Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Sfera Ebbasta spotted wearing Jacob & Co

Sfera Ebbasta, the Cinisello Balsamo-born rapper widely credited with bringing trap music to mainstream Italian culture, was recently spotted at what appears to be a luxury boutique setting wearing one of Jacob & Co's most recognisable references — the Five Time Zone in stainless steel, fully loaded with a diamond bezel and a multi-coloured sapphire world map dial. The watch sits prominently on his heavily tattooed wrist, paired with a Chrome Hearts jacket and relaxed denim, a combination that underlines his position at the intersection of streetwear and high jewellery.

The Jacob & Co Five Time Zone is the model that built the brand's reputation in the early 2000s. Its 47mm stainless steel case houses a Swiss-made quartz movement calibrated to display five simultaneous time zones via five independent sub-dials arranged around the central world map. The bezel on this example is set with large brilliant-cut diamonds in a prong setting — a defining visual signature of the reference. The dial itself replicates a stylised globe with each continent rendered in coloured gemstones: blue sapphires for North America, pink sapphires for Europe and Africa, yellow sapphires for South America, and black pavé diamonds for Asia and Australia. The white lacquered oceans provide clean contrast.

From a collector's standpoint, the Five Time Zone occupies a peculiar space: it is not a mechanical complications piece, and purist horologists have historically dismissed it. Yet its cultural weight is undeniable. Jacob Arabo built his clientele through direct relationships with Jay-Z, Puff Daddy and Elton John in the mid-1990s, and the Five Time Zone became a calling card for a generation of entertainers who equated visible luxury with professional success. The model has aged into a legitimate collectible of pop culture history.

Sfera Ebbasta's affinity for high-end accessories is well documented — he has previously been spotted in Rolex, Patek Philippe and AP — but his choice of the Jacob & Co Five Time Zone reads as a deliberate aesthetic statement rather than a flex of horological knowledge. The watch's maximalist design vocabulary aligns precisely with the visual language of his music and brand.

At its original retail price of $30,500, the Five Time Zone was positioned as accessible ultra-luxury. On the secondary market, fully set examples in good condition with original bracelet or strap trade between $18,000 and $28,000 depending on configuration and provenance, reflecting modest depreciation typical of gem-set quartz pieces.