Skeleton Watches

What is a skeleton watch?

A skeleton watch has a dial (and often a case back) cut away so you can see the gears, balance wheel and mainspring at work. Most skeleton watches use a mechanical or automatic movement, since there is no battery to hide. A related style, the open-heart dial, shows just the balance wheel through a small window.

Because the dial is busy, legibility depends on contrast: look for bold, lumed hands. Gold and black skeleton designs make a statement for occasions, while steel and blue versions are easier to wear daily. Compare with our automatic watches.