The Jacob and Co Astronomia Solar Baguette: What Simu Liu Was Actually Wearing

The watch on Simu Liu's wrist at the 2021 Met Gala was not simply expensive. It is one of the most technically and visually extraordinary timepieces in production.

The Jacob and Co Astronomia Solar Baguette features:

• 18K white gold case set with 382 baguette-cut diamonds

• A rotating platform displaying the planets of the solar system as gemstone spheres

• A hand-painted blue magnesium globe representing Earth

• A one-minute flying tourbillon on a rotating arm

• A self-levelling time display driven by a patented differential system

• 16 patents protecting the movement's architecture

• Calibre JCAM19 hand-wound movement with 447 individual components

Although Jacob and Co did not officially disclose the price of Simu Liu's specific piece, stylist Jeanne Yang confirmed the watch cost $780,000 USD. A similar model was listed on Chrono24 for $950,584.

The Astronomia Solar collection sits at the extreme end of what independent watchmaking can produce. This is not a dress watch or a tool watch. It is a mechanical sculpture worn on the wrist, and the baguette diamond version represents the most lavish expression of the concept. For collectors researching Jacob and Co investment pieces, the Astronomia Solar Baguette references are among the brand's most recognisable and sought-after.

Simu Liu's Journey: The Stock Photo Story and Why It Matters

The cultural weight of Simu Liu's Met Gala watch moment comes almost entirely from context. Without the backstory, it is simply a famous person wearing an expensive watch. With it, the moment becomes something more interesting.

Liu became an unlikely internet phenomenon years before Shang-Chi through a viral discovery that he had appeared in a series of stock photos. The images, which depicted him in generic office and lifestyle scenarios, were discovered plastered across unrelated advertisements globally. The photos reportedly earned him around $100 each at the time.

The arc from that moment to arriving at the Met Gala in a custom Fendi outfit alongside a near-million dollar Jacob and Co flying tourbillon captured something genuine about what sudden Hollywood success can look like. Liu has since developed a serious interest in horology, becoming an IWC Schaffhausen ambassador and building a watch collection that includes pieces from Vacheron Constantin and Rolex alongside his Jacob and Co references.

For watch collectors, this kind of celebrity association with a specific reference carries real market implications. The Astronomia Solar Baguette was already a well-known piece within the watch community before the Met Gala. Liu's appearance introduced it to a significantly broader audience, particularly among younger collectors and Marvel fans who had not previously engaged with high horology. That expanded awareness contributes to long-term demand and collector interest in the reference.

Jacob and Co as a Luxury Watch Investment: What Australian Collectors Should Know

Jacob and Co occupies an unusual position in the luxury watch market. Founded in New York by Jacob Arabo, the brand sits outside the traditional Swiss watchmaking establishment while producing movements of genuine complexity and technical merit.

For Australian collectors considering Jacob and Co as an investment category, the honest picture is nuanced:

• The brand appeals to a specific collector profile that values visual spectacle and mechanical complexity equally

• Astronomia references, particularly the diamond-set baguette variants, hold value well due to extreme scarcity and production complexity

• The JCAM19 calibre driving the Astronomia Solar comprises 447 components and incorporates 16 patents, representing genuine horological achievement rather than decorative excess

• Secondary market liquidity is lower than Swiss mainstream brands like Rolex or Patek Philippe, meaning finding the right buyer takes more time

• Provenance from notable cultural moments, such as Simu Liu's Met Gala appearance, adds a documented premium to specific references

For Australian buyers, access to Jacob and Co pieces is primarily through international platforms including Chrono24 and directly via the brand's authorised dealer network. Import duties and currency fluctuations are relevant considerations at these price points.

The Astronomia Solar Baguette is not an entry-level collector piece. It is a statement at the extreme end of what independent watchmaking produces, and its value proposition is tied to rarity, mechanical complexity and cultural visibility rather than brand heritage in the traditional Swiss sense.