Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Aitch spotted wearing Jacob & Co

Aitch was recently spotted on the wrist with the Jacob & Co Epic X Skeleton in titanium, reference EX100.20.NS.RW.A, its vivid red Neorali inner ring cutting through the open-worked dial with characteristic Jacob & Co theatrics. The sighting adds another high-end independent brand to the rapper's watch rotation and underlines a growing appetite among British hip-hop artists for complications that go beyond the standard luxury Swiss establishment.

The Epic X collection was introduced by Jacob & Co as the brand's definitive statement in skeletonised haute horlogerie, ditching the diamond-set excess the New York house built its celebrity reputation on in favour of genuine movement architecture. Reference EX100.20.NS.RW.A is powered by the manually wound JCAM09 calibre, a skeletonised tourbillon movement with a 72-hour power reserve, operating at 21,600 vph. The 44mm grade-5 titanium case keeps the watch relatively light on the wrist despite its visual weight, with a water resistance of 30 metres. The Neorali inner ring — a Jacob & Co proprietary composite combining resin and carbon-fibre derivatives — provides structural rigidity while allowing vivid colouration unavailable through traditional material finishing.

From a collector standpoint, the Epic X Skeleton occupies an interesting position. It represents Jacob & Co's most technically credible offering, appealing to enthusiasts who might otherwise dismiss the brand as pure celebrity jewellery. The tourbillon complication, skeletonisation executed entirely in-house, and the use of advanced materials place it in conversation with peers from Richard Mille and Hublot at a noticeably lower entry price. That context matters for anyone evaluating the reference seriously.

Aitch, the Manchunian rapper behind tracks including 'ArrRight Now' and '1989', has built a profile that translates naturally into high-end watch culture — young, commercially successful, and increasingly associated with premium lifestyle choices. Wearing a Jacob & Co tourbillon rather than a more conventional Rolex or AP signals an awareness of the broader independent watch market that goes beyond default status purchases.

Retail on the Epic X Skeleton ref. EX100.20.NS.RW.A sits at approximately £20,000 in the UK, translating to around $26,800 at current rates. Grey market activity on the Epic X line remains modest, with pre-owned examples trading close to or slightly below list price, reflecting steady but not speculative demand — a sensible buy for the style-conscious collector.