Hero Image

Opera Godfather Minute Repeater Diamond Barrels

a close up of a watch

Story

The Opera Godfather Minute Repeater uses a series of artistic details and high watchmaking complications to tell the story of one of the greatest films ever made, Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather. It was created in a novel partnership with Paramount Pictures, the production and distribution company of the famous feature film.

Powered by its exclusive, 758-component JCFM07 movement, the Opera Godfather Minute Repeater features a bespoke two-cylinder music box that plays the first 120 notes of The Godfather theme and a minute repeater. In addition, it relies on a spectacular triple-axis gravitational tourbillon and a time display subdial to represent Jacob & Co's cutting-edge watchmaking expertise. There has never been a watch with this combination of complications.

Artistic details include the film's iconic logo on a black painted 18K gold plate, and a a hand-painted replica of a piano with a portrait of the Godfather himself. For the Opera Godfather Minute Repeater Diamond Barrels, the two cylinders are made of 18K rose gold and paved with 666 brilliant round diamonds.

These artistic flourishes and high watchmaking complications are combined in a well-balanced dial display that presents the epic crime story in glorious sight and sound. Like the film, the Opera Godfather Minute Repeater is a timeless work of high technical expertise and fine art.

a close up of an engine

Partnering with Paramount Pictures

The creation of the Opera Godfather marks the first time Paramount has partnered with a watch company in this way and it was a challenge to secure the rights. Once the deal was done, however, Paramount agreed to license the music and the Godfather logo to Jacob & Co.

a close up of a motorcycle

The Triple-Axis Tourbillon

The tourbillon was originally invented to improve accuracy of a pocket watch by countering the effects of gravity. The Opera Godfather brings this more than 220-year-old invention to the same levels of refinement and complexity that its musical box complication and dial assembly represent.

Composed of a total of 104 components that altogether weigh just 1.15 grams, the triple-axis tourbillon of the Opera Godfather is at the forefront of modern watchmaking. With an average component weight of just 0.011 grams (0.00039 ounces), it is a spectacular constellation of barely visible parts that, when assembled and fine-tuned expertly, fulfill the primary duty of a precious timepiece: accurate timekeeping.

The triple-axis tourbillon's delicately detailed assembly rotates on three axes simultaneously: a full rotation on the 1st axis takes 180 seconds, on the 2nd axis 48 seconds, and on the third axis 24 seconds to complete. This makes for a bold new look at how tourbillons can function, when engineered with cutting-edge, ultra-modern technologies and timeless horological heritage in mind.

a close up of a watch

Opera Godfather Minute Repeater Video

a close up of a motorcycle

MARLON BRANDO

On the black lacquered piano is the stylized iconic image of Marlon Brando as Don Corleone, getting ready to make someone an offer they can't refuse.

a car engine

The Minute Repeater

Long regarded the most complicated of movements, the minute repeater was the height of luxury when it was first introduced in the 1600s, the equivalent of a church clock in a timepiece. Getting the minute repeater perfect, from precision and tonal standpoints, is a huge challenge, and that's why only a handful of brands include minute repeaters in their collections.

The minute repeater in the Opera Godfather Minute Repeater uses two hammers to strike exposed circular gongs to sound out the hours, the quarters of hours, and the minutes. In the Opera Godfather Minute Repeater, the gongs circle above the dial, visible through the large sapphire crystal and rose gold case. This voluminous case enhances the clarity, tone, and richness of the sound of the gongs.

The minute repeater is actuated with a slide at 9 o'clock and the music is started by pressing the pusher at 8 o'clock. The watch is wound via the violin-shaped handle at 3 o'clock, and set using an 18K gold lift-out bow on the case back. The power reserve for the movement and the music box function are separate - the watch has a power reserve of 44 hours, while the music can be played three times before you must wind it again.


a chair sitting in front of a car

The Swiss Music Box

Chiming mechanisms represent some of the most complicated and challenging haute horlogerie complications. The Opera Godfather brings the rarest type of audible complications to front: a musical box, engineered into the strict constraints of a wristwatch and designed to play the iconic theme music of The Godfather, recreated into this purely mechanical format in official partnership with Paramount Pictures.

A single press on the pusher at the 10 o'clock position of the case - crafted from 18K Rose Gold - initiates the chiming mechanism and sets more than 700 components into motion. A pair of uniquely crafted cylinders begin to rotate at a finely calculated tempo, brushing their 30 teeth against a pair of combs to evoke a total of 120 notes of the original movie theme.

a close up of an engine

Violin Crank

Winding the watch is simple. All you do is unfold the 18K violin-shaped crank and turn it. When finished, refold and return to its place on the side of the watch.

a car engine

Timekeeping and Chiming

Unlike the other timepieces in the Opera Collection, the dial is static, the skeletonized hour and minute dial appearing to float in the center of the timepiece. Managing the power of the watch is critical, as now the timepiece adds a minute repeater, so the 758-component movement must be robust enough to power the triple-axis tourbillon, the Swiss music box, and the minute repeater, while also being precise enough to manage the timekeeping and the coordination with the chiming of the minute repeater.

The Opera Godfather Minute Repeater adds yet another Grand Complication to the Jacob & Co. collection. Combining the Swiss Music Box with a triple-axis tourbillon and a minute repeater just might be an offer you can't refuse.

a close up of a watch

Technical Specifications

ITEM NUMBER: OP500.40.AA.AB.A


Movement:
Caliber: Exclusive Manufacture Jacob&Co Manual-Winding JCFM07
Diameter: 44.30mm
Height: 17.09mm
Material: Gold, steel, titanium, brass
Components: 758
Power Reserve: 44 Hours
Frequency: 21'600 vib/h (3 Hz)
Jewels: 58
System: Triple Axis Tourbillon, Music Box with Double Combs
Functions:
• Minute Repeater Mechanism with two hammers and gong
• Hours, quarters and minutes repetition
• Arming of the bell by a lock at 9 o'clock with torque declutching
Triple-axis high-speed tourbillon:
• External tourbillon cage: 180 seconds
• Intermediate tourbillon cage: 48 seconds
• Internal tourbillon cage: 24 seconds
Godfather Theme activated by pusher at 8 o'clock: rotation of two cylinders against 2 combs (30 teeth in total) playing a melody of 120 notes. The two rose gold cylinders are set with a total of 666 brilliant diamonds (1.85 ct.). Decors: 18K Rose Gold and black PVD Godfather plate, and black lacquered piano with Marlon Brando's image.

Case:
Diameter: 49mm
Height: 23mm
Material: 18K Rose Gold and Sapphire crystal
Case Back: 18K Rose Gold and Sapphire crystal
Bow: Time-Setting via 18K Rose Gold lift-out rotating bow at case back
Crown: Winding by 18K Rose Gold Violin Crank-handle at 3 o'clock
Crystal: Unique Domed Sapphire with Double Anti-Reflective Treatment
Water resistance: 30m (3atm)

Dial & Hands:
Dial: Skeletonized H/M dial, rose gold plated and black DLC
Hands: Rose gold plated Jacob&Co designed hands

Strap & Clasp:
Strap: Black Alligator Leather
Clasp: 18K Rose Gold Folding clasp

Limited Edition:
6 pieces

Speak With Sales Rep

If you have any questions, queries or comments, please feel free to get in touch and our team will be delighted to help you.

Contact Us

Flagship Boutique
/ Corporate Office

48 East 57 Street
New York, NY 10022
+1 (212) 719-5887
Jacob & Co

Join Our Mailing List