Some of the most iconic watches have no equal, and this is most certainly the case with the Astronomia by Jacob & Co. It was launched in 2014, but very quickly became one of the signature models of the brand. This is not surprising, as it proves to be the perfect canvas for the brand to let loose their boundless creativity. As a result, many different versions of the Astronomia have been launched in the years since its introduction, and Jacob & Co doesn't show any signs of slowing down.

From Ronaldo’s GMT-Master II Ice spotted in Dubai to Nick Jonas flaunting the full baguette Octo L'Originale watch at the Golden Globes to Mark Wahlberg’s full diamond Nautilus taking a dip in the pool, men’s diamond-clad watches are having a major moment. If you love the look and want to add some serious shine to your wrist, here are four extravagant men's diamond-covered watches that boast big-time brilliance.

Few can afford them, but we all love them; the most complicated watches that the watch industry has to offer. For many brands, these watches serve as a way to show their technical prowess, and sometimes to develop technologies that we later see in less complex watches. Many of these highly complicated watches take years to develop and months to make. Their numbers are always quite limited, but they leave countless watch connoisseurs around the world in awe. This year the following watches did just that;

Most mechanical watches emit a sound of some sort. Some tick modestly, yet others quite noticeably. This is not really on purpose, but more the way that they are constructed. There is, however, a category of watches that are designed to make a sound. Some chime the time, others have an audible alarm, but all are without exception fitted with a beautiful and complex movement, such as the following four watches.

A refined mechanical movement, preferably fitted with an exciting complication; for a long time, this was nearly non-existant within a ladies watch. A quartz-powered smaller version of a men's watch, usually with some diamonds added, was how many of them looked. But fortunately, times change, and these days there are more and more interesting ladies watches with beautiful movements, some even purposely made for them. The following four watches most certainly set the pace in this category.

While gold, steel, and platinum are mainstay metals for watch cases, modern watchmaking has welcomed plenty of other materials in recent years. From bronze to titanium to ceramic and more, offering familiar models in new materials has been a popular approach of many brands looking to offer fresh iterations of old favorites. And it doesn’t get fresher than a crystal clear case in full sapphire—a material once reserved as the glass protecting the dial or movement. Feast your eyes on four extraordinary examples of watches with sapphire cases.

For anyone who is into cars, today marks the start of one of the most exciting periods of the year in the automotive space: Monterey Car Week! It’s well established that a passion for high-end cars and fine timepieces often overlap, and the luxury watch industry habitually draws inspiration from the auto industry. So in honor of Monterey Car Week, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite auto-inspired watches from some of the world’s top timepiece brands.

Few movies, if any, can live up to the status that The Godfather has achieved. This 1972 blockbuster, featuring Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone, also features one of the most memorable theme songs in history. It was written by Italian composer Giovanni "Nino" Rota, and its first few notes are enough to be recognized by people around the world. For Jacob & Co, the movie, but especially the music, was the inspiration for an exceptional watch.

Watches that use a spectrum of colored gemstones to create a rainbow effect have become a modest trend in recent years. Most brands use sapphires to create this effect, often in addition with amethysts, tsavorites and other colored gemstones. With sapphires, most people immediately think of the blue colored stones, while they come in nearly the complete color spectrum. Rubies are, just like all the other sapphires, a variety of the mineral corundum as well, only did in the past the red version of these stones got a name of their own. Because they are available in so many different hues, they play an important role to create the perfect rainbow effect.

There is a significant change visible in the field of ladies watches; they now tend to be more complicated, in either technical execution or design. The majority of these watches shows a refinement that comes from every single detail. Precious gemstones remain to play an important role to make just that right accent, or as one of the main ingredients for these gracious watches. At Baselworld this trend was also clearly visible, with many delightful creations.

Jacob & Co. is no stranger to making dazzling bejeweled high horology timepieces. This is the brand behind the famous Billionaire diamond tourbillon watch, after all. While Jacob & Co. unveiled some crazy complications at Baselworld 2019, in honor of the new season, we are highlighting a pair of colorful Jacob & Co. Brilliant Flying Tourbillon models to get you into the swing of spring.

It was hard to know what to expect, as so much would be different this year at Baselworld. With the attending brands now down to just over a hundred, the show is more compact, yet the new fair management also took the opportunity to make good use of this space. Greenery, indoor ponds and more luxurious culinary options have given the fair a more upscale appearance, one that is matched by the amazing watches that are presented here!

Christmas is a special time, for which most people make a little bit of extra effort. This often applies to decorations, the gifts they get, the way they give back, but also to the way they dress. With all the candles and dimmed lights, Christmas is also the perfect season to wear that diamond set watch. The lights show off that fire and scintillation, giving it just that little bit extra for the holiday season!

It has become an Haute Time tradition: to pay attention around Halloween to an exceptional category of watches: the skeletons. They are a true balancing act, as the watchmakers want to take away as much of the material as possible, yet at the same time must not disturb the integrity of the overall movement. If they succeed, a unique watch is the result. One that allows you to admire their most inner parts, which are often only be seen by the watchmakers themselves. Not very scary, but remarkable for sure!

Price is something we rarely discuss at Haute Time and for a good reason: the watches we feature have transcended from being merely a functional device to become an object of art. Yes, they tell time, and sometimes a few things more, but the way that they were designed and created is fare more an artistic process than anything else. However, to obtain such a piece of art money needs to change hands and becomes a natural limitation for the number of people who want to get one. The following watches are far beyond the horizon for most collectors, but unfortunately, that doesn't make them any less desirable!

Diamond set watches have a terrible disadvantage. Most people are so impressed by their visual impact and the price tag that comes along, that they forget how complicated it is to create such a marvel. The following watches are therefore first and foremost unique masterpieces that combine the noble art of watchmaking with that of diamond cutting and setting!