The sports hero takes a moment to shine in the sphere of horology.
Despite being benched for Portugal’s World Cup match against Switzerland, Cristiano Ronaldo is putting the Swiss to work off the field.
Two timepieces have been created by the soccer legend in collaboration with Jacob & Co., an American watch company that manufactures its watches in Switzerland, the CR7 Epic X Flight of CR7, which is limited to 99 pieces, and the Heart of CR7, which is limited to 99 pieces in stainless steel and $117,000 in stainless steel with baguette diamonds. His fashion label, CR7, bears the same name as the jersey number he wears for Portugal.
It is not shy about promoting its heroes on blockbuster timepieces and doesn’t make watches for those who prefer to keep their luxury understated. Jacob & Co. released its $500,000 Godfather 50th Anniversary watch last month, and the watches are packed with lots of details. With a 44 mm diameter x 13.05 mm thick bezel and 26 baguette diamonds set in either fire engine red or emerald green colors that complement the straps, hands, shiny aluminum crowns, and deep flanges, they are big, bold, and boldly crafted. As the lines carry over to the dial, the Epic X collection is characterized by a distinctive X shape on the lugs.
In addition to its gorgeous design, the movement is openworked with wide vertical bridges bordering the gear train and escapement of the JCAM45. CR7 logo and Ronaldo’s likeness are engraved on one side of the CR7, while his signature and signature are engraved on the other. As well as being openworked, the barrel cover at 12 o’clock is made to look like a soccer ball. The rose gold model has a red tinted sapphire crystal over the caseback, while the steel model has a green tinted one. Ronaldo isn’t enough for you? The diamonds on the bezel can be removed from either of them if you don’t want them.
Flight of CR7 is the rose gold version with a black Cordura strap, and Heart of CR7 is the steel version with a green rubber strap. For Ronaldo in all his glory, you’ll need one of each, since the rose gold model shows him from the back and the steel model, from the front. In addition to representing Portugal’s flag, Ronaldo captains the national soccer team, which has red and green highlights.
When Cristiano Ronaldo was an emerging star, company founder Jacob Arabo first met the player 20 years ago. The two launch models mark the beginning of a five-year joint project in which Jacob & Co creates timepieces inspired by the player. They developed a friendship and then a business partnership. Just before Cristiano Ronaldo left for the 2022 World Cup, the first Flight of CR7, in rose gold, was delivered in person to him in Lisbon on November 18th.
Some models are already on the secondary market, but there will be 99 pieces of each model. The rose gold Flight of CR7 with diamonds costs $181,331, the rose gold Flight of CR7 without diamonds costs $70,029, and the steel Heart of CR7 with diamonds costs $146,331 and the steel Heart of CR7 without diamonds costs $34,988. That’s your call.
