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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Ladies' dress watch

Baume & Mercier Lucchetto Padlock

Partially verified

The 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.

A frontal view of the Baume & Mercier Lucchetto Padlock watch featuring its gold rectangular case and arched frame structure.
A frontal view of the Baume & Mercier Lucchetto Padlock watch featuring its gold rectangular case and arched frame structure. — Analog:Shift. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
analogshift.com
Category
Wristwatch · Ladies' dress watch
Maker / attribution
Baume & Mercier
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
AS12477
Source-reported date
Mid-20th century
Source-reported place
Switzerland

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

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.

Evidence for this section
  • “distinctive rectangular case is suspended within a graceful arched frame”
  • “silvered dial is beautifully restrained, featuring applied gold baton indices and matching hands”
  • “the watch feels almost like a miniature piece of modernist jewelry”

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.

Evidence for this section
  • “Powering this piece is a manually wound movement”
  • “the watch possesses all the refinement one expects from a mid-century ladies' dress watch”

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.

Evidence for this section
  • “Founded in 1830, Baume & Mercier has long occupied a unique place in Swiss watchmaking”
  • “Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the firm produced a number of imaginative jewelry watches”
  • “the Lucchetto remains a wonderful reminder that some of the most memorable watches are the ones willing to be a little playful”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific movement caliber used in the Lucchetto model?
  • Are there hallmarking details on the case to confirm the gold standard or origin?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Baume & Mercier Lucchetto Padlock
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerBaume & Mercier“Baume & Mercier”
Case material18K yellow gold“Crafted in 18K yellow gold”
Case width21mm“At just 21mm across”
Movement typeManually wound“Powering this piece is a manually wound movement”
Dial colorSilvered“The silvered dial is beautifully restrained”
Naming originItalian for padlock“the Italian word for "padlock.”
StrapBlack leather“black leather strap”

Visible details

  • 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

Research qualifications

  • Movement caliber details are not specified in the source
  • Exact year of manufacture is not provided, only period attribution

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

ساعت مچی Baume & Mercier مدل Lucchetto Padlock

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record b9f47e8fc3