Baume & Mercier Lucchetto Padlock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Mid-20th century
Maker / issuer
Baume & MercierThe Baume & Mercier 'Lucchetto' is a ladies' wristwatch characterized by a design inspired by a padlock. The watch features a rectangular case crafted in 18K yellow gold, which is suspended within an arched frame that acts as the lug structure.
Measuring approximately 21mm in width, the watch houses a manually wound movement. The dial is silvered and includes applied gold baton indices and matching gold-toned hands. This piece reflects design trends from the 1950s and 1960s, a period during which the manufacturer produced various jewelry-focused watch designs. , with its architectural configuration derived from its namesake, the Italian word for padlock.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Ladies' dress watch
- Maker
- Baume & Mercier
- Strap
- Black leather
- Case width
- 21mm
- Dial color
- Silvered
- Case material
- 18K yellow gold
- Movement type
- Manually wound
- Naming origin
- Italian for padlock
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Maker / attribution
- Baume & Mercier
Design
- Visible features
- • Rectangular case suspended in a U-shaped frame • Applied baton hour markers on the dial • Signed 'BAUME & MERCIER GENEVE' on the dial • Crown positioned at the 12 o'clock side of the case
- Movement and Function
- The timepiece is powered by a manually wound mechanical movement housed inside the gold case. Information regarding the specific caliber or manufacturer of the movement is not provided in the source documentation. Despite its unconventional aesthetic, the object retains the operational features of a mid-century ladies' dress watch, requiring manual winding via the crown located at the top of the case.
- Case and Dial Architecture
- The watch case is constructed from 18K yellow gold in a rectangular form. It is distinctively mounted within a curved arched frame that connects to the strap, mimicking the appearance of a padlock. This design choice results in a silhouette that departs from conventional case shapes of the era. The silver-toned dial features applied baton indices in gold, paired with hands that match the case material. The minimalist layout of the dial is intended to emphasize the structural form of the case, which is designed to function as an item of jewelry as much as a timekeeping instrument.
- Provenance and Manufacturer
- Baume & Mercier was established in 1830 and is identified as a Swiss watchmaking entity. The firm is documented as having produced various jewelry-oriented watches during the 1950s and 1960s, a time described as the golden age of postwar design. The Lucchetto model is specifically noted as an example of the imaginative designs created by the company during this period. The object is framed as an expression of the creativity prevalent in mid-century watchmaking, categorized as both a watch and a decorative conversation piece.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Movement caliber details are not specified in the source
- Research required: Exact year of manufacture is not provided, only period attribution