Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Drake spotted wearing Jacob & Co

Drake — Aubrey Graham to his passport — has never been shy about his relationship with haute horology, and a recent sighting confirms the Toronto rapper reaching back into the Jacob & Co Five Time Zone reference JC11 with diamond bezel, a piece that carries considerably more cultural weight than its price tag might suggest to the uninitiated.

The Jacob & Co Five Time Zone JC11 is defined by its instantly recognizable case architecture: a large, multi-subdial layout presenting five independent time zones simultaneously, each driven by its own dedicated quartz movement. The dials are arranged across a wide, horizontally oriented case — typically in steel or precious metal variants — with the diamond bezel on the JC11 adding a layer of high-jewelry finishing that bridges the gap between watchmaking and accessories design. UK list pricing sits around £15,600, positioning it in the accessible luxury tier relative to Jacob & Co's more theatrical complications like the Astronomia or Twin Turbo.

Historically, the Five Time Zone is the piece that made Jacob Arabo a household name on both coasts of the United States. In the mid-to-late 1990s, the watch became the default status signal for hip-hop's first generation of self-made multi-millionaires — a role it shares with few other references in watch history. Unlike the Rolex Presidential or the AP Royal Oak, the Five Time Zone was never a watch world darling first; it was born street-credible, and that origin story has preserved its authenticity across decades.

For collectors, the JC11 occupies an interesting niche. It is not a complication piece in the traditional horological sense, and purists rarely discuss it alongside mechanical masterworks. But as a cultural artifact and wearable symbol of a specific era in music history, it holds genuine significance — and that narrative is increasingly valued in the broader collector conversation.

Drake's affinity for Jacob & Co runs deep; he has worn multiple pieces from the brand across public appearances and social media. Spotting the diamond bezel Five Time Zone JC11 on his wrist is a reminder that even with a collection reportedly worth millions, the classics still get rotation. Grey-market pricing for the JC11 remains relatively stable given the quartz movement base.