Actor Simu Liu spotted wearing a Jacob & Co

At the TIME100 Gala in New York City — an event recognizing the world's most influential people — Simu Liu arrived in a vivid royal-blue suit and, on his wrist, one of the most extravagant timepieces currently in circulation: the Jacob & Co Epic X Tourbillon in 18K rose gold, factory-set with 561 baguette-cut diamonds across the case and integrated bracelet. It is, by any measure, a statement of a different order.

The Epic X Tourbillon is built around Jacob & Co's proprietary JCAM39 manual-winding movement, which houses two independent flying tourbillon regulators positioned vertically on the movement plate — a layout that gives the skeletonized dial its theatrical, architecture-forward appearance. The open-worked bridges and rose-gold movement components are fully visible through the sapphire crystal, with red-tipped skeletal hands providing the only conventional timekeeping cue. Case diameter measures 44mm; water resistance is rated to 30 metres. The movement beats at 21,600 vph and delivers approximately 72 hours of power reserve.

What elevates this particular variant beyond the standard Epic X Tourbillon is the factory diamond setting: 121 baguette-cut diamonds are set channel-style around the case, while a further 440 baguette-cut diamonds cover every link of the integrated rose-gold bracelet. The total stone count of 561 diamonds is factory-applied by Jacob & Co's Geneva atelier, not aftermarket — a distinction that matters significantly to collectors and insurers alike. Production is capped at 18 pieces globally, a number that nods to the brand's founding by Jacob Arabo in 1986 and the watch's reference architecture.

Simu Liu's relationship with luxury watches has grown visibly since his breakout role as Marvel's Shang-Chi in 2021. His appearance at a TIME100 event — where he himself was named an honoree — with a $1.5 million Jacob & Co piece demonstrates a collector sensibility that extends well beyond the conventional celebrity entry-level Rolex or AP. Jacob & Co has cultivated a clientele that spans hip-hop, sport, and now Marvel cinema.

On the grey market, full-set diamond Jacob & Co grand complication pieces of this scarcity command prices that track closely to or exceed retail, given the 18-piece production cap. At a list price of approximately $1.5 million USD, this watch is not a speculative asset so much as a functional objet d'art — the kind of piece that makes a room stop.