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Jacob & Co. Casino Tourbillon




Jacob & Co., renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and luxurious design, recently released its latest masterpiece – the Casino Tourbillon watch. This timepiece features a minimalist style, a stark contrast to the brand's previous designs. The Casino Tourbillon's design focuses on the roulette automatic mechanism, with a tourbillon hidden behind the case back.


The roulette complication was first introduced in 2019 in Jacob & Co.'s iconic high-complication watch, the Astronomia. The Astronomia Casino watch features a roulette wheel that, when activated, spins freely, with a ceramic ball bouncing on the wheel and landing on a lucky number.


Now, the same roulette module is integrated into a minimalist movement that, strictly speaking, only displays the time, while the roulette automatic mechanism becomes the watch's focal point. This allows the wearer to easily start the game, enjoy the fun, or admire the colorful dial when the watch is not being worn. The dial itself is indeed striking, thanks to its multi-layered structure designed to accommodate the movement of ceramic spheres (a transparent disc above the wheel head prevents the spheres from interfering with the time display).

While the random rotation of the wheel is captivating, its underlying principle is remarkably simple, highlighting the ingenuity of this design. According to the Astronomia Casino's assembly video, the wheel complication still operates even without the mainspring barrel installed, indicating it has an independent power source, likely a small auxiliary mainspring barrel. Since the Casino Tourbillon and Astronomia Casino share the same movement module, the Casino Tourbillon is likely similarly affected.

It's worth noting that, like the Astronomia watch, the Casino Tourbillon features a reverse-winding crown, simplifying the decoration around the case and giving it a more rounded appearance. However, the automatic wheel mechanism still requires a push-button to activate, hence the push-button location at 8 o'clock. Furthermore, a crescent-shaped crown guard next to the push-button creates a smoother transition between the case and the push-button, a clever design element that adds a touch of elegance to the case.

This Casino Tourbillon watch stands out among Jacob & Co.'s many timepieces with its clean, flowing design, distinguished by its focus on the roulette wheel mechanism. It's one of the simplest designs in the brand's collection, yet retains the brand's signature style. The smooth onyx dial complements the rose gold case beautifully, while the colorful wheel pattern and chic hour markers enhance the watch's luxurious feel. The concealed tourbillon further accentuates the watch's refined and understated design.

More importantly, the Casino Tourbillon's mechanics are both simple and sophisticated. Unlike earlier roulette watches (such as the Franck Muller Las Vegas or Azimuth SP-1 Roulette) that used rotating hands to point to the dial, Jacob & Co. employs a more dynamic and realistic rotating wheel with a free-moving ball. This exquisite craftsmanship sets the Casino Tourbillon apart in the relatively niche market of roulette watches.

Jacob & Co. Casino Tourbillon
Movement: JCAM51; Manual winding; 72-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, automatic wheel, tourbillon
Case: 44 x 16.3 mm; 18K rose gold; Water resistant to 30 meters
Strap: Black alligator leather strap with 18K rose gold folding clasp