PATEK PHILIPPE COIN WATCH, REF. 802J

The coin watch is a classic Patek Philippe timepiece that was first made in the 1920s and remained in limited production through the end of the 20th century. The series included the famous references 801, 802, and 803. However, it was not until the 1950s through the 1980s that coin watches were part of Patek Philippe’s regular production, and to this day, coin watches represent a form of understated luxury that only those in the know can appreciate. A coin watch is complicated to create as it needs to look exactly like a regular coin when the lid is closed. Only when opened, by a small latch concealed within the side of the coin is the watch revealed, and with it the realization that the ultra-slim watch movement, crystal, and case are all able to fit within the tiny space. From a production point of view, a minimum of two coins were sacrificed to make each coin watch. These works of art are a homage to the micro-mechanics and art of case making and watchmaking.

This ref. 802J features a gold dial with hand painted Breguet numerals. It is one of the earliest known ref. 802s and for that matter one of the earliest of all Patek Philippe coin watches and features a 9 lignes caliber based on the ultra thin Piaget 9P ebauche. The 9P caliber at only 2 mm thick was a world record-breaking caliber when it was introduced and the obvious choice for a coin watch.

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