Watch GlossaryOpen Heart Watch
An open heart watch is characterised by a cutout on the dial, which showcases the balance wheel or other components of the movement, allowing one to see the mechanical functioning of the watch
May We Recommend
What is an open heart watch?
An open heart watch is a timepiece that reveals a part of the inner workings of the watch movement—particularly the escapement and balance wheel. This is not to be confused with a skeletonised timepiece, where a larger part of the movement is on display, though it does come under the ambit of an open-worked dial. This kind of a watch usually has a cutout on the dial that showcases the mechanical artistry, thereby allowing the wearer to appreciate the beauty of fine watchmaking. The concept of an open heart watch is also a creative expression in horology, where the balance is compared to the human heart—ticking and breathing life into a watch. The display window is generally designed in the form of a circle, a semi-circle or in some cases even ‘heart-shaped’. This combination of artistry where both the mechanics and functionality are on display, makes open heart watches quite popular among watch enthusiasts and collectors’ circles.
Popular brands making open heart watches
In the fine watchmaking business some of the popular brands that have earned a rightful place in developing open heart watches are Rado, Zenith, Frederique Constant, Raymond Weil, Seiko, Tissot, and Edox among others.
