The Low-Down

For the individual who lives large and wears his heart on his sleeve, any of Jacob & Co.’s largely over-the-top collection would fit like a glove. But if said individual also desires something sportier, not just pretend-sporty with fast looking stripes and body creases but something genuinely specced to follow his rough and tumble lifestyle, the Epic X collection works a charm. In place of the vitrine of horological wonders that characterises the company’s high complication timepieces or dollops of coloured stones on hulking precious metal cases, the Epic X is visually lean and taut, not least due to the angled lugs that seemingly extend from the bezel give the timepiece a spidery menace, or the idealised bodyline of a competitive swimmer.

Another feature that puts as much of the watch on display is the translucent blue dial. Together with the sapphire crystal display back and skeletonised hands, the new and exclusive self-winding calibre JCAA09 with column wheel is shown off to best effect. The semi-skeletonised movement has an open barrel, with engraved bridges, circular graining on the mainplate, and the column wheel angled and polished.

IMHO

The blue-white colorway of the Epic X Chrono Tourbillon Blue Titanium with red lacquer accents on the hand tips and rotor engraving is made for the easy living at the marina. That makes it more wearable on a daily basis and a swim whenever one’s up for it; a complicated tourbillon wristwatch that is tough enough to go most places the wearer is inclined to. In this instance too, the skeletonization – in the hands, dial and movement – as well as the white openworked rubber strap with honeycomb motif has the ensemble effect of breezy airiness. It’s a cool watch, for the chilled and self-assured.

Tech Specs

Movement: Self-winding Jacob & Co. JCAA09, chronograph with column wheel, flying tourbillon, 4Hz, power reserve of 48 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, minute counter, flying tourbillon, inner rotating bezel
Case: 47mm, case height 14mm, titanium with blue PVD, ceramic crown, pushers and lug inlays, display back, water resistant to 200 meters
Strap: White rubber strap with titanium deployant clasp
Price: Limited edition of 99 pieces