Introduction
From a humble workshop in New York City’s Diamond District to the rarefied world of celebrity luxury, Jacob Arabo, better known as “Jacob the Jeweler,” has built an empire that defines contemporary glamour. As founder of Jacob & Co., Arabo transformed gemstone artistry and horological innovation into a global brand adored by royalty, world athletes, and Hollywood stars. His creations—including the dazzling Astronomia Tourbillon and sparkling bespoke diamond pieces—represent the fusion of artistry, ambition, and innovation. Now, with projects like the M3M Jacob & Co. Residences in Noida, his creative influence is expanding far beyond jewelry, shaping new standards of luxury living itself.
Early Life: Crafting a Dream
Born Yakov Arabov in 1965 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Jacob was the youngest in a Bukharian Jewish family that valued craftwork and community. His fascination with design began early, inspired by fixing his sisters’ jewelry and taking apart watches given to him by his father. When his family immigrated to New York in 1979, they sought a new beginning. For young Jacob, the city’s Diamond District became both a classroom and a playground.
At 16, he dropped out of high school to take a six-month jewelry-making course, which he completed in just four months. Working at a small factory by day and designing his own pieces by night, he demonstrated the focus and daring that would define his career. By age 21, he founded his own business—Jacob & Co., operating under the name “Diamond Quasar”—and began selling custom designs out of a small booth in Manhattan’s 47th Street jewelry hub.
The Rise of Jacob & Co.: Redefining Modern Luxury
In the 1990s, while classic jewelers leaned on traditional European sensibilities, Arabo did something completely different—he listened to the pulse of pop culture. By crafting bold, diamond-encrusted designs for the emerging hip-hop and R&B elite, he helped define the visual language of modern celebrity.
Rap icons like The Notorious B.I.G. gave him his famous title, “Jacob the Jeweler,” while artists from Jay-Z to 50 Cent, Drake, and Pharrell Williams became loyal patrons. Soon, Jacob & Co. became a lyrical motif in hip-hop music, referenced as a symbol of achievement, hustle, and individuality.
But it wasn’t just the music world—film stars, athletes, and global royals followed suit. Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Madonna, Rihanna, and Jennifer Lopez wore his creations, drawn to his audacious aesthetic that merged haute couture craftsmanship with high-voltage charisma.
Innovation Through Design: The Jacob & Co. Watches
By the early 2000s, Arabo’s vision expanded beyond high jewelry to haute horology. Just as his jewelry had reinvented men’s style, his watches would revolutionize luxury timekeeping.
The Five Time Zone Watch became an instant sensation, featuring multiple clock faces that allowed globetrotters to keep track of international schedules—an accessory beloved by jet-setting celebrities. Then came the Astronomia Tourbillon, launched in 2014, which redefined what a watch could be. Its domed sapphire crystal case contains a rotating miniature of the universe—complete with a spinning Earth, a diamond moon, and a constantly turning tourbillon movement suspended in space.
In Jacob’s eyes, a watch wasn’t just an instrument to tell time—it was a sculpture of motion, an expression of curiosity, and an emblem of one’s inner world. Each timepiece is an elaborate display of mechanical art, crafted for those who seek not subtlety but spectacle.
A remarkable standout is the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon, created in collaboration with Bugatti. It features a tiny replica of the Chiron’s W16 engine under the case—complete with moving pistons. These watches don’t just track seconds; they tell stories of craftsmanship, innovation, and personality.
Celebrities like Drake, Nita Ambani, Neymar Jr., Jay-Z, and Travis Scott have sported unique Jacob & Co. watches, turning these creations into collectors’ icons.
A Brand Synonymous with Celebrity Culture
Jacob & Co. has become more than a jewelry house—it’s a cultural brand. Each creation represents not just luxury, but aspiration. Arabo’s approach was never about exclusivity for exclusivity’s sake; it was about connecting with people who had carved their success in distinctive ways—artists, athletes, innovators—whose lives mirrored his own journey from humble roots to global recognition.
Arabo’s designs embody the intersection of high fashion, music, and engineering. They represent daring individuality—the kind of energy that makes a diamond standout not because of its carat, but because of its attitude. This fusion of artistry and personality is what has made Jacob & Co. a magnet for A-list followers around the world.
Partnerships and The Expansion Beyond Jewelry
Jacob’s relentless pursuit of creativity led to collaborations with elite names and industries—from Bugatti to The Godfather, Batman, and now the world of real estate. These partnerships emphasize storytelling through design, weaving together fantasy, heritage, and modern luxury.
Among his most exciting ventures is the launch of M3M Jacob & Co. Residences in Noida, India, in collaboration with real estate giant M3M India. It is the first residential project in India to carry the Jacob & Co. brand, bringing his design philosophy—where artistry meets precision—into architecture.
M3M Jacob Residences: Global Living, Indian Address
Spread over six acres in Noida’s central business district (Sector 98), the ₹2,100-crore development aims to redefine luxury living in India. With 3, 4, and 5 BHK residences priced between ₹14 crore and ₹25 crore, this project fuses Jacob & Co.’s design sensibilities with modern architecture. Each residence reflects the same detailing and flair found in his jewelry and watches—sophisticated, bold, and designed to be conversation pieces.
The complex features G+34 tower structures, offering panoramic skyline and river views, equipped with imported fittings, bespoke interiors, and state-of-the-art home automation systems envisioned by Jacob & Co.’s team. From crystal-themed chandeliers to gemstone-inspired textures, the residences embody the brand’s artistic DNA.
M3M’s Managing Director described the project as “a seamless meeting of luxury and design innovation, offering Indian buyers a global lifestyle reminiscent of properties in Dubai, Hong Kong, or London.” The goal is to create homes that are not only opulent but experiential—where daily life feels like inhabiting a masterpiece.
With its unveiling, M3M Jacob & Co. Residences signals India’s entry into the expanding global universe of branded real estate—where jewelry designers, fashion houses, and architects converge to create holistic lifestyle experiences.
Jacob Arabo’s Design Philosophy: “Inspired by the Impossible”
Jacob Arabo’s motto, emblazoned across the brand’s marketing, is “Inspired by the Impossible.” This simple phrase captures his ethos—to transform imagination into tangible art. His pieces are defined by extravagant details, symmetry balanced with chaos, and craftsmanship matched by creativity.
From diamond-encrusted Cuban link chains to complex tourbillon mechanisms, he refuses mediocrity. “If you can dream it,” he once said, “you can make it real. The only limits exist in your mind.” This belief, forged through his journey from an immigrant craftsman to an international design icon, continues to inspire emerging artists and entrepreneurs alike.
Jacob & Co.’s Ever-Evolving Legacy
Today, Jacob & Co. operates boutiques in New York, Geneva, Monaco, Dubai, and beyond. Despite its global presence, the company remains family-run, with Jacob’s sons deeply involved in creative and strategic leadership. This personal approach preserves the authenticity that has always drawn clients to the brand.
Each year brings new innovations—watches featuring astronomical complications, jewelry blending high art with personal storytelling, and collaborations that merge luxury design with lifestyle innovation. And with ventures like M3M Jacob Residences, Jacob Arabo’s creative influence is moving from the wrists and necklines of stars to the skylines of major cities.
Conclusion
Jacob Arabo’s journey from a dream-filled teenager in New York’s Diamond District to the founder of one of the world’s most luxurious brands is both inspiring and transformative. He turned craftsmanship into art, and art into an empire of imagination. Through Jacob & Co., he transcended cultural and industry boundaries, uniting the worlds of fashion, music, technology, and now architecture.
Today, whether it’s the celestial wonder of a Jacob & Co. Astronomia watch or the architectural splendor of the M3M Jacob Residences, every creation under his name radiates one truth: luxury is not just about material wealth—it’s about vision, boldness, and the courage to dream beyond tradition.
Jacob Arabo’s world shimmers not only with diamonds but with the spirit of possibility itself.
Written by Manik Katyal
