As the World Cup 2022 heads into the quarter finals, Moments in Time takes a look at a timely timepiece. The Epic CR7 (read Cristiano Ronaldo 7) from the Swiss house of Jacob & Co. The soccer (football for non-Americns) great and the independent Swiss house of watchmaking have been friends for over two decades now. The athlete and the Swiss watchmaking house have come together in a new watch collection celebrating the successful carrer of Cristiano Ronaldo. The house of Jacob & Co has just brought out two inaugural timepieces; the Jacob & Co CR7 Epic X Flight of CR7 and the Jacob & Co CR7 Epic X Heart of CR7. CR are the soccer player’s initials and seven is the number on his jersey. Additional models are planned in the collection. 

The very first “Flight of CR7” in rose gold whose bezel is set with 26 baguette-cut diamonds, was delivered in person to Cristiano Ronaldo in Lisbon on November 18th, just before he left for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The champion was seen boarding the plane with the timepiece on his wrist. These watches embody all of the hallmarks of high watchmaking. The CR7 Epic X collection is a profoundly personalized version of the Epic X. It has all the characteristics: a 44 mm case with X-shaped lugs, a smooth and polished diamond-set bezel and a colored crown and flange. It is powered by one of Jacob & Co’s most emblematic calibers, the JCAM45. Hand-wound, this skeletonized movement offers a striking architecture: its two vertical pillars form the central part of the X-shape initiated by the lugs, whose design inspired the name Epic X. 

These two pillars are designed to represent Cristiano Ronaldo and the CR7 brand. The left pillar takes on the shape of Cristiano Ronaldo himself, while the right one bears his logo and his signature, both engraved in bold. The skeleton barrel cover is shaped like a football. Another image of Cristiano Ronaldo himself, wearing his iconic # 7 jersey, is printed on the case back’s tinted sapphire crystal. In the upcoming months, and throughout the 5-year span of this particular joint project, further developments with exclusive and all- new designs will be revealed.

The CR7 Epic X collection debuts with two models: the “Heart of CR7” in stainless steel with the bezel either polished or set with 26 baguette-cut white diamonds, green-accented flange, crown, case back and strap; and the “Flight of CR7” in rose gold with a polished bezel or one set with 26 baguette-cut white diamonds and rose gold and red accents for the flange, crown, case back and strap. Each watch follows a chromatic palette, green for Heart of CR7, red for Flight of CR7 – the colors of the flag of Portugal and those of the national football squad, whose captain during the 2022 World Cup is Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Cristiano Ronaldo a forward and the captain of the national team of Portugal is regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time and  has won five Ballon d’Or awards. Portugal will face Morocco in the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup 2022. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette

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