Extremely rare coin-sized Rolex watch, priced at over 500 million VND

(Dan Tri) - With limited production, this watch model is always sought after, even though the resale price is not cheap.

The mid-20th century saw a resurgence in coin watches. Luxury brands created ultra-thin, high-quality watches that were mounted in real gold coins. They appealed to collectors because of their combination of numismatic art and watchmaking.

Companies perfected the technique of splitting the coin in half and mounting the two halves around a tiny clockwork mechanism. During this period, coin watches became a symbol of luxury and technical sophistication, fitting into the trend of watches not just being timepieces, but also statements of status and design.

Making a coin watch is a complex process that requires an extremely thin movement and a case that is precisely crafted to match the original thickness of the coin. The design goal is to make the watch look exactly like a regular coin when closed, with the dial only revealed when the hinged cover is opened via a hidden pin.

Many Swiss manufacturers have placed their watch movements inside coins to demonstrate the miniaturization of watches. In addition to wristwatches, coin watches are also of interest to collectors. They appreciate the craftsmanship and want to own these rare vintage pieces.

The front of the Cellini Coin watch features the Statue of Liberty and the year 1904 (Photo: Christie's).

Not out of this trend, Rolex joined the production race, demonstrating their mastery of both watchmaking and artistic design.

Using historically significant and pure gold coins, such as the $20 coin, they created the Cellini Coin Watch. This watch was produced in very limited quantities, making it rare and highly sought after by collectors.

Encased on the outside of the hand-wound movement is an 18K gold $20 coin. The front of the coin features the Statue of Liberty. The back features the American bald eagle emblem. The design has a hidden button on the side at 3 o’clock to open the dial and reveal the small watch inside.

Currently, some collectors or resale floors are selling this design for around 20,000 USD (527 million VND), depending on the condition and specific model.

In April 2024, Christie's auction house sold the Cellini Coin Ref. 3612 for $22,680 (over 597 million VND), complete with pouch, hang tag, product documentation, box and outer packaging. Previously, Christie's estimated the price for this design at $20,000-30,000 (527-790.5 million VND).

Cellini Coin 50 peso version with leather strap (Photo: Sotheby's).

In addition to the $20 coin, the Swiss manufacturer also introduced several other versions, including the 100 Franc commemorative gold coin and the 5 pound gold coin.

In 1971, the brand produced a special large-sized limited edition of 10 pieces to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Centenario (a Mexican 50 peso gold coin) and the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Cordoba - the treaty that established Mexican independence.

The 39mm case offers a more robust look on the wrist than other collectible coin watches. The watch is shaped like a 50 peso gold coin dating from 1821-1947, engraved with the words "Libertad - Independencia" on the strap.

According to Hodinkee, the pre-sale estimate is $8,000-$10,000, which is quite high for a 1971 Cellini. But it's quite low for a truly historic limited edition Rolex.

Due to its scarcity, this coin watch version rarely comes to market. As such, the design is considered a hard-to-find watch and is highly sought after by various collectors. The Cellini Coin 50 Pesos is also considered one of the most important examples of coin-themed watchmaking ever to come to market.

In 2024, Sotheby's auctioned this watch model with an estimated price of 40,000-80,000 CHF (1.3-2.6 billion VND). After the auction ended, the watch was "hammered" at a price of 84,000 CHF (more than 2.7 billion VND).

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giai-tri/dong-ho-rolex-be-bang-dong-xu-cuc-hiem-co-gia-hon-500-trieu-dong-20250824131039779.htm