JACOB&CO. STORIES Vol.2: The dawn of the brand

【JACOB&CO. STORIES】Vol.2: The dawn of the brand ​
JACOB&CO. JAPAN Press release: May 12, 2025 [JACOB&CO. STORIES] Vol.2: The dawn of the brand
“JACOB&CO. STORIES” introduces the history of Jacob & Co., which has embodied innovation and artistry, in a series format. In Part 2, we will unravel the story from immediately after the brand’s launch to the announcement of the famous Five Time Zone. An immigrant boy dreams of living in New York Jacob moved to New York when he was a
14-year-old boy. For him, who immigrated to the United States with his family from Uzbekistan in the former Soviet Union, everything was new to him. However, even though he was young, he was confident that he would definitely make his dreams come true here. Jacob started his career as a jeweler in his mid-teens and distinguished himself by completing his pieces faster, more accurately, and more creatively than anyone else. At the age of 16, she graduated early from a jewelry making course and began working in New York’s Diamond District. In 1986, at just 21 years old, he established his own brand, Jacob & Co.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109291/25/109291-25-66a8faebb48a72c109f8ec46afa258c7-1080×1047.jpg Notorious B.I.G. (left) and Jacob Arabo (right) The jeweler era that attracted celebrities In 1986, at the age of just 21, Jacob set up a small atelier in New York’s Diamond District and established “Jacob & Co.” He was passionate about creating jewelry that spoke to his customers’ lives, creating each piece by hand using the highest quality diamonds and precious metals. His style, which combined “personalization” and “street sensibilities”, which were still rare in the jewelry industry at the time, quickly became a hot topic among cutting-edge artists and stylists. Jacob’s jewelry was more than just an ornament, it was a work of art that symbolized the wearer’s personality and success. My first big turning point was meeting the Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie). Biggie called Jacob“Jacob the Jeweler”and celebrated his name in the lyrics of his songs. This nickname made Jacob a household name in the hip-hop world, and his jewelry became a symbol of success and status. Many of the biggest stars of the ’90s, including Jay-Z, Missy Elliott and Mariah Carey, commissioned Jacob to create custom jewelry, and his work was so influential that it was mentioned in at least 70 rap songs. Particularly impressive are the boldly sized custom pendants, as well as the many bracelets and rings generously adorned with high-carat diamonds. These styles were not just decorations, they were a form of self-expression, and they became part of the culture as part of fashion. As Jacob himself says, “My work has a flavor of entertainment. It was designed for celebrities, and it was a showpiece that would only suit them, not only in price but also in appearance.” On the other hand, his work extends beyond musicians and artists to include fashion models, Hollywood actresses, and athletes.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109291/25/109291-25-1f2319dbb1ded56add7a60aa04a2f2e2-1080×1349.jpg Jay-Z
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109291/25/109291-25-ce13ba7d4a43de34650503b94757c402-1080×1349.jpg NIGO and Pharrell Williams
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109291/25/109291-25-4fa4f17b224d82d768b86d765c9399ef-1080×1349.jpg Victoria Beckham
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109291/25/109291-25-c87f8ff706151baa8918ae2c65992ee6-1080×1350.jpg Members of Destiny’s Child (Beyoncé and others) Jacob’s client list spans borders, including Naomi Campbell, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Victoria Beckham, and NIGO. These celebrities publicly displayed Jacob’s jewelry as more than just decoration, they saw it as a symbol of success and individuality, making the brand a pop culture icon. In this era, the brand
beautifully combined the seemingly contradictory values ​​of “street & luxury” and “culture & craftsmanship”. This style of elevating jewelry from “jewelry for dressing up”to “art for telling a story”can be said to be one of Jacob’s greatest achievements. This spirit lives on as the brand’s DNA to this day, and jewelry collections such as “Love Lockdown” and “Match” that embody our unique aesthetic sense continue to fascinate many people.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109291/25/109291-25-efbf97a117163323fa757829fcdad50d-3900×2600.jpg Love Lockdown Bracelet
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109291/25/109291-25-fba563ed309703c79c5779ac18ef382d-2160×2700.jpg Match necklace & ring After establishing a firm position as a jeweler, he eventually embarked on a new dream – the challenge of creating watches. Admiration for watches and rejection in Switzerland In the late 1990s, Jacob decided to enter the watch business in earnest. Fascinated by a dual-time watch given to him by his father at the age of 13, Jacob had always harbored a passion for watchmaking, and traveled to a traditional Swiss watchmaker to passionately share his vision. However, the conservative Swiss watch industry gives him a cold shoulder as a jeweler. Jacob was turned away, saying, “It’s impossible for a jeweler to make a watch.” Looking back on those days, Jacob says: “Swiss watch manufacturers looked down on my vision and cooperation was difficult. Manufacturing costs were high and I felt a barrier to foreign challengers.” Furthermore, he has this to say about Switzerland’s closed industry: “Basically, most Swiss watchmakers thought my idea was impossible. I’m driven by the impossible. I love the impossible.” Despite repeated rejections, Jacob did not give up. In fact, each time his passion flared up even more. He decided to forge his own path without relying on Switzerland. He chose to realize his vision by choosing a reliable and easily customizable quartz movement rather than a traditional Swiss mechanical watch, and by finding a New York-based manufacturing partner. The Birth of Five Time Zones – A Revolutionary Moment
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109291/25/109291-25-864feeedf41d1f757068226a41794633-2104×2700.jpg Five time zones And then, in 2002. Jacob finally creates a timepiece that will make his brand known around the world. That was “Five Time Zones”. New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Paris, and local time – an unprecedented concept that displays five time zones at the same time for jet-setters who live on the world stage. Brightly colored dials, customizable bezels and straps, and bold, sophisticated designs combine to make watches more than just time-telling tools, they become symbols of freedom, adventure, and self-expression.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109291/25/109291-25-e562cb5145353f44fa8e1024c71def75-1080×1350.jpg Naomi Campbell wears Five Time Zones Five Time Zones quickly captivated celebrities around the world. In 2002, Naomi Campbell shocked the fashion world when she wore this watch in Elle magazine, and since then many celebrities have been seen wearing it, including Jay-Z, Drake, Pharrell Williams, David Beckham, and Paris Hilton. This instantly established Jacob & Co. as an international luxury brand. Five Time Zones was a decisive blow that proved that Jacob’s “unconventional vision” resonated throughout the world. Five Time Zone is not just a technological innovation, butdefines the value of a new watch as a “timepiece that speaks to your lifestyle.” Interchangeable straps and customizable bezels anticipate the modern trend of individuality and transform watches into “parts of personal expression.” “Watch = Fashion”Established a new sense of values. Its influence has spread throughout the watch industry, going beyond traditional watch enthusiasts (mainly men, wealthy people, and technically minded) to attracting younger generations, fashion-minded people, and even women. Just as Jacob’s jewelry has been mentioned in over 70 rap songs, Five Time Zones has also appeared in numerous musical works and cultural scenes, pioneering the fusion of pop culture and luxury. And to even greater heights The trust and reputation built through jewelry, and overwhelming success in the new field of watches. Jacob has created a new standard of luxury with his own hands. The story of a boy who came to New York as an immigrant and built a global brand by fusing street culture and luxury is a story that gives many people a sense of the American dream. However, his challenges did not end here. Building on the success of the Five Time Zones, Jacob & Co continues to venture into the world of even more complicated mechanisms and artistic timepieces. Next time, from “just a brand” to a “legend”, we will introduce in more detail the story of innovation and evolution built by Jacob & Co., and the transition from quartz watches to complicated watches. Please look forward to it. ＊Next time＊ [JACOB&CO. STORIES] Vol.3: The beginning of a new chapter of the brand ＊Last time＊ [The Latest｜New step] Jacob & Co. is constantly evolving. Here we will bring you the latest developments from JACOB&CO.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/109291/25/109291-25-9a3893d9f2ab44e80529fc6508f56930-1080×1350.jpg G-DRAGON wearing model “The Time Square” became a hot topic after being worn by world-famous artist G-DRAGON. Along with the unique piece “Astronomia G-DRAGON” announced at the grand opening of a Korean boutique and the custom jewelry announced on the auction site “Joopiter”, it is attracting attention from all over the world. Quartz type / 18K white gold / Case diameter 15mm / Total number of carats 22.13ct 54,384,000 yen (tax included) (Reference)
◆JACOB&CO. STORIES JACOB&CO. JAPAN (Representative Director: Kai Fukuda) was established in April 2022. This year, as we reach the milestone of 3 years since the establishment of Japan, we will once again dig deeper into the history of the brand and launch a series project called “JACOB&CO. STORIES” that will explore its essence. In this project, we will introduce the brand’s history from its founding to the present, its global partnerships, and its current collection of gems over a total of 24 episodes. This series is scheduled to be published on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month. We will regularly deliver the trajectory of Jacob & Co. ＊Serial composition＊ Vol.1 to Vol.4: “Brand History” Approaching the origins of Jacob & Co. from its founding to growth. Vol.5~Vol.6: “Partnership” Introducing global partnerships with various fields. Vol.7 to Vol.24: “Current Collection” Unraveling the charm of the current lineup, which breathes innovation and aesthetics. [About Jacob & Co] Established in 1986. Initially dealing in high-quality jewelry, the company established a high position in the jewelry industry, and in 2002 made a full-scale entry into the watch industry. Starting with the Five Time Zone Watch, which became a sensation among celebrities around the world, complications that had been said to be impossible until now include the Astronomia, the Twin Turbo, and the Bugatti. Succeeded in developing watches such as “Chiron,” and continues to bring about technological innovation in the watch industry. Currently, Jacob has signed partnership agreements with ultra-luxury car manufacturer Bugatti and soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, and continues to create innovative works based on the concept of “making the impossible possible.” Combining the highest level of Swiss
watchmaking technology with the high artistry and know-how cultivated in the jewelry industry, the brand continues to attract many fans around the world as a cutting-edge brand in the watch industry. Japan official website ​ Japan Official Instagram ​ ▼Jacob & Co Ginza Boutique 〒104-0061 1st floor, Maruki Building, 6-7-9 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Business hours
11:00-20:00 Email：info@jacobandco.jp Tel: 03-6281-4777 Click here to make a reservation ​