Dwayne Johnson made a powerful statement in high jewellery horology

 

At the 2026 Met Gala in New York, Dwayne Johnson made a powerful statement in high jewellery horology, showcasing a timepiece that exemplifies extreme diamond craftsmanship and scale.

Johnson complemented his tailored look by Thom Browne with the extraordinary Billionaire III watch by Jacob & Co.. The piece is set with an exceptional 714 diamonds, with a total weight exceeding 129 carats placing it firmly among the most significant high-jewellery watches ever produced. Reported at a value of USD $3.3 million, the watch reflects both technical mastery and the continued demand for ultra-rare diamond-set creations at the highest level of the luxury market.

From a gemmological perspective, the uniformity, matching, and setting of such a large number of stones particularly across a wearable timepiece demonstrates the precision and sourcing expertise required in top-tier diamond manufacturing. Each stone must meet strict criteria for colour, clarity, and cut consistency to achieve the seamless brilliance expected in a piece of this calibre.

The Billionaire III represents more than excess; it highlights the intersection of haute horlogerie and high jewellery, where diamonds are not merely decorative, but central to the identity and value of the piece. As noted by Jacob Arabo, the watch stands as a flagship creation designed for individuals who command presence an ethos clearly aligned with Johnson’s public persona.

Johnson attended alongside his wife, Lauren Hashian, marking their debut at the event. While fashion dominated the evening, it was this remarkable diamond timepiece that drew significant attention within the jewellery and gemmological community.

For the industry, moments like this reinforce the enduring cultural and investment significance of diamonds at the highest level where craftsmanship, rarity, and spectacle converge.

Source: DCLA

Godfather of All Watches: $1.2m Tribute to Mafia Boss

 

Jacob & Co.’s Opera Godfather Baguette is more than a luxury watch set with almost 1,100 diamonds.

It boasts a miniature music box, that plays a 30-second clip of the haunting theme tune, and a tiny rotating figurine of Don Corleone, the mafia crime boss at the center the iconic 1972 movie, played by Marlon Brando.

The newly-launched Opera Godfather Baguette is an update to the 2022 Opera Godfather 50th Anniversary. It is set with many more diamonds, and a $1.2 million price tag.

The 18K rose‑gold case is invisibly set with 447 white baguette‑cut diamonds (approx. 28.68 carats), and the music‑box cylinders are set with 666 brilliant‑cut white diamonds (approx. 1.85 carats).

The entire movement assembly (including the triple axis tourbillon, music box cylinders, Don Corleone figurine, and the off center hour and minute dial all rotate counterclockwise as a single unit when the wearer presses a pusher at 10 o’clock.

The watch is part of an official licensing and creative partnership with Paramount Pictures, the studio that owns The Godfather film and its music.

Source: DCLA

Innovation in Diamond Cutting Takes Centre Stage

 

Luxury watchmaker Jacob & Co. has unveiled a remarkable evolution in diamond design, introducing a proprietary “Angel Cut” across its latest high jewellery timepiece marking a noteworthy development in modern diamond faceting.

More than a stylistic variation, the Angel Cut represents a deliberate rethinking of how light interacts within a diamond. Developed in-house over a two-year period, the cut features 37 precisely engineered facets significantly fewer than many traditional brilliant-style cuts. Rather than maximising facet count, the design prioritises facet placement, aiming to enhance light return, internal reflection, and overall visual coherence.

At the core of the Angel Cut is a distinctive lozenge-shaped table, framed within a stepped rectangular outline with cut corners. This geometry alters the path of light through the stone, producing a continuous, fluid luminosity rather than the sharp scintillation typically associated with more fragmented facet arrangements. The result is a diamond that exhibits a broader, more even glow, with an emphasis on depth and dimensional light performance.

This innovation has been showcased in the latest iteration of the Billionaire Double Tourbillon timepiece, the first watch globally to incorporate this new cut. Previous editions in the series predominantly featured established step cuts such as emerald and Asscher, making this release a clear departure toward proprietary diamond engineering.

The watch itself is extensively set, incorporating nearly 300 diamonds with a combined weight approaching 80 carats. Of particular note is the dominance of the Angel Cut stones, which form the visual identity of the piece, complemented by supporting cuts that enhance structural and aesthetic balance.

From a gemmological perspective, the introduction of a patented cut raises important considerations. While traditional cuts have long-established grading frameworks, new proprietary cuts challenge laboratories to assess light performance, symmetry, and finish within evolving parameters. As the official CIBJO laboratory in Australia, Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia continues to monitor such innovations closely, particularly where they influence market perception, valuation, and grading consistency.

Beyond its diamond setting, the timepiece also demonstrates advanced horological engineering, featuring a dual flying tourbillon mechanism and a highly complex hand-wound movement. However, it is the diamond innovation that remains the defining feature of this release.

The Angel Cut signals a broader trend within the high-end diamond sector: a shift toward proprietary faceting as brands seek differentiation not only through origin and size, but through the very physics of light performance.

For the diamond trade, this development reinforces an important reality innovation in cutting remains one of the most powerful drivers of both beauty and value in modern diamonds.

Source: DCLA

Cristiano Ronaldo shows off £92k ‘Heart of CR7’ luxury watch that has 26 white diamonds

Cristiano Ronaldo was gifted a diamond-encrusted green watch worth £92,000 at the launch of his new range of timepieces.

To mark the opening of Jacob & Co’s new store in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the company held a launch event that was attended by Ronaldo – now plying his football trade in the country for Al-Nassr. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker showed off one of brand’s luxury watches.

According to the Daily Mail, the green watch Ronaldo was pictured wearing features 26 white diamonds and is worth £92,000. It also depicts his trademark ‘Siu’ celebration on the back. The watch Ronaldo showed off is named the ‘Heart of CR7 Baguette’ and is one of four watches in his collection – with the most expensive worth £119,00 ($145,000).

This is the latest in a series of endorsements Ronaldo had done through his glittering career. The Portuguese forward is estimated to have the biggest earnings in world football, with his contract at Al Nassr reportedly worth in excess $200m per year.

Source: DCLA