Watch collectors 🤝 numismatists. The history of coin watches — miniature timepieces embedded in genuine gold coins or that repurpose coins as dials — can be traced back to the early 20th century. While it wasn't the first maison to make coin watches, Cartier stands out for their exceptional craftsmanship, which can be attributed to the famous salesman-turned-watchmaker Joseph Vergely. He designed the case where the coin was split in two and a recess was carved on one side to house the timepiece. The two sides are rejoined in a hinged fashion. Vergely would go on to run the European Watch and Clock Co. — a joint venture between Edmond Jaeger and Cartier — and he would play an instrumental role in the partnership between the two makers. As the coin watch grew in popularity, we started to see other brands adopt Vergely's style, including Piaget, Rolex, and Patek Philippe. Swipe to see coin watches from the #SothebysArchives where time is money and money is time, literally. Ready t...