LA MONTRE Jacob & Co Casino Tourbillon ! (à $280,000)

Jacob & Co. — Casino Tourbillon

Short summary

A mechanically playful, high-jewelry novelty watch that combines a functioning roulette wheel with a tourbillon. This is a smaller, more wearable iteration of Jacob & Co.’s earlier roulette/Astronomia piece, keeping the brand’s theatrical DNA while adding a few unexpectedly discreet touches — notably the tourbillon placed on the caseback.

Price & edition

• Price: $280,000
• Limited edition: 101 pieces

Key features

• Function: mechanical roulette wheel with 37 pockets (18 red, 18 black, 1 green zero), activated by a push button on the case.
• Tourbillon: visible on the caseback (an uncommon placement for Jacob & Co.).
• Case: 44 mm diameter, 18k rose gold.
• Thickness: 16.3 mm (relatively thin for Jacob & Co.).
• Dial: center in polished onyx; hour markers use a diamond/roulette-pattern motif for added depth and realism.
• Movement: JCAM 51, 72-hour power reserve.
• Winding/setting: no external crown — two small discs on the caseback are used for winding and setting time.
• Strap: alligator.
• Water resistance: 30 meters.

Pros

• Highly original and entertaining complication (working roulette) with strong novelty/collector appeal.
• More wearable dimensions (44 mm) and slimmer profile than the previous Astronomia roulette (47 mm).
• Dial finishing offers good depth and realism (onyx center, layered construction, realistic roulette pattern).
• Caseback tourbillon provides a more discreet, refined display compared with the brand’s usual flamboyance.
• Solid 72-hour power reserve for a complex mechanical piece.
• Push-button and case details are well integrated and aesthetically pleasing.

Cons / caveats

• Very high price ($280,000) — positioned as an ultra-luxury, niche collectible.
• Water resistance limited to 30 m (typical for haute horlogerie but limits casual/daily use).
• The roulette element moves when the watch is moved — playful but implies delicate moving parts.
• Despite being smaller than the Astronomia, 44 mm diameter and 16.3 mm thickness may still be large for some wrists.

Comparisons & context

• Compared with the earlier Astronomia roulette (47 mm), the Casino Tourbillon is more wearable at 44 mm and slimmer.
• The caseback tourbillon is a notably understated design cue for Jacob & Co., hinting the brand may be exploring less overtly extravagant designs (aesthetic direction sometimes associated with more restrained makers, e.g., Laurent Ferrier).
• Anecdote: Conor McGregor previously bought the Astronomia roulette piece (contextual reference to the earlier model’s notoriety).

User experience

• The roulette wheel is interactive and can be activated via a push button; visually engaging with a pronounced sense of depth.
• The polished onyx center and layered dial construction create a strong spectacle.
• The push-button is well integrated and pleasing in appearance.
• Overall presentation is playful — the reviewer invites viewers to “place your bets,” underlining the watch’s novelty and entertainment value.

Ratings / numerical scores

• No explicit numeric rating or score was provided beyond technical specs (size, power reserve, water resistance).

Notable details / unique points

• Official name: Casino Tourbillon (occasionally misread as “Jacobenco” in transcript).
• Roulette: 37 pockets (18 red, 18 black, 1 green zero).
• Push-button activation with a cover that blends into the case.
• Roulette element moves with the watch.
• Tourbillon on the caseback (unusual for the brand).
• No external crown; two small discs on the back handle winding and setting.
• Dial center: polished onyx; hour markers mimic the diamond pattern of real roulette wheels.
• Movement: JCAM 51 with 72-hour power reserve.
• Alligator strap; 30 m water resistance.
• Limited to 101 pieces; more wearable than the Astronomia 47 mm roulette model.

Speakers / viewpoints

• Narrator/reviewer: enthusiastic and positive overall — praises the novelty, wearable size, caseback tourbillon (calling it an interesting, almost understated choice), and finishing; notes price and limited edition.
• Third‑party reference: Conor McGregor’s purchase of the prior Astronomia roulette model used as contextual color.

Concise verdict If you collect haute-horlogerie novelties and can afford an ultra-luxury statement piece, the Jacob & Co. Casino Tourbillon is a strong pick: mechanically inventive, visually theatrical, and more wearable than the earlier Astronomia roulette version. Best suited to collectors who value exclusivity and showmanship rather than discreet, daily-wear practicality—especially given the $280,000 price and 30 m water resistance.