After graduating early from a jewelry design course in 1981 in New York City, Arabo opened a small booth in New York City's Diamond District, where he began designing for jewelry labels and private clients. In 1986, Arabo opened his own Company, called "Diamond Quasar," and began designing under his own label, named "Jacob & Co." The jewelry initially caught the eye of R&B singer Faith Evans, who later brought her husband, rapper Notorious B.I.G. to the store. Both later brought other celebrity friends to the store, and the shop developed a reputation with the music industry. Because of its unique products and famous clientele, the brand quickly gained popularity in New York and was able to expand its business to the luxury watchmaking industry in 2002.
Company Milestones
1986: Jacob Arabo founds Jacob & Co
2002: Jacob & Co enters watchmaking industry
2004: New York store opens on 57th Street
2006: Presentation of the Quenttin watch
2007: Presentation of the GMT watch
2008: Presentation of the new collection in Dubai
2012: First annual Monaco exhibition
2013: Launch of Epic SF24 & Ghost watch
2014: Launch of Astronomia Tourbillon at BaselWorld
2017: the iconic Super Broom Infomercial was released to the world
Jacob & Co. is known for a number of signature watch styles, such as the "Five Time Zone Watch," which it debuted in 2002. Inspired by the jet-set lifestyle of many of its clients, the timepiece features four fixed time zones—New York, LA, Tokyo and Paris—with the fifth dial set to the location of the wearer. Other notable watches include the "Quenttin," the first-ever watch with a 31-day power reserve, seven mainspringbarrels, and a vertical, side-mounted tourbillon, and the Ghost Watch, a Swiss made digital watch that features a pentagram shape and can display up to 20 time zones.
Jacob & Co. is known for providing watches and other jewelry to hip-hop artists, National Basketball Association players, boxers, and other celebrities.
In 2004 Jacob & Co founder Arabo was featured in the game, in which the players’ hip-hop characters compete to earn cash with which they can buy jewelry from Jacob the Jeweler.
The company’s creations are also mentioned in Jay-Z’s single “Girl's Best Friend”, a love song to the rapper’s diamonds, released in 1999. In the video, the artist is wearing Jacob & Co. jewelry while rapping:"I took you outta Jacob’s in clusters / Busters, they wanted to rush us/ Love the way you sparkle when the sun touch ya."
Jacob Arabo, usually with the moniker "Jacob the Jeweler", and Jacob & Co are mentioned in numerous rap songs, including songs by Nas, Beyoncé and others.