Featuring a striking red dial, rose gold case, and refined chiming mechanism, this marks the return of Jacob & Co.’s first minute repeater, limited to just 12 pieces.
Jacob & Co.’s introduction to the world of minute repeaters came in 2014, when the brand unveiled the Palatial Flying Tourbillon Minute Repeater. This opened an important chapter in the brand’s complicated watchmaking, bringing an acoustic dimension to the incredibly complex mechanical watches it produces. Combining a flying tourbillon with a mechanism that chimes the time on demand is certainly no easy feat, and Jacob & Co. continued to develop its chiming watchmaking through models like the Twin Turbo Furious and Astronomia Maestro.
Now, revisiting the Palatial brings Jacob & Co. full circle after twelve years of working with this complication, while also celebrating the brand’s 40th anniversary in style. The Palatial Flying Tourbillon Minute Repeater is limited to 12 pieces worldwide, with the number chosen specifically to represent the twelve years since its introduction in 2014.
This latest 2026 edition retains the signature classical Palatial case design while featuring an updated manually wound calibre that combines the flying tourbillon and minute repeater mechanisms. However, if we know anything about Jacob & Co., there’s rarely anything subtle about its designs, with that beautiful red dial being a testament to that!
Rose Gold And Transparent Red Bring The Mechanics Into View
The Palatial Flying Tourbillon Minute Repeater is presented in a polished 18-carat rose gold case, measuring 43mm in diameter and 12.3mm thick. The rounded profile and sculpted lugs give the watch its classically inspired design, while the polished surfaces add a luxurious appeal. What I like most, however, is the choice of 18-carat rose gold, as it perfectly complements the deep red tones of the dial, allowing both elements to be beautifully eye-catching.
The dial features a red mineral crystal, which immediately establishes the watch’s identity. It also provides a view into the inner workings of the complicated movement without detracting from the ability to read the time easily. Above the crystal sit the sharp 18-carat rose gold indices, along with the skeletonised, metronome-inspired hands, which contrast beautifully against the red dial, just like the case.
At the 6 o’clock position, the flying tourbillon mechanism appears to be “breaking through” the red mineral crystal, adding depth and continuous movement to the stunning red dial. As mentioned earlier, the tourbillon cage has been redesigned for this model, alongside refinements to its manufacturing and assembly processes, with the “centrifugal governor of the minute repeater also being re-engineered to operate silently, so that no mechanical noise interferes with the sound of the gongs”.
The timepiece’s connection to sound extends beyond the movement and into the finer details of the dial, with a brushed 18-carat rose gold G clef at 9 o’clock referencing the intricate chiming mechanism inside. The transparent red mineral crystal also reveals parts of the minute repeater mechanism, further highlighting the complexity of this timepiece directly through the dial.
A Refined Calibre JCCM04 Combines Sound And Motion
As Jacob & Co. put it themselves, “two of watchmaking’s most demanding complications share a single hand-wound movement.” Sitting inside this latest iteration of the Palatial Flying Tourbillon Minute Repeater is the brand’s manually wound Calibre JCCM04, operating at a frequency of 3Hz (21,600 VpH) and delivering an impressive 90-hour power reserve.
Through the sapphire caseback, the movement showcases bridges decorated with Côtes de Genève, complemented by hand-polished bevels, finely drawn edges, and jewels of various sizes. The caseback also reveals the two cathedral gongs, hammers, and striking mechanism.
When the minute repeater is activated through the slide in the caseband, it sounds the time on demand using two hammers that strike the two cathedral gongs. The sequence begins with low notes for the hours, followed by paired high and low notes for each elapsed quarter-hour, finishing with high notes for the remaining minutes.
Initial Thoughts
Jacob & Co. is celebrating its 40th anniversary in style by bringing one of the most important models in its high-watchmaking portfolio back into the limelight: the Palatial Flying Tourbillon Minute Repeater. I personally love the way this piece has been executed!
The vivid red hue plays an important role in Jacob & Co.’s watchmaking, having already appeared in several models. Here, it is presented through a red mineral crystal, offering a great way to showcase the inner workings of the Calibre JCCM04 without detracting from the dial’s readability. When it comes to skeletonised timepieces, this is one of the biggest challenges watchmakers face, as they want to highlight the movement through the dial without sacrificing readability.
The red dial also beautifully complements the 18-carat rose gold case and dial elements. The two work perfectly together, creating a colour theme that captures attention immediately. And if we know Jacob & Co., this is one area it specialises in.
Beyond the design and striking colours, however, what makes this release even more special for me is its connection to the brand’s history. Revisiting the brand’s first minute repeater, while refining both the flying tourbillon and minute repeater mechanisms, gives this anniversary edition more depth than initially meets the eye. It’s certainly a great way to celebrate the anniversary, bringing together high watchmaking and expressive design, two elements that form an integral part of the brand’s identity!
Jacob & Co. Palatial Flying Tourbillon Minute Repeater
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | PT500.40.NS.AC.ABALA |
| Dimensions | 43mm case diameter x 12.3mm thickness |
| Case | Polished 18-carat rose gold with sculpted lugs and a caseband slide for activating the minute repeater |
| Dial | Transparent red mineral crystal with applied 18-carat rose gold hour markers, a brushed rose gold G clef at 9 o’clock, skeletonised metronome-inspired hands and a flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Sapphire crystal exhibition caseback |
| Movement | Manually wound calibre JCCM04 with a one-minute flying tourbillon, minute repeater with two cathedral gongs and a silent centrifugal governor; 308 components and 29 jewels |
| Power Reserve | 90 hours |
| Beat Rate | 3Hz / 21,600VpH |
| Water Resistance | 30m / 3bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Red alligator leather strap secured by an 18-carat rose gold pin buckle |