Jacob & Co. sponsors Lionel Messi 01/2019 Best known for pushing the boundaries of traditional watchmaking with highly complicated timepieces that showcase the art of diamond-setting, Jacob & Co. may not immediately come to mind as a maker of sport watches.

Jacob & Co. signs deal with Cristiano Ronaldo 11/2014 Soccer superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo has become the ambassador of watch and jewelry maker Jacob & Co., which will be exploited in a major advertising campaign. Ronaldo, a forward for Real Madrid and captain of the Portuguese national team, is a long-standing client of the New York-based brand.“I’ve been a customer and fan of the brand for a long time so it is a natural fit. I always used Jacob watches, even before I knew Jacob,” said Ronaldo, referring to Jacob Arabo, the founder of Jacob & Co. “The brand absolutely stands for leadership in creativity. As a collector of the world’s finest watches, it’s obvious [to me] how much passion Jacob & Co. has for quality. On the set, I fell in love with the new Ghost watch. It’s a perfect fit for my lifestyle as I’m constantly traveling internationally.”The advertisements feature Ronaldo with Jacob & Co.’s new Ghost and SF 24 models, both of which offer multi-time-zone features and will make their debut at the Baselworld trade show at the end of this month.The high-profile campaign comes as Jacob & Co. aims to reinvent itself following a rocky chapter in its history. Arabo, once known as the “King of Bling” for his iced-out designs for a long roster of hip-hop and Hollywood clients, spent almost two years in federal prison from 2009 to 2010. He was charged with falsifying records and lying to agents who were investigating money laundering by a Detroit-based narcotics ring called the Black Mafia Family.“I think it signifies a complete re-launch of Jacob & Co.,” said Jacob CEO, Chris Del Gatto of the Ronaldo campaign. “He is one of the most famous soccer players in the world, but more than that he’s one of the most respected athletes in the world. He has attributes that we really feel mirror the Jacob & Co. brand. He’s superstylish, very smart, cares about how he looks and works really hard to stay on top of his game.”