Pharrell’s Jacob & Co. Collection Heads to Auction, Marking a Legacy of Hip-Hop Jewelry

A curated selection of jewelry co-designed by Pharrell Williams and Jacob Arabo, spanning a 30-year partnership, is set to be auctioned through Pharrell’s commerce platform, Joopiter. The auction includes pieces that defined early 2000s hip-hop culture and showcases the evolution of “bling” into high fashion.

The Rise of Jacob & Co. And the Five Time Zone Watch

Jacob Arabo, known as “Jacob the Jeweler,” gained prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s as the preferred jeweler for hip-hop artists. Before becoming renowned for diamond-encrusted timepieces, Arabo built his reputation on custom jewelry designs [1]. The 2002 launch of the Five Time Zone Watch marked a turning point, establishing Jacob & Co. As a recognized watchmaker.

The Five Time Zone Watch, available in 40mm and 47mm sizes with or without diamonds, quickly became a status symbol, embraced by artists like Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes and Pharrell Williams [2]. Its design featured four subdials displaying the time in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Paris, catering to the globe-trotting lifestyle of hip-hop stars in the pre-smartphone era [3]. The watch is powered by a quartz movement from ETA.

A Thirty-Year Collaboration

Pharrell Williams and Jacob Arabo’s collaboration spans three decades, resulting in approximately 100 co-designed jewelry pieces. This partnership helped solidify the concept of “bling” as a significant element of popular culture [2]. Among the notable creations is Pharrell’s iconic N.E.R.D. Chain.

Highlights from the Joopiter Auction

The Joopiter auction features 30 rare and unique pieces from their personal collections. Highlights include:

• A Jacob & Co. Yellow Diamond & Gold Necklace, inspired by the Queen of England’s Crown Jewels, estimated at $6-8 million, featuring yellow diamonds in various cuts.
• A Yellow Gold & Fancy Yellow Diamond Seven Row Cuff Bracelet, containing 57 carats of fancy yellow diamonds.
• A gem-encrusted Rare Touch Bow Tie set with approximately 1,600 stones.
• A particularly rare Jacob & Co. Diamond Five Time Zone Royal Collection Watch, stamped “Edition 001,” marking it as the first of its kind [4].

The Enduring Legacy

The auction represents not only a sale of luxury items but also a celebration of a significant cultural moment. The Jacob & Co. Five Time Zone Watch, in particular, embodies the spirit of early 2000s hip-hop and the evolving relationship between music, fashion, and status symbols.