Watch Paparazzi

Boxer Canelo Álvarez spotted wearing Jacob & Co

At what appears to be a boxing industry event, Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez was photographed flashing a thumbs-up — and inadvertently showcasing one of the most mechanically elaborate automaton watches produced in the last decade. Positioned at his wrist is the Jacob & Co Oil Pump Double Axis Tourbillon in 18K rose gold, a piece that commands attention long before its price tag enters the conversation.

The Oil Pump belongs to Jacob & Co's Astronomia universe of grand complications, though it carves its own niche as an industrial automaton. The watch houses two functional oil derrick sculptures on the dial that physically pump up and down when the pusher at 2 o'clock is depressed. That pusher charges a dedicated automaton power reserve — entirely decoupled from the main going train — which then drives the derricks through a miniaturized cam-and-lever mechanism. The main movement simultaneously delivers a flying double-axis tourbillon, visible at 6 o'clock, rotating on two planes to average out gravitational errors. The perforated honeycomb dial plate, rose gold structural framework, and industrial pipework aesthetic are rendered in extraordinary detail at a case diameter exceeding 47mm.

For collectors, the Oil Pump represents Jacob & Co at its most conceptually bold. The brand, founded by Jacob Arabo in New York, built its early reputation on diamond-set statement pieces for hip-hop and sports royalty. The Astronomia era shifted the narrative toward serious haute horlogerie, earning genuine respect in complications circles. The Oil Pump, with its thematic nod to petroleum wealth — itself a calling card among certain Middle Eastern and Latin American collector communities — became a cultural artifact as much as a timepiece.

Canelo's relationship with Jacob & Co is well established. The WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO super middleweight champion has appeared publicly in multiple Jacob & Co references, and the brand has leveraged his profile in marketing. The Oil Pump, at a reported list price of approximately $380,000, sits comfortably within the acquisition range of an athlete whose career earnings exceed $500 million.

On the secondary market, examples have traded between $320,000 and $420,000 depending on configuration and condition, reflecting strong but not speculative demand. This is a watch bought for spectacle and mechanical statement — and in both respects, it delivers.