Jacob & Co. | Brilliant Skeleton Northern Lights
Jacob & Co. has built a reputation for merging high jewellery with bold mechanical design, and the Brilliant Skeleton Northern Lights is one of the clearest expressions of this philosophy. Introduced as an evolution of the Brilliant line first launched in 2017, it transforms the wrist into both a jewel and a stage for horology.
The watch is presented in a 44 mm 18k rose-gold case, measuring around 12 mm in thickness. Its surfaces are pavé-set with a total of 323 brilliant-cut white diamonds, extending across the case, bezel, crown, and buckle. The pavé work is executed with the precision and balance characteristic of Jacob & Co.’s jewelled collections.
Crystal dial
At the heart of the design is a striking red mineral crystal dial, which acts as a translucent stage for the openworked movement below. The color choice recalls the vibrant tones of the northern lights while framing the skeletonized calibre in luminous contrast.
Movement
The Brilliant Skeleton Northern Lights is powered by the hand-wound Jacob & Co. Calibre JCAM01, a fully skeletonized movement offering approximately 46 hours of power reserve. Each bridge is shaped and beveled to enhance light play, while the architecture remains clearly visible through both the dial and sapphire caseback.
Exclusivity
The watch is paired with a satin strap in matching red, secured with a rose-gold buckle also set with diamonds. Its combination of case size, gem-setting, and mineral dial makes it a statement piece intended for collectors who value both technical detail and jewellery artistry.
At release, the Brilliant Skeleton Northern Lights has been listed at an approximate value of $128,000 USD, underscoring its position within the high-jewellery segment of horology.
The Brilliant Skeleton Northern Lights gained worldwide attention when Rihanna chose it for her Super Bowl halftime performance. Paired with her striking all-red ensemble, the watch became not only a technical statement but also a cultural one, showcasing how high jewellery watchmaking can transcend the wrist and enter the realm of pop iconography.
The Brilliant Skeleton Northern Lights exemplifies Jacob & Co.’s dual identity: a jeweller’s eye for light, color, and gemstones combined with the discipline of Swiss movement design. It is a creation made for collectors who see no boundary between watchmaking and jewellery, where each element exists to heighten the brilliance of the other.
Photography courtesy of Jacob & Co via Ethos Watches.
Gem Exploring Editorial.
