Watch Paparazzi

Musician DJ Khaled spotted wearing Jacob & Co

DJ Khaled was recently photographed at what appears to be his Miami estate, seated poolside in a Prada polo and Air Jordan 4 'Fire Red' sneakers — and on his wrist, a piece of jewellery masquerading as a watch: the Jacob & Co. Epic SF Billionaire in white gold, pavé-set with approximately 380 baguette-cut diamonds across the case, bezel, and dial. The red alligator strap is a signature Jacob & Co. finishing touch that turns the already-theatrical timepiece into a full compositional statement.

The Epic SF Billionaire belongs to Jacob & Co.'s top-tier Billionaire line, a collection that debuted in 2015 and immediately redefined what 'fully set' means in haute horology. The watch is powered by the in-house JCFM01 manual-winding movement — developed in collaboration with movement specialists — offering a 60-hour power reserve. The case measures 47mm and is constructed entirely from 18-karat white gold before the stone-setting process begins. The dial layout forgoes any traditional index or numeral in favour of concentric rings of baguette diamonds arranged in diminishing rows toward the centre, creating a vortex-like radial pattern that is both the watch's most visually arresting feature and its most technically demanding element to execute.

From a collector's standpoint, the Epic SF Billionaire occupies a specific and unapologetic niche: it is not competing with the complications of Patek Philippe or the engineering of Richard Mille. It is, instead, a pure expression of stone-setting craft and conspicuous wearability. The baguette stones must be individually cut to conform to the curved surfaces of the case — a process that distinguishes factory-set Jacob & Co. pieces from lesser jewellery watches where flat stones are forced onto curved geometry.

DJ Khaled has built one of the most documented watch collections in hip-hop, spanning Richard Mille tourbillons, AP Royal Oaks, and multiple Jacob & Co. references. His affinity for the brand runs deep — Jacob Arabo has dressed hip-hop's elite since the 1990s, and Khaled represents the modern continuation of that cultural relationship. The red strap choice here is deliberate, coordinating with his Jordan 4 colourway in a way that suggests this was not a casual reach into the watch box.

At a list price of approximately $420,000 USD, the Epic SF Billionaire sits firmly in the territory where watch and jewellery markets converge. Grey-market liquidity is limited given the piece's bespoke nature and relatively small production numbers, but demand among entertainment-industry collectors keeps valuations elevated. For Khaled, it is simply Tuesday.