property to create a 360-degree open structure, offering unobstructed views. Each piece of corundum undergoes cutting, shaping, drilling, and polishing, processed using specialized tools operating at precisely calibrated speeds—too slow and the material becomes difficult to cut, too fast and it fractures irreparably. Therefore, each case takes over 800 hours to process, a figure that reflects the two-piece production volume of this watch. The case is adorned with 18K gold details, while the crown cleverly combines metal and sapphire elements, with a fine knurled inner surface enhancing grip comfort. The rubber strap features a louvered pattern, echoing the air vents on the Bugatti's body and matching the movement's color scheme. The strap uses a folding clasp combining rose gold and titanium.
A New Benchmark: Jacob & Co. and Bugatti have collaborated to create an unprecedented luxury timepiece, its technical scale and ambition unparalleled in the world of luxury watchmaking. The Bugatti Tourbillon Sapphire Crystal Watch doesn't merely borrow from automotive design; it integrates automotive design principles into every material choice and mechanical structure. Two unique watches, two color schemes. It turns out that the price of a transparent version is equally astonishing.
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