Lucien Piccard may not be one of the most well-known watches today, but it used to be one of the most coveted timepieces. Back in 1923, the first Lucien Piccard watch was made by hand in Switzerland, where the secrets of watchmaking had been developed for centuries. The watchmaker was so pleased with the watch that he named it after himself.
Early on, Lucien Piccard watches were in high demand, and the brand has continued developing and innovating ever since.
Let’s see what has made Lucien Piccard watches so attractive to watch lovers, and why many are still loyal to the brand.
From the onset, a distinct feature of Lucien Piccard wristwatches was the slim-line design. The brand has set a standard for lightweight wristwatches without compromising the precision of the watch’s movement. Nowadays, the watchmakers at Lucien Piccard incorporate classic design elements into the multi-layered dial designs and luxuriously appointed cases.
A great deal of Lucien Piccard’s charm comes from the fact that it used to be worn by royalty, statesmen, and celebrities. Iconic figures such as Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley styled themselves with a Lucien Piccard. The Ava Gardner Museum even houses a Frank Sinatra Watch, a Lucien Piccard made in 1960 incorporating a 17-jewel Swiss manual wind movement, and given to Sinatra by Gardner herself. The engraving on the 14K solid yellow gold case reads: ’’To Frank and desert nights – Ava.’’
It wasn’t until Lucien Piccard pioneered the use of precious gemstones in watchmaking that watch lovers could enjoy this added luxury. Soon, Lucien Piccard started encrusting its watches with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and citrines in a variety of colors and shapes.
Even today, Lucien Piccard designers consult with fashion designers on the trending colors and styles. By combining the Swiss precision with the blend of classic and contemporary designs, Lucien Piccard stays loyal to its luxurious look.
Lucien Piccard is one of the few watchmakers to offer lifetime warranties with each and every watch. The maintenance and repair of every watch are the responsibility of in-house watchmakers. Materials are carefully chosen to ensure durability and reliability. For example, a Lucien Piccard watch may be fitted with a highly scratch-resistant mineralized crystal or polished sapphire crystal protecting the dial. Sapphire is the most scratch-resistant crystal among watch crystals.
Lucien Piccard watches are made with a range of movements, from the all-time champion – the Swiss movement – and the highly reliable Japanese movement to the favorite among collectors – the automatic movement that needs no batteries.
Lucien Piccard also makes one of the most globally sought-after timepieces – moon phase wristwatches. These prized wristwatches, also called lunar watches, are specialized complications featured on watch dials. A window on the watch dial displays all the phases of the moon’s progression from new moon to last quarter, capturing the 29.53-day real-life cycle.
If your vintage Lucien Piccard needs repair or maintenance, stop by Leo Hamel’s on San Diego Avenue. Our watchmaker is CW21-certified and is fully equipped to repair Swiss and German-made wristwatches. If you are looking to buy a pre-owned Lucien Piccard, you can browse through our collection. Should you want to sell your own Lucien Piccard, visit one of our jewelry buyer locations in San Diego, La Mesa, Solana Beach, Oceanside or Rancho Bernardo and get a competitive price for your watch.