Most of us check our wrist to see if we’re late. Cristiano Ronaldo checks his to admire 344 diamonds.
In late July 2026, a short Instagram clip spread across sports and lifestyle news. It showed Jacob & Co. founder Jacob Arabo fastening a Twin Turbo Furious Baguette White Gold onto Ronaldo’s wrist in Saudi Arabia. According to Complex, the delivery came shortly after Ronaldo finished his final FIFA World Cup. Arabo joked in the video that he happened to be nearby and decided to drop off the $1.3 million watch himself.
Watch fans and football fans both wanted to know the same things: what is this watch, and how can anything on a wrist cost that much? I went through the specs, the history, and the price to find out. If you follow luxury watch news on BusinessToMark, this is one of the most important releases to understand.
Why This Ronaldo Watch Story Took Off
The timing explains a lot. Ronaldo’s 2026 World Cup ended badly. Portugal lost to Spain in the round of 16 on July 6 in Arlington, Texas. He scored three goals during the tournament, but many fans were still disappointed. Soon after, he told Vogue that this would probably be his last year of professional football.
So the world’s most-followed athlete, at an emotional turning point in his career, received a seven-figure gift from a jeweler he has known for more than 20 years. That combination of celebrity, emotion, and a large price made the story spread quickly.
There’s also a business angle. Ronaldo isn’t just a customer. He is one of the most visible faces connected to Jacob & Co. Each time his wrist appears on Instagram, the brand gets publicity that it could never buy through ordinary advertising.
What Is the Jacob & Co. Twin Turbo Furious?
To see why this watch costs more than a house in most cities, you need to know where it came from.
A Short History of the Twin Turbo Line
- 2016: Jacob & Co. launched the original Twin Turbo at Baselworld. It was the first watch to combine two triple-axis tourbillons with a minute repeater.
- 2018: The brand released the Twin Turbo Furious, which added a monopusher chronograph and a reference-time indicator. Racing teams use the same idea on pit boards.
- Later years: Special editions followed, including Bugatti versions, sapphire-crystal models, and the iced-out Baguette editions like the one Ronaldo now wears.
The whole collection is designed around hypercars. Speed, engineering, and excess appear in every part of the design.
Ronaldo’s Version: The Baguette White Gold
The Baguette is the most extravagant version of the Twin Turbo Furious. Here are the key details:
- Case size: 57mm × 52mm, which is huge even by luxury watch standards
- Material: 18-karat white gold case and bezel
- Diamonds: 344 baguette-cut white diamonds, about 16.7 carats in total
- Production: Reportedly limited to just 18 pieces worldwide
- Reported price: About $1.3 million, although some outlets have estimated more
For comparison, the standard titanium Twin Turbo Furious without diamonds has been listed at authorized retailers such as Watches of Switzerland for around $580,000. The diamonds and white gold more than double the price.
Inside the Movement: Where the Real Money Goes
The diamonds attract attention, but serious collectors care more about the movement inside. In this watch, it is one of the most complicated movements ever put into a wristwatch.
The JCFM05 Caliber at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Caliber | Jacob & Co. JCFM05, manual winding |
| Components | 832 individual parts |
| Jewels | 75 |
| Frequency | 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz) |
| Power reserve | 50 hours |
| Key complications | Twin triple-axis tourbillons, decimal minute repeater, monopusher chronograph, reference-time indicator |
1. Twin Triple-Axis Tourbillons
A standard tourbillon rotates the balance wheel in a cage to reduce the effect of gravity on accuracy. A triple-axis tourbillon rotates on three axes at once. This watch has two of them.
In the Furious version, the tourbillon cages move through every position in about 30 seconds. The original Twin Turbo took around eight minutes to do the same. You can watch them spinning on the dial, much like a working engine.
2. The Decimal Minute Repeater
This is the feature watch enthusiasts value most. A minute repeater chimes the time when you activate it. Most repeaters chime hours, then quarter-hours, then minutes.
Ronaldo’s watch uses a decimal repeater, which is far rarer. It chimes the hours, then ten-minute intervals, then the remaining minutes. The system is easier to understand by ear and much harder to engineer. Jacob & Co. also built in safety mechanisms so the chime can’t be damaged if someone adjusts the time while it is ringing. Deployant’s technical breakdown explains this well if you want more detail.
3. Monopusher Chronograph and Reference Time
A single pusher starts, stops, and resets the chronograph. The reference-time function then shows how far ahead or behind you are compared with a set benchmark, similar to a race engineer showing a driver lap deltas on a pit board.
4. Planetary Power Reserve
The 50-hour power reserve indicator sits at 6 o’clock between the two tourbillons. It uses a planetary differential gear system. Even the fuel gauge, in other words, is a small piece of engineering.
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Ronaldo’s Relationship With Jacob & Co.
This watch is the latest chapter in a long relationship. Arabo first met Ronaldo when he was a promising young player, and their friendship grew into a business partnership.
Notable moments include:
- January 2023: When Ronaldo arrived in Riyadh to join Al-Nassr, Arabo reportedly gave him a one-of-one Caviar Flying Tourbillon “Tsavorites,” valued at about $780,000.
- Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon CR7: A custom piece designed to match Ronaldo’s own Bugatti Chiron, valued at around $1.5 million.
- CR7 Epic X Collection: Jacob & Co. launched two public models, the Flight of CR7 and the Heart of CR7. Both feature skeleton dials with one pillar showing Ronaldo in action and the other carrying his CR7 logo and signature.
- First pick on limited editions: According to Complex, Ronaldo gets early access to some of the brand’s most exclusive releases.
This kind of partnership shows how celebrity branding drives luxury sales. Fans may never buy a $1.3 million watch, but many aspire to the brand. Some buy an entry-level Epic X, and Jacob & Co. stays part of conversations it would otherwise never reach.
What Else Is in Ronaldo’s Watch Collection?
The Twin Turbo Furious isn’t even the only seven-figure watch in his collection. Over the years, Ronaldo has been seen wearing:
- Rolex GMT-Master II “Ice”, white gold covered in diamonds, reportedly around $485,000
- Rolex GMT-Master II 116758SARU, yellow gold with a ruby bezel
- Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex Tourbillon, a fully iced-out white gold piece
- Breguet Classique Grande Complication Twin Tourbillon, a 50mm case set with baguette diamonds
- Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis, plus several Big Bang models
- Multiple Rolex Daytonas, including gem-set versions
There is a clear pattern. Ronaldo likes big cases, visible complications, and lots of stones. He chooses watches that are meant to be seen.
Is a $1.3 Million Watch Worth It? My Honest Take
If you judge it as a way to tell the time, obviously not. A $50 digital watch is more accurate and far easier to read.
That isn’t really the point, though. Here’s how I see the value:
- Engineering value: A decimal minute repeater combined with twin triple-axis tourbillons is extremely rare. Only a few watchmakers in the world can make movements this complicated.
- Material value: About 16.7 carats of baguette diamonds set in 18k white gold has real value of its own.
- Scarcity value: With only 18 examples reportedly made, owning one puts you in a very small group of collectors.
- Provenance value: A watch hand-delivered to Cristiano Ronaldo by the brand’s founder carries a story. If his specific piece ever goes to auction, that story could raise its price considerably.
The honest downside is resale. Jacob & Co. watches don’t hold their value the way a steel Rolex or Patek Philippe usually does. Unless a famous owner is attached, buyers often lose money on the secondary market. For most collectors, this is an emotional purchase, not an investment. If you’re interested in watches as assets, read our guide to luxury spending and smart money habits before buying anything with a seven-figure price.
Key Takeaways
- The watch: Jacob & Co. Twin Turbo Furious Baguette White Gold, 57mm, 344 baguette diamonds, reportedly 18 made
- The price: About $1.3 million, according to Arabo himself
- The engine: 832-part JCFM05 caliber with twin triple-axis tourbillons and a rare decimal minute repeater
- The story: Hand-delivered by the brand’s founder after Ronaldo’s final World Cup
- The bigger picture: It shows how celebrity relationships keep ultra-luxury watch brands in the public conversation
Whatever you think of spending $1.3 million on a watch, the Twin Turbo Furious is a remarkable piece of mechanical engineering, and it suits a player whose career has always been about spectacle. For official specifications and the full collection, visit Jacob & Co.’s website, and keep following BusinessToMark’s Entertainment section for more celebrity watch stories.
