The Most Iconic Watches in Hip Hop

Over the years hip-hop artists have become preeminent timepiece collectors who have enhanced  their songs with brands ranging from Rolex to Patek Philippe. Holding the possession of a luxury  watch has always been a symbol of success and achievement, that’s why it makes sense that these  artists indulge in collecting watches. Whenever the name of the watch’s brand makes an appearance  in the lyrics of a rap song, it in introduces the brand to the youth and makes a connection to culture.  

Here are 3 of the most iconic watches in hip-hop : 

1. Jacob & Co. 

Signature: Five Time Zone 

Cosigned by: Jay-Z, ASAP Ferg, ASAP Rocky 

This brand is continuing to make extravagant timepieces for artists like Drake, who rocked a watch  with a miniature roulette wheel in the center that cost around $620,000. However, their most signif icant contribution to the watch game is the Five Time Zone watch. This design debuted in 2002, the  same year in which the brand entered the luxury watch arena. The watch was inspired by their  clients’ fast pace life and it was sectioned off into four quadrants to display the times in New York,  Los Angeles, Paris, and Tokyo.  

This style was so iconic that even Supreme released its own red and black-banded variations com plete with a Box Logo on the face. Even though the watch isn’t worn with as much regularity as it  was in the past by artists ranging from Jay Z to Naomi Campbell, there are still some artists who  wear their Five Time Zones. Along with ASAP Ferg sporting it in various color schemes, ASAP  Rocky also wears the Jacob & Co original. Travis Scott and Meek Mill have flaunted their own, too. (IMAGE 1) 

2. Hublot 

Signature: Big Bang Collection 

Cosigned by: Jay-Z, Nas, Rick Ross 

In comparison to the other watch companies, Hublot is young but it’s brand awareness, specifically  with hip-hop is really strong. Hublot took a few years to build a following among it’s consumers  who found it hard to understand why it was so expensive given a rubber strap. But, around the 90s  it’s customers included European royalty and celebrities like Elton John and Giorgio Armani. After Jean-Claude Biver, a watch industry vet, joined Hublot as chief executive officer and intro duced the Big Bang watch in 2005, which was influenced by the original Hublot watch, the brand  flourished more.  

Post this design, the brand became a global sensation. Beyoncé even gifted Jay-Z a $5 million cus tom Hublot !Big Bang” watch made from 18k white gold that had a total of 1,282 diamonds in 2012. Unlike some of the older watch brands, Hublot has embraced artists and attached itself to cul ture. 

3. Patek Philippe  

Signature: The Nautilus Line 

Cosigned by: Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, and Virgil Abloh

The watches from Patek Philippe"s Nautilus line have to be one of the most popular watches in hip hop today. Lil Uzi Vert owns a white diamond Patek along with Drake having a emerald stoned  Patek Philippe Nautilus 5276 gifted by Virgil Abloh. Patek Philippe is historically known to be one  of the most celebrated watchmakers in the world.  

The rare Patek Philippe watches can go for millions at an auction. And surprisingly, the most ex pensive watch ever sold was a Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime for $31 million. But the most  coveted Nautilus model, and the one most commonly worn by celebrities, is the Reference 5711  that was first released in 2006. This watch was worn by both rappers like Offset and movie stars  like Brad Pitt. The watch"s design is so attractive because it can really blend with any outfit.