Style
Skeleton
The movement itself is the dial.
- Best for
- Anyone who wants to see the mechanism working, and accepts trading some legibility for it.
Origin
An 18th-century display craft — cutting away every part of a movement not needed for strength — revived as a modern statement of finishing.
Hallmarks
The features that put a watch in this family.
- Bridges and mainplate pierced away, leaving only structural material
- Hand-bevelled and polished internal angles on every exposed edge
- Little or no dial; hands often filled with lume for legibility
- Frequently paired with a sapphire caseback so light passes through the watch
Iconic examples
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Openworked
- Cartier Santos Skeleton
- Hublot Big Bang Unico
- Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton
Keep reading
- Style
Digital
A screen, a resin case, and more functions than hands allow.
- Style
Vintage Reissue
An archive design rebuilt with modern reliability.
- Brand
Rolex
The benchmark of luxury sports watches.
- Brand
Omega
Moon-landing pedigree and modern anti-magnetic tech.
- Brand
Seiko
The brand that democratized the quartz revolution.
- Brand
Grand Seiko
Obsessive finishing and dials that capture nature.