Swiss gold watch set into U.S. 20 dollar coin dated 1885 Circa 1980

Gold keyless lever coin watch 
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A fine and thin Swiss 18 carat gold keyless watch set into a U.S. 20 dollar coin dated 1885, made by Eska Watch Co in Grenchen, circa 1980. The rhodium plated movement with 17 jewels, a straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance and self compensating flat balance spring, adjusted to temperature and five positions. Matte silver dial with painted baton hour indexes, Arabic 12 and original blued steel hands. A double case, the coin opening with a push piece concealed in the band and a three body hinged inner case. Dial and movement signed, case signed Kocher & Co Swiss.
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Diameter: 34 mm
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Thickness: 4 mm
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Signed: Eska Swiss
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In 1918, Eska was founded by Sylvan Kocher in Selzach, Switzerland, under the name S. Kocher & Co, phonetically abbreviated to “Eska”. From the beginning, the brand stood out for its classic watches, particularly in emerging markets such as Brazil and the U.S.A.
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Because of its success, Eska needed more space. Therefore, Kocher moved the company from Selzach to Grenchen in 1937, a Swiss town renowned for its watchmaking expertise. This relocation allowed the brand to expand its production, strengthening its presence on international markets.
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In 1940, Eska expanded across the Atlantic, mainly in the North American and Brazilian markets.
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By the late 1940s, the brand included manual and automatic watches, as well as models with a full calendar, moon phases and chronographs.
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Designed in 1959 as a durable diver’s watch, the Amphibian 600 became Eska’s flagship model. Used by the French Navy and popularized by Roy Rogers. It was often compared to Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms for its bold design and diving reliability.
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In the early 1980s, the Swiss watch industry was brutally shaken by the quartz crisis, but the Eska brand was still seen on the wrists of international personalities such as Mireille D’Arc and Pelé.
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In 1987, due to the watchmaking crisis and the rise of quartz watches, Eska ceased operations after nearly 70 years, with more than 250 models in its catalogue. The temporary end of an iconic brand.
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In 2024, the Eska Amphibian 250 Kickstarter was launched as a project by two watchmaking enthusiasts, Christophe Chevreton and Sinicha Knezevic, wishing to revive the prestigious past of the brand.