Watch Paparazzi

Royal Abdulaziz Al Rasheed spotted wearing Jacob & Co

Dr. Abdulaziz Al Rasheed, one of the Gulf region's most respected and visible watch collectors, was recently photographed in what appears to be a Parisian setting — note the '3 AV GEORGE V 75008 PARIS' branding on his jacket — wearing the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Solar Planets Zodiac in 18k rose gold. The sighting underscores the watch's growing footprint among Middle Eastern royalty and ultra-high-net-worth collectors who gravitate toward pieces that function as wearable sculpture.

The Astronomia Solar Planets Zodiac represents the pinnacle of Jacob & Co.'s Astronomia lineage. The movement — Jacob & Co.'s calibre JCAM37 — drives four rotating arms that complete one full revolution every 10 minutes around a central axis. Each arm carries a distinct complication: a tri-axial tourbillon with a 60-second rotation on each of its three axes, a hand-painted blue magnesium globe representing Earth that rotates on its own axis, a Jacob-cut diamond acting as a time display, and three additional gemstone spheres representing other solar system planets. The dial is further adorned with a zodiac disc bearing all twelve signs, adding a celestial narrative layer rarely attempted at this level of finishing.

The case measures 47mm in diameter — substantial even by Astronomia standards — and is crafted in 18k rose gold with a domed sapphire crystal that provides a dome-shaped window into the movement architecture. The navy blue alligator strap with rose gold deployant clasp, clearly visible in the product reference image, ties the astronomical colour palette together cohesively.

From a collector standpoint, the Planets Zodiac variant occupies a particularly coveted niche within the Astronomia family. Production is extremely limited, and each example is essentially a bespoke exercise in gem-setting and dial decoration. The combination of the Zodiac disc, multi-planetary display, and tri-axial tourbillon in a single execution is without parallel in series production watchmaking.

Dr. Al Rasheed's collection is well-documented across social media and includes a breadth of independent and haute horlogerie references rarely assembled outside institutional settings. His choice of the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Solar Planets Zodiac signals not merely purchasing power but a genuine appreciation for the mechanical avant-garde. At retail, pieces from this Astronomia sub-family are priced north of $500,000 USD, with certain configurations exceeding $1 million on the secondary market depending on gem quality and provenance.