The 16-cylinder engine on Bugatti’s wrist…

If Jacob & Co. watches are known for their caution, there is no denying that they are both visually and mechanically spectacular. These miniature animations or movements that play music are fascinating…whether they like it or not, but in terms of watchmaking, these are impressive works. The latest product of the brand is actually a collaboration with the equally gorgeous car manufacturer Bugatti, and will not change. Get to know the new Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron tourbillon, with an animated W16 on the wrist (yes, yes).

If you are considering a super high-end car, that is, a car that has accumulated all the highest possible levels, it must be Bugatti. The fastest, most powerful, and most unique… The brand’s latest model, Chiron, is a dream machine. It uses one of the largest engines on the market to output 1500bhp and can operate comfortably at a speed of 260mph. Your car will be jealous every day. . But this is not a prototype, but a fully functional, reliable, and publicly tested project. With this pedigree, what watch will it match?

There is an undeniable connection between automation and watchmaking, because both areas rely on mechanical engines to drive wheels or hands. The objects of these passions are usually shared by the same person, but the watch can hardly reproduce the style of a car engine, or even the inner feeling of the iconic Bugatti 16-cylinder engine. Well, until Jacob & Co. developed the Bugatti Chiron tourbillon. Indeed, this is a watch, it displays the time, adjusted by a one-minute tourbillon… and it has an automaton that can replicate the Chiron engine.

Therefore, although the engine does not have a timing function, it is just for demonstration, but its actions are fascinating. Pushing the right crown of the timepiece, with the rotation of the crankshaft and the movement of the piston up and down, the engine runs like a real internal combustion engine. When the engine is running, the two turbochargers on the engine side (instead of the four in the Chiron) rotate, thereby increasing the visual impact. The miniature engine is housed in a piece of sapphire, and the crankshaft is made of a piece of solid steel. It is one of the smallest and most complicated watch parts in the brand’s history.

The Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron tourbillon has a larger case and is surrounded by a sapphire crystal to make the movement unfettered. It pays homage to the car named after it in many ways, including the horseshoe-shaped front grille. The housing is made of titanium. The “back” of the case is also an ode to the automotive world. It has three crowns: the left crown sets the time, the middle crown simultaneously winds the movement (60-hour power reserve) and animation, and pushes the right-hand crown to start the animation.

In addition to animation, the Bugatti Chiron tourbillon can also indicate the time, and its movement is adjusted by a tilted tourbillon that points in front of the wearer for 1 minute. The movement is once again used as a reference and is suspended in four positions of the case with shock absorbers. Although it looks cool, the movement of this movement up and down has its own problems, because it means to manufacture (and apply for a patent) a special automotive-style lateral system, so that the crown column will not be affected by the machine. Damage to the movement. The last point is the power reserve at 3 o’clock, which is shaped like a coulometer…

Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron tourbillon is worn on a ventilated black rubber strap with a titanium unfolding buckle.

Technical specifications-JACOB&CO. BUGATTI CHIRON TOURBILLON

Case: 54mm x 44mm x 20mm-titanium-sapphire crystal glass front and back cover-black titanium DLC crown and buttons-water resistance 30m

Display: hours, minutes-1 minute tourbillon cage tilted 30 degrees-W16 engine in the sapphire block, animation on demand (right fader)-rotating piston and crankshaft-power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock

Movement: JCAM37 movement, proprietary-manual winding-41.7mm x 36mm x 15.60mm-578 parts-51 jewels-21,600 vibrations / hour-60 hours power reserve

Strap: black rubber-titanium unfolding buckle

Reference: AF321.40.BA.AD.ABSAA