Cartier

The history of coin watches — miniature timepieces embedded in a genuine gold coins, or that repurposed coins as dials — 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 Co. — a joint venture between Edmond Jaeger and Cartier that granted Cartier exclusive access to all movements produced by Jaeger for a period of 15 years — and he would play an instrumental role in the partnership between Edmond Jaeger and Cartier. As the design grew in popularity, we started to see other brands adopt the coin form watch produced in the design of Vergely, including Piaget, Rolex, and Patek Philippe. 

Our present timepiece, circa 1927, features a rare and collectible U.S. Double Eagle coin minted in 1898. Furthermore it features a highly sought after European Watch and Clock Co. movement. The inside hinge cover is engraved ‘P.J.V.D_K.D.D. 1927’, and the case back of the concealed watch is engraved ‘vouloir c’est pouvoir', when there's a will there's a way in French.

A true marriage between two Grandes Maisons and their respective know-hows, and preserved in excellent condition, we are pleased to offer the present timepiece that feature the very best of Cartier design and craftsmanship, coupled with the highly desirable European Watch and Clock Co. movement: a true delight for the numismatists of the watch collecting community.