Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Drake spotted wearing Jacob & Co

Drake Graham was recently photographed exiting a venue wearing a Jacob & Co Five Time Zone — a watch that, despite the brand's more recent Astronomia headlines, remains one of the most recognizable pieces in the New York jeweler's catalogue. The rapper was spotted in a blue puffer jacket, and the watch, worn on the left wrist, was visible enough for identification: large case, diamond-set bezel, and the distinctive multi-subdial layout that defines the Five Time Zone family.

The Jacob & Co Five Time Zone measures 47mm in stainless steel and runs on a Swiss quartz movement — a deliberate choice by Jacob Arabo, who prioritized maximum dial real estate for the watch's core function: displaying five independent time zones simultaneously. Each zone is read via its own distinctively shaped subdial, here rendered in pastel mother-of-pearl tones — lavender, blue, and white — set against a pink mother-of-pearl main dial. The bezel is pavé-set with brilliant-cut round diamonds, and the piece sits on a bright blue alligator leather strap, completing an intentionally bold aesthetic. A date aperture sits at approximately 6 o'clock, and Arabic numerals anchor the primary dial at 12, 3, 6, and 9.

The Five Time Zone debuted in the early 2000s and was one of the pieces that established Jacob & Co as a serious player in high-jewellery watchmaking — not a fine watchmaker in the traditional Swiss sense, but a brand that merged New York diamond culture with functional timekeeping at a scale that demanded attention. The heart-shaped and floral subdial variants became particularly associated with the brand's celebrity clientele during the mid-2000s hip-hop era.

Drake's relationship with Jacob & Co is well-documented. He has worn multiple references from the brand over the years, and this sighting adds further evidence of his affinity for pieces that operate outside conventional horological taste hierarchies — watches chosen for cultural statement as much as craft.

At a retail price of approximately $22,000 USD, the Five Time Zone occupies an accessible entry point relative to Jacob & Co's more complex mechanical offerings. Grey-market pricing tends to sit at a discount, reflecting the quartz movement and the brand's positioning below the traditional Swiss complications tier. For collectors, it remains a cultural artefact more than an investment piece.