Manufacturer: Baume & Mercier Year: 1961 Reference No: 30308 Case No: 194'956 Material: 18K yellow gold and enamel Calibre: Manual, 17 jewels Dimensions: 40.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
Catalogue Essay
This beautiful enamel openface watch depicts a young lady wearing an intricate dress and reading a letter. Adorned with a single cross on her neck, she stares coquettishly at the viewer and is assertive in appearance. This miniature is rendered beautifully, and executed with the highest degree of finesse and skill. The smallest details are designed and painted precisely - for example, each eyebrow is crisp, visible and done with attention to detail. Most notably, the edge of the enamel is signed L. Chappaz 1961. Luce Chappaz was an incredibly talented enamelist, having lent her skills to the top manufacturers of the 20th century such as Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. She is most famous for her vast and skillfully made dome clocks, which are vibrant and expansive.
The reverse of the openface watch displays a dial that barely shows any signs of aging and is painted with Breguet numerals.
Considering the quality and beauty of the present timepiece, one can only conclude that this watch was made as a one-off for an exhibition or a special presentation to showcase Baume & Mercier's skill and know-how. Furthermore, the enamel is preserved in excellent condition without any cracks and remains intact throughout.