Amidst its vast catalog of high-end timepieces, the EPIC X has been — and still remains — Jacob & Co.’s most versatile and easy-to-wear timepiece. Launched in 2015, this collection was refreshed at Geneva Watch Days 2022, and one can now acquire an EPIC X in one of five versions: a highly polished stainless version that comes with a bracelet or honeycomb rubber strap (and with or without a diamond-adorned bezel); a black DLC-case version with matching black rubber strap; and a rose gold variant with matching rose gold bracelet or black rubber strap with green accents. Regardless of which version you may be interested in, what sets the 2022 models apart from the previous ones is a new case design and construction, as well as the fact that the brand opted for stainless steel instead of titanium.
All models share common specifications starting with the dimensions: a case diameter of 44mm and a thickness of 13.05mm, making the EPIC X one of the thinnest Jacob & Co. timepieces. As mentioned above, the brand is now offering the 2022 model with a stainless case, a major departure from the previous generation of EPIC X that used titanium. The signature X-shaped case design — where the angular lugs seem to be latching onto the bezel — is preserved in this new iteration, however, the overall design has been refined: The lugs are now full (as opposed to showing relief at the edges) and so is the bezel, which has a steeper decline towards the mid-case. The entirety of the cases of the stainless steel and rose gold versions are finished with high-polish surfaces throughout.
More specifically, the stainless steel version comes with accents of color in the blue aluminum elements present on the rehaut (where we can see the minute track), as well as the edges of the bridges that run vertically on the dial and the base of the crown. This version also comes with a newly designed five-link bracelet, the design of which echoes the redesigned case in that each link has angular profiles and is highly polished. Other accents of color can be found at the tips of the hour and minute hands in the red elements that existed in previous versions of the EPIC X, making reading time a breeze.
The first version of the rose gold edition looks similar to the stainless version in that both the case and bracelet are made of the same material, therefore creating continuity in the design. Where the stainless steel version has blue accents, the rose gold one that comes with the bracelet has black ones — in the rehaut and base of the crown. In this version, however, the bridges receive a full rose gold treatment. The version that comes with the black rubber strap displays vibrant accents of green aluminum elements, creating a stark contrast with the high-polished case.
On the very opposite side of the spectrum is the full black DLC version with matching black rubber strap. This version displays a full black treatment on the bridges, rehaut, and base of the crown. It comes with the brand’s signature honeycomb black rubber strap. The only accents of color can be found at the tips of the hour and minute hands, as well as the rose gold and steel components of the movement. Another common characteristic of the new 2022 models is the fact that the brand name and logo were moved from the right side of the dial to the 12 o’clock position on the rehaut, a detail that is more visible on the black DLC version.
Another common characteristic shared by all models is the iconic movement. Powering the entire collection is the hand-wound caliber JCAM45, a caliber designed specifically for Jacob & Co. that is highly recognizable by its skeletonized and vertical construction. This movement beats at 28,800 BPH (4Hz) and comes with 48 hours of power reserve. A key visual element of the 2022 Epic X collection that we have not yet mentioned is the Clous de Paris (or Parisian hobnail) texture on the bridges; in the previous versions of the Epic X, the bridges were open. The Clous de Paris texture is recognizable for its pattern made of square-base pyramids with polished faces.
Lastly, and as mentioned above, the case of the 2022 Epic X collection has been refined to display more polished surfaces that interconnect more smoothly, especially on the stainless steel and rose gold iterations. The distinct X-shape of the lugs can also be found in the re-designed crown guards that are more prominent than on the previous versions, the latter also being full rather than having a stepped-construction.
Although it may not look like much at first glance, the 2022 versions of the EPIC X do come with numerous changes that make the collection look more modern and more wearable than the previous ones. From the newly designed bracelets to the full lugs and crown guards, and high-polished surfaces to the placement of the logo at the 12 o’clock position on the rehaut. The stainless steel version retails for $26,000 USD on the rubber and $29,000 USD on the bracelet. Retail prices for the rose gold and black DLC versions are to be announced soon. For more information please visit the brand’s website.