Orient Coin Watch I120-46101 – Cal. 12040, 21 Jewels Manual Wind – Coin Dial St Paul's Cathedral – 1970s

A watch dial that is a commemorative coin: the Queen's profile in raised relief, the minted inscription encircling it, a fine beaded border at the edge – and two slender hands in the middle. Orient produced such coin watches in the 1970s, when ornate coin dials were in vogue worldwide. Today, they are a distinct little category for collectors.

The Motif: St Paul's Cathedral, 1872

The dial design is modeled after a British commemorative coin. In addition to ELIZABETH II, the inscription mentions St Paul's Cathedral and the year 1872 – the year a solemn thanksgiving service was held at the cathedral after the then-Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII, recovered from a life-threatening illness. The service was one of the great public events of Victorian London and was commemorated in medals at the time.

Orient did not make a faithful reproduction of this, but rather a creative composition: a contemporary coin portrait and a historical occasion translated into a dial. That is precisely the appeal of this type of watch – it cites coin minting as a design language without copying a specific coin.

For clarification: This is a dial with a coin motif, not an actual coin mounted in a case. We state this explicitly so that there is clarity about the nature of the watch from the outset.

The Movement

The watch is powered by the Orient caliber 12040 with 21 jewels – a classic mechanical manual-wind movement without a battery, which is wound via the crown on the side. The power reserve was measured at 25 hours after a full wind, a solid value for a movement of this age, indicating that the mainspring barrel and gear train are in good order.

Orient is one of the three major Japanese watch manufacturers and has always focused on mechanical movements – even when the rest of the industry switched to quartz. That a decorative coin watch of all things features a fully-fledged 21-jewel manual-wind movement is typical of the brand.

Design and Character

The entire dial surface is executed as a minted coin: the profile portrait in raised relief, the legend in capital letters, a ring of dots as a minute track. Indices are omitted entirely – the time is read from the position of the two blackened hands. In the light, the relief comes to life, shifting between matte gold and sharp luster.

The gold-plated case measures 33 mm without the crown, with a 39 mm lug-to-lug distance and a height of just 8.8 mm. At 30 grams, the watch is one of the lightest in our inventory; it disappears under any cuff. The lug width is 16 mm; it comes on a new black leather strap.

Condition

Visible signs of wear on the case. The crystal shows moderate scratches; they are shown unretouched in the product photos and are agreed upon as the condition.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Orient
• Model: Coin Watch
• Case reference: I120-46101
• Caliber: Orient 12040
• Movement: mechanical manual wind
• Jewels: 21 jewels
• Measured power reserve: approx. 25 hours
• Functions: hour, minute
• Dial: coin motif with profile portrait of Elizabeth II, inscription St Paul's Cathedral 1872
• Case material: gold-plated
• Diameter without crown: 33 mm
• Lug-to-lug: 39 mm
• Height: 8.8 mm
• Lug width: 16 mm
• Weight incl. strap: 30 g
• Dating: 1970s
• Strap: new black leather strap
• Origin: Japan

For whom?

For collectors of coin watches – a unique little category where Japanese models with fully-fledged mechanical movements are the exception. For anyone looking for a dial that is a conversation starter. And for slender wrists: at 33 mm with a height of 8.8 mm, it wears completely unobtrusively.

Warranty (used)

This is a used item. The limitation period for claims for defects (statutory warranty) is 12 months from delivery.

Note

As this is a used watch, water resistance cannot be guaranteed. To protect the movement, the watch should not come into contact with water or moisture.