Mixed martial artist Francis Ngannou spotted wearing a Jacob & Co

Spotted at a high-profile UFC event, Francis Ngannou — the Cameroonian-French knockout artist and former UFC Heavyweight Champion — had the Jacob & Co Epic X Chrono strapped to his wrist, visible beneath the cuff of a bold Dolce & Gabbana floral shirt. The setting was entirely appropriate: a combat sports arena is exactly the kind of theatre this watch was built for.

The Epic X Chrono reference EC323.43.AA.AA.A pairs an 18K rose gold case with a black ceramic bezel insert, a combination that has become the signature configuration of the line. The case measures 44mm across and 18.6mm in height — substantial by any standard — and features Jacob & Co's distinctive exoskeleton architecture, where an exposed structural frame wraps around a largely open dial. The bi-compax chronograph subdials sit at 9 and 3 o'clock, with a central red-tipped seconds hand providing instant readability. The rubber strap with integrated rose gold deployant clasp keeps proportions secure on larger wrists.

Power comes from the calibre JCAM16, an automatic movement with column-wheel chronograph control, 28,800 vph beat rate, and approximately 42 hours of power reserve. Jacob & Co developed the movement in-house at their Geneva atelier, a point often underappreciated by critics who dismiss the brand as purely aesthetic. The skeletonised dial treatment gives a partial view of the movement architecture, though the Epic X prioritises visual drama over traditional open-worked legibility.

Ngannou is among a growing cohort of combat sports athletes — alongside Canelo Álvarez and Tyson Fury — who have gravitated toward Jacob & Co's outsized, maximalist pieces. The brand's association with boxing and MMA culture is organic rather than manufactured; the watches physically communicate power and scale in a way that resonates with athletes who built their reputations on both.

At list price of approximately $46,000 USD, the Epic X Chrono in rose gold and black ceramic occupies the upper tier of the Jacob & Co catalogue. On the secondary market, examples trade close to retail — occasionally at a modest discount — reflecting steady but niche collector demand. For buyers who want mechanical substance wrapped in genuinely unconventional design, it remains one of the few watches in this price bracket with no obvious precedent.