Jacob & Co. Epic X CR7: What the Specs Tell Us

An unusual collaboration between horology and football

On 15 December 2022, Jacob & Co. and Cristiano Ronaldo unveiled the Epic X CR7, a watch built around two moments from Ronaldo's career. The brand released it in two distinct versions, each referencing a different type of goal, and each available in a choice of case metal and bezel treatment. As with any watch we have not had on the wrist ourselves, this article is based entirely on the specifications and design details published at launch. We have not handled the piece, so everything below is a research-based assessment rather than a hands-on verdict.

Flight of CR7 and Heart of CR7

The two editions are named and coloured around specific footballing imagery:

• Flight of CR7: finished with red accents and decorated with imagery referencing a header goal.
• Heart of CR7: finished with green accents and decorated with imagery referencing Ronaldo's well-known goal celebration.

Both versions share the same case architecture, movement and general construction. The difference lies in colourway, decoration and the specific moment each watch is designed to commemorate.

Case design and materials

The Epic X CR7 case measures 44mm in diameter and 13.05mm thick, which places it firmly in the territory of a large, statement sports watch rather than anything discreet. Jacob & Co. offers the case in stainless steel or 18k rose gold, and the bezel can be specified either plain or set with diamonds. The lugs follow the X-shaped design language established by the wider Epic X collection, giving the watch a distinctly angular, mechanical silhouette rather than a traditional round-cased look.

Sapphire crystal is used on both the front and the back of the case. A front sapphire allows an unobstructed view of the skeletonised dial work, while the caseback crystal is tinted and engraved with an image of Ronaldo's celebration, tying the movement side of the watch back to the footballing theme. Water resistance is rated at 50 metres, which is modest by sports watch standards and confirms that, despite the muscular case, this is not intended as a tool watch for water-based activity. It is a design and engineering statement first.

Diamond-set versus plain bezel

The choice between a plain or diamond-set bezel is not purely cosmetic. It also determines rarity, since Jacob & Co. produced different numbers of each. A plain bezel keeps the focus on the case's architectural lines and the X-shaped lugs, while a diamond-set bezel adds sparkle around the perimeter and pushes the watch further into luxury statement territory. Buyers choosing between the two are really choosing between an emphasis on mechanical design or an emphasis on precious stone decoration.

The calibre JCAM45 movement

Inside the case sits the calibre JCAM45, a manual-winding movement built from 158 components and running on 21 jewels. It operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, equivalent to 4Hz, and offers a 48-hour power reserve. The movement is deliberately limited to hours and minutes only, with no seconds hand, calendar, or complication beyond timekeeping itself.

That simplicity is intentional. Stripping the display back to just two hands leaves maximum visual space for the skeletonised architecture and the football-themed decoration layered through the movement. A manual-winding calibre also suits this kind of design exercise, since it removes the visual bulk of an automatic rotor that would otherwise sit over the movement and obscure the open-worked bridges.

Football motifs built into the movement architecture

The decoration is where the Epic X CR7 departs most clearly from a conventional skeleton watch. A vertical bridge running through the movement carries an image of Ronaldo along with his signature. A football motif sits over the barrel, referencing the sport directly rather than through abstract shapes. The escapement, the small assembly of components that regulates the release of energy from the mainspring and is responsible for the ticking motion of a mechanical watch, is left fully exposed on the lower bridge. Meanwhile, the central hour and minute hands are openworked rather than solid, continuing the see-through theme all the way to the dial's most functional elements.

For anyone unfamiliar with skeletonised watchmaking, this style involves removing as much material as possible from the movement's bridges and plates while keeping the mechanism structurally sound, so that the wearer can see the gears, springs and escapement in motion. It is a demanding technique because every component that remains visible must also be finished to a presentable standard, since there is nowhere left to hide rough edges.

Strap and finishing

The Epic X CR7 is fitted with a honeycomb-textured rubber strap, finished with either green or red accents depending on the edition. The pin buckle is offered in steel or rose gold to match the case metal chosen. Rubber is a practical choice for a 44mm sports watch of this style, offering comfort and durability, though as with the case itself we have not been able to assess the feel of the strap in person.

Limited edition numbers and rarity

Jacob & Co. produced the Epic X CR7 in clearly defined limited runs. Plain-bezel versions of each colourway were limited to 999 pieces, while diamond-set versions were limited to 499 pieces each. This structure means four distinct production tiers exist across the two colour themes, giving collectors a choice of rarity as well as colour and material.

Summary of the editions

• Flight of CR7, plain bezel: red accents, header goal imagery, limited to 999 pieces, steel or rose gold case.
• Heart of CR7, plain bezel: green accents, goal celebration imagery, limited to 999 pieces, steel or rose gold case, launched at around $28,000 in steel.
• Diamond-set versions (either colourway): diamond-set bezel, limited to 499 pieces each, priced well into six figures depending on case metal and stone setting.

Value and positioning

At launch, the steel Heart of CR7 with a plain bezel was priced at around $28,000. That already places it well above most skeletonised manual watches from established independent brands, and the gold and diamond-set versions climb into six-figure territory. This pricing reflects Jacob & Co.'s positioning generally, where elaborate decoration, precious metals and limited numbers command a significant premium over movement complexity alone. Given that the JCAM45 is a time-only calibre without a calendar, chronograph or additional complication, the price here is clearly tied to the branding, the collaboration with Ronaldo, the limited numbers, and the case materials rather than to mechanical complexity in the traditional watchmaking sense.

Wearability, judged from the specification sheet

At 44mm across and 13.05mm thick, this is a large, assertive watch. Those dimensions suggest it will sit prominently on the wrist and suit people who already favour big sports watches or statement pieces over slim dress watches. The X-shaped lugs, a signature of the wider Epic X range, are likely to affect how the case interacts with smaller wrists, since angular lug designs of this kind often extend the effective footprint of a watch beyond its raw diameter. Without having tried it on, I cannot speak to comfort on the wrist, but based on the numbers alone this is a watch built for those already comfortable with oversized cases.

Who this watch suits

The Epic X CR7 is aimed squarely at collectors who want a highly visible link between watchmaking and football, and specifically to Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won five Ballon d'Or awards during his career. It suits those drawn to maximalist skeleton design, bold use of colour, and limited production numbers, more than those seeking a subtle mechanical watch or a traditional complication such as a calendar or chronograph. Given the price bracket and the imagery involved, it is likely to appeal most to dedicated Ronaldo fans and collectors of Jacob & Co.'s more theatrical output, rather than to buyers looking for pure watchmaking value.

Our take

I find the concept behind the Epic X CR7 more interesting than the mechanics. A manual, time-only movement is a sensible base for this kind of visual storytelling, since it leaves room for the football motifs and Ronaldo's image without competing against a calendar or complication. Whether the execution justifies the price is a matter of personal taste and how much value one places on the collaboration itself, and as we have not examined the watch in person, I would encourage anyone considering it to view it physically before forming a final opinion. On paper, it reads as a confident, unapologetically large statement piece rather than a discreet mechanical watch, and it should be judged on those terms.