Rolex

The history of coin watches can be traced back to the early 20th century. While not the first brand to make coin watches, Cartier in particular stands out for their exceptional craftsmanship, which can be attributed to the famous salesman turned watchmaker Joseph Vergely. To create the watch, the coin would be dissected at two sides and an interior within each side is carved to house the timepiece. Finally the two sides are rejoined in a hinged fashion. Largely credited with perfecting this technique, Vergely would go on to run the European Watch and Clock Company in Paris and play an instrumental role in the partnership between Edmond Jaeger and Cartier.

The coin watch regained popularity in the mid-20th century to the delight horology and numismatic enthusiasts. Our present lot is an example by Rolex in the Cellini collection. The name Cellini pays tribute to the renowned Italian Renaissance artist and goldsmith, Benvenuto Cellini, and a fitting collection for the present timepiece. The skill required to make the case for these coin watches also meant that only brands with the best technical know how manufactured these pieces. As one of the leading horology firms, Rolex offered several examples of the coin watch such as a one hundred Francs commemorative gold coin, a five British pound gold coin, or like our present example, housed in a commemorative twenty U.S. dollar gold coin.