Round-UpThe Beauty Of Transparent Timekeeping: Top 10 Outstanding Skeleton Watches

The concept of skeleton dial watches dates to the 1760s, when French watchmaker André-Charles Caron stripped off every inch of the dial and certain non-essential components on a pocket watch to give pride of place to the inner mechanism. It took another 200 years for skeleton watches to become part of mainstream watchmaking, when the Swiss watchmaking industry was on the brink of collapse due to the quartz revolution. To justify the use of mechanical movements—expensive and less accurate than their quartz counterparts—Swiss watchmakers produced skeleton watches that showcased the technical essence of handmade mechanical movements. Soon, brands such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Jaeger-LeCoultre made skeleton watches their sole focus of production. Audemars Piguet even created a whole skeletonisation department within their company.  Today, several prestigious watchmakers produce open-worked timepieces with handcrafted finesse and technical prowess. Listed below are few examples of impressive open-worked timepieces.

Here’s a list of the Top 10 Skeleton Watches in 2024

1. Arnold & Son Nebula 41.5
2. Bovet Pininfarina Aperto 1
3. Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton 8 Days
4. Corum Golden Bridge
5. Jacob & Co. Epic X Titanium
6. Louis Moinet Memoris Skeleton
7. Norqain Independence 22 Skeleton
8. Rado True Square Automatic Open Heart
9. Raymond Weil Freelancer Calibre RW1212
10. Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton

Arnold & Son Nebula 41.5

With several timepieces in their repertoire that strike a perfect visual balance, Arnold & Son have become synonymous with symmetry and order, through their near-perfect symmetry in its dial—both vertically and horizontally. The Arnold & Son Nebula is powered by the in-house movement A&S5101 from the ground-up to be skeletonised, along with displaying an anthracite flange, highlighted with golden appliques. The movement features two mainspring barrels that combine to provide an impressive 90-hour power reserve. Beating at 21,600vph, the A&S5101 powers the small seconds indicator at seven o’clock and the central hour and minute hands. The timepiece is presented in a 41.5mm case—available in 18-karat red gold and stainless steel—and has a slim profile with classical proportions, making it extremely comfortable to wear in a formal setting.

Arnold & Son Nebula 41.5 In A Nutshell

• Case: 18-karat red gold 5N; 41.5mm; with domed antireflective sapphire crystal; skeleton dial
• Functions and display: Super-LumiNova applied hands and hour markers; anthracite flange, golden appliques; small seconds indicator at seven o’clock
• Movement: Automatic self-winding calibre A&S5101; 90-hour power reserve; 21,600vph
• Strap: Grey alligator leather, hand-stitched; pin buckle

Bovet Pininfarina Aperto 1

The Bovet Pininfarina Aperto 1 timepiece comes in blue and yellow versions, fitted with the Amadeo case that can transform into a pendant, table clock and pocket watch. Cradled within the 42mm grade-5 titanium case is a skeletonised dial in titanium, the coaxial being the show stealer, showcasing a triangular frame and raised button from which stem the two watch hands. The watch runs on the in-house calibre 15BMPF09-OW; each of these calibres takes an impressive amount of time to manufacture. For instance, it takes almost 10 hours for hand finishing of the plates and bridges. Further, the flanks are given uniform graining, the bevels, screws, and stone gouges are polished, and surfaces are decorated in Perlage, circular Côtes de Genève; and chamfering techniques, with PVD or CVD coating in black or a tantalum-grey hue. Held in place by 38 jewels, the movement offers an impressive seven-day power reserve and beats at 21,600vph. Another subtle feature is the design alluding to flower petals along the area, usually occupied by the outer minute track.

Bovet Pininfarina Aperto 1 In A Nutshell

• Case: Grade-5 titanium with patented Amadeo technology, 42mm; sapphire crystal
• Functions and display: Triangular frame and raised button coaxial from which stem the two hands; Super-LumiNova applied hands and hour markers
• Movement: Automatic self-winding Bovet calibre 15BMPF09-OW; decorated in Perlage, circular Côtes de Genève finishes; and chamfering techniques; 38 jewels; seven-day power reserve; 21,600vph
• Strap: Two interchangeable rubber straps with titanium Ardillion buckles

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton 8 Days

Octo Finissimo literally translates to ‘very fine eighth’ in Italian, and Bulgari used the term to create ultra-thin skeleton editions measuring 5.9mm in thickness under the Octo collection. The Octo Finissimo Skeleton Eight Days in rose gold. The contrast created between the golden exterior and indexes, and the black and grey of the inner layers, adds visual depth to the dial display. Sized at 40mm in diameter, the case retains the splendour of the Octo line, with satin-finishing on pink gold, and direct view of the movement via the transparent caseback.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton 8 Days In A Nutshell

• Case: Octogonal shaped, 18-karat rose gold; 40mm in diameter, 5.9mm in thickness; sapphire crystal; open 18-karat rose gold crown set with a black ceramic insert
• Functions and display: Date aperture, Super-LumiNova applied hands and hour markers; anthracite PVD skeletonised bridges; small seconds counter; upto 30m water resistance
• Movement: Ultra-thin movement with manual winding, BVL 199 SK calibre; eight-day power reserve; 21’600vph
• Strap: Dark brown alligator leather with pin buckle

Corum Golden Bridge 

The Corum Golden Bridge skeleton watches became the ultimate gamechanger when it was unveiled in 1980, with parts of the movement stacked one above the other like a ‘baguette’ over, which sits a decorative bridge and the watch hands. This arrangement is bang centre from a spring barrel at six o’clock to the escapement placed at 12 o’clock. A 34x51mm diamond-studded rose gold tonneau case and a protective sapphire crystal frames the golden bridge, resulting in a see-through transparent dial. On the technical side, the timepiece is equipped with CO113 manual-winding calibre that beats at 28,800vph and provides a 40-hour power reserve. It is attached to a supple brown alligator leather strap ending in a nice butterfly folding buckle featuring the Corum logo.

Corum Golden Bridge In A Nutshell

• Case: 18-karat red gold 5N tonneau shape; 34x 51mm; 319 round diamonds; with sapphire crystal
• Functions and display: 5N gold-toned Baton, skeleton hands; Decorative golden bridge with movement
• Movement: Manual-winding calibre CO113; 40-hour power reserve; 28,800vph
• Strap: Brown alligator leather with 18-karat red gold 5N triple folding clasp

Jacob & Co. Epic X Titanium

Jacob & Co unveiled their Epic X collection in 2015, which can be classified as monocoque (French for ‘single shell’, implying chassis). They strip off the brand’s usual ‘decorative shenanigans’ plus chunks from the case and caseback, to only retain and expose the parts that run the wristwatch—the movement and internals. Without the refuge of dials, sub-dials, hour markers, and casebacks, even the tiny imperfections in the exposed movement and internals—now directly beneath the sapphire crystal—appear magnified. One can easily spot the movement’s various parts such as the bridges, balance spring and wheels, and mainspring barrel. There’s the barrel at 12 o’clock and barrel wheel at six o’clock. Even the metal screws and purple-hued 21 jewels are visible. The models run on JCAM02, a manual-winding skeleton calibre made from an impressive 158 parts. It functions at 28,800 vph and offers 48-hour power reserve.

Jacob & Co. Epic X Titanium In A Nutshell

• Case: Titanium, 44mm; antireflective sapphire crystal
• Functions and display: Baton, skeletonised Super-LumiNova applied hands and hour markers; Black neoralithe; upto 100m water resistance
• Movement: Automatic self-winding calibre JCAM45; 48-hour power reserve; 28,800vph
• Strap: Honeycomb rubber; titanium pin buckle

Jacob & Co unveiled their Epic X collection in 2015, which can be classified as monocoque (French for ‘single shell’, implying chassis)

₹23,00,000

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This particular model is stripped off the brand’s usual ‘decorative shenanigans’ plus chunks from the case and caseback, to only retain and expose the parts that run the wristwatch—the movement and internals

₹23,00,000

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Without the refuge of dials, sub-dials, hour markers, and casebacks, even the tiny imperfections in the exposed movement and internals—now directly beneath the sapphire crystal—appear magnified

₹23,00,000

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Even the metal screws and purple-hued 21 jewels are visible. The models run on JCAM02, a manual-winding skeleton calibre made from an impressive 158 parts

₹23,00,000

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01

Louis Moinet Memoris Skeleton 

The Louis Moinet Memoris skeleton watches are made from 18-karat rose gold and lightweight titanium, with polished and satin-brushed surface. The versions are inbuilt with running seconds and 30-minute chronograph counter at nine and three o’clock, allowing an unimpeded view of the mesmerising setup in titanium through the sapphire crystal. This watch is powered by the self-winding calibre LM79—Louis Moinet developed in collaboration with movement manufacturer Concepto—that offers upto 48-hour power reserve. Although the chronograph mechanism steals the show on the dial, the opposite side of the movement, visible through the exhibition caseback, is also a feast for the eyes with the gold-coloured guilloche-finished rotor attached to it. The side profile of the timepiece reveals the crown engraved with the brand’s Fleur de Lys logo in addition to the single chronograph push-piece.

Louis Moinet Memoris Skeleton In A Nutshell

• Case: 18-karat rose gold, polished and satin-brushed surface; 46mm; sapphire crystal; green, blue, red, and violet colour dials
• Functions and display: Skeletonised tricompax setup and movement in titanium; Super-LumiNova applied hands and hour markers; upto 50m water resistance
• Movement: Automatic self-winding calibre LM79; gold-coloured guilloche-finished rotor; 48-hour power reserve; 28,800vph
• Strap: Black leather with folding clasp

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Norqain Independence 22 Skeleton

Norqain launched their first skeletonised sports watch in 2021. The Independence 22 Skeleton 42mm is crafted entirely from 316L polished, satined, sandblasted stainless steel. The movement’s open-worked structure is based on the architecture principles of beam construction, where each support point is held by at least two arms. The indexes as well as the skeletonised hour, minute, and seconds hands are filled with X1 Super-LumiNova, which is 60 percent stronger than standard Super-LumiNova. The 42mm black version comes with a polished and sandblasted case in DLC coating, powered by the chronometer-certified calibre NN08S and visible through the sapphire caseback. The watch comes attached to an integrated DLC-coated stainless-steel with on-the-fly micro-adjustment or an integrated, animal cruelty-free, black rubber strap with Milanese structure.

Norqain Independence 22 Skeleton In A Nutshell

• Case: 316L stainless steel, 42mm; DLC-coated, polished, satined, sandblasted; sapphire crystal on both sides
• Functions and display: skeletonised hour, minute, and seconds hands are filled with X1 Super-LumiNova; upto 100m water resistance
• Movement: Chronometer-certified calibre NN08S; 42-hour power reserve; 28,800vph
• Strap: Integrated, animal cruelty-free, rubber strap with Milanese structure or 316L stainless steel bracelet

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Rado True Square Automatic Open Heart

The True Square Automatic Open Heart is a classic Rado timepiece. It features all the three elements for which the Swiss watchmakers are best known—square shape, rounded edges, and ceramic construction. However, what makes this timepiece a truly modern timekeeping device is its monobloc case made from injection-moulding technology. The 38mm True Square Open Heart weighs as light as a titanium watch and offers exceptional durability and hypoallergenic properties, thanks to its ceramic-built case and integrated bracelet. Exemplifying Rado‘s obsession with paying attention to the tiniest details is the flawlessly executed open-worked dial of the timepiece. Unlike several other skeleton watches available in the market, the dial of True Square Open Heart is painstakingly constructed to celebrate the architecture of the movement, and it doesn’t appear like an afterthought. It features a large circular aperture housing the balance wheel at 12 o’clock, and a smaller round aperture at seven o’clock, along with a minute track at the periphery of the dial. Meanwhile, the gold indices and hands add a sense of luxury to the timepiece. The True Square Open Heart comes equipped with the automatic calibre C07 that is based on ETA 2824-2. It includes 25 jewels, and offers an impressive power reserve of 80 hours. The titanium watch is decorated with a combination of Perlage and Côtes de Genève detailing, and is viewable through an exhibition caseback. 

Rado True Square Automatic Open Heart In A Nutshell

• Case: Monobloc High-Tech Ceramic, 38mm; Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides
• Functions and display: Super-LumiNova applied gold hands and indices; upto 100m water resistance
• Movement: Automatic calibre ETA 2824-2; Perlage and Côtes de Genève detailing; 25 jewels; 80-hour power reserve; 28,800vph
• Strap: High-Tech Ceramic integrated bracelet

The True Square Open Heart features all the three elements for which Rado are best known—the square shape, rounded edges, and ceramic construction

₹2,54,800

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Unlike most skeleton watches, the dial of True Square Open Heart is painstakingly constructed to celebrate the architecture of the movement

₹2,54,800

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Exemplifying Rado's obsession with paying attention to the tiniest details is the flawlessly executed open-worked dial of the timepiece

₹2,54,800

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The timepiece weighs as light as a titanium-built watch and offers exceptional durability and hypoallergenic properties, thanks to its ceramic-built case and integrated bracelet

₹2,54,800

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The watch comes equipped with the automatic calibre C07, which is based on ETA 2824-2. It includes 25 jewels, and offers an impressive minimum power reserve of 80 hours

₹2,54,800

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01

Raymond Weil Freelancer Calibre RW1212

A year after Raymond Weil built their first in-house movement RW1212 in 2017 with Swiss movement manufacturer, Sellita, the brand introduced their exclusive skeletonised version of the Freelancer Calibre RW1212 that filled the void for accessible open-worked timepieces. The pictured model exudes a brown colour palette, featuring a 42mm stainless steel case with bronze bezel showcasing a patina lustre. The skeleton movement comes with an attractive perlage decoration and perfectly executed finishing. The most distinguishing feature is its exposed balance wheel on the dial with a bridge over it at six o’clock that resembles a tourbillon. The barrel-shaped central minute and hour hands are powered by the self-winding RW1212 movement that beats at 28,800vph and offers a 41-hour power reserve. The Freelancer Calibre RW1212 is fashioned with an aged brown leather strap with a stainless steel folding clasp that has a double-push security system.

Raymond Weil Freelancer Calibre RW1212 In A Nutshell

• Case: Stainless steel, 42mm; bronze bezel; sapphire crystal with dual-sided antiglare treatment
• Functions and display: Date aperture; Super-LumiNova applied hands and hour markers; tourbillon at six o’clock; bronze crown, screwed and fluted with RW monogram
• Movement: Automatic self-winding calibre RW1212; 41-hour power reserve; 28,800vph
• Strap: Aged brown leather with folding clasp

The most distinguishing feature of the Raymond Weil Freelancer Calibre RW1212 is its exposed balance wheel on the dial with a bridge over it at six o’clock that resembles a tourbillon

This model exudes a brown colour palette, featuring a 42mm stainless steel case with bronze bezel showcasing a patina lustre

Raymond Weil Freelancer

₹3,33,000

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Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton 

With an open-worked dial, and perfectly sized for petite wrists, the lightweight, and comfortable-to-wear Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton is a great choice for anyone who desires a skeleton timepiece with a distinctive appeal. Launched in 2018, Zenith introduced this timepiece as an entry-level model in the Defy range. Although it doesn’t feature the brand’s iconic El Primero 21 movement, the Defy Classic is by no means lesser than its bigger siblings in the line-up. With a 41mm titanium-built case, the timepiece resists the temptation of falling into the category of bulky luxury sports watches and doesn’t feel overwhelming on the wrist. Zenith’s high craftsmanship and ingenious engineering are laid bare by the watch’s open-worked dial. Shaped like the edges of a star, inspired by the brand’s star logo, the skeletal framework features a refreshing blue tone. Despite the central three-hand timekeeping system, lume-filled hour markers, a date aperture at six o’clock, and a blue chapter ring, the timepiece remains legible without looking cluttered. The exposed movement El Primero 3620 is visible from both sides and has slim proportions. Thanks to its silicon pallet lever and escape wheel, the movement offers a respectable 50-hour power reserve.

Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton In A Nutshell

• Case: Bronze with satin finish, 42mm, with sapphire crystal
• Functions and display: Blue skeletal framework shaped like edges of the Zenith star motif; Date aperture at six o’clock, Super-LumiNova applied hands and hour markers; blue chapter ring
• Movement: Automatic self-winding calibre El Primero 3620; 50-hour power reserve; 28,800vph
• Strap: Interchangeable steel bracelet and blue patterned rubber strap

Zenith Defy

₹10,90,000

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