Love peering into the inner workings of your timepiece? These skeleton dial watches will satisfy your mechanical cravings.
1. Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic
We start strong with a limited edition piece created by Zenith in partnership with Time+Tide. The Zenith White Surfer is a masterpiece of a skeleton watch. It comes boasting a striking white ceramic case with a gradient blue cutout dial showing the inner workings of the high-beat movement.
Inside this 41mm case is an El Primero 3620 SK calibre that ticks at 36,000 vibrations per hour with an impressive 55-hour power reserve. Zenith wanted to show off the high vibration rate, so they dedicated a 10-second sub-dial at 6 o'clock, which makes the seconds hand movement more pronounced. The timepiece is available with a matching white ceramic bracelet or a rubber one.
This bold watch will surely get you looks and questions with its incredible design and build. If you want one, be quick about it, as the White Surfer is limited to 100 pieces.
2. NORQAIN WILD ONE Skeleton 39mm Mint
NORQAIN's WILD One lineup just got a fresh infusion with four new skeleton models featuring a 39mm case and vivid color schemes. Case in point, here we highlight the Mint version, which is a limited edition model that collectors will love.
The watch packs serious strength in a featherweight form. Its proprietary NORTEQ carbon fibre case is ultra-though, ultra-light at 64g, and built to handle whatever adventure you throw its way.
Its dial is composed of alien-like structures strategically placed to show as much as possible while keeping everything together. Finished in sleek ruthenium black, the skeletonised Calibre NORQAIN NB08S movement takes cues from beam architecture, where each support point is reinforced by dual arms for maximum strength and stability. NORQAIN also offers the Wild ONE 39mm in three other intense colour options.
3. Hamilton Ventura Elvis80 Skeleton Auto
Hamilton broke all the conventions of mechanical watch design to create this masterpiece. This watch on your wrist will look like a piece of futuristic steampunk tech with its flared layers at the top and bottom and a crown that resembles the tip of a jet engine ready to spit a pillar of flame.
This 42.5mm behemoth watch demands attention, and it'll only pull you in closer as it reveals its inner workings through its skeleton dial. A bold red zigzag dances at the heart of the dial, perfectly echoing the luminous glow of the gold PVD-coated triangular case, a design choice that adds an extra splash of attitude to a watch that already brings plenty.
4. Mido Multifort Skeleton Vertigo
MIDO's Multifort lineup also includes a skeleton watch, interestingly named the Vertigo.
Inside its 42mm case is MIDO's Calibre 80 with an impressive 80-hour power reserve that you can clearly see through the partially exposed mainspring.
Its striking aesthetic is completed by sleek, comet-shaped indices placed on a muted grey background that perfectly complement the mechanical artistry of the centre. With its more subtle skeletonised window, the Mido strikes the perfect balance between standout design and everyday wearability.
5. Tissot T-Complication Squelette Mechanical
The Tissot T-Complication Squelette offers you nothing short of pure mechanical bliss. Coming with a large 43mm stainless steel case, it's powered by the skeletonized ETA 6497 movement.
If you appreciate tiny details, then this will be a feast for your eyes. For instance, the hands and edges on the indices have been coated in deep blue, while on the movement, you can spot screws with blue tips. On the backside, the splendidly-painted blued screw heads contrast against the brilliant magenta jewels.
Moreover, the movement's steel skeleton is finished with spiraling strokes, while the brass gears and hairspring provide another great contrast of colour. This watch is meant to be enjoyed thoroughly, and it gives you a lot to contemplate.
6. Hamilton Jazzmaster Skeleton Lady Auto
Bold-looking yet classy, the Jazzmaster is an awesome Skeleton watch that has nothing to hide. This 36mm ladies' watch easily demands attention by putting on display its inner workings. Its stainless steel case seamlessly transitions into the pristine white dial with cutouts shaped like the major components of the H-10S movement underneath it.
The escapement can be seen swinging away, and it's a detail you'll usually only find in very high-end watches. An exposed mainspring doubles as a power reserve indicator, not that you'd need to check with its 80-hour long reserve.
7. Christopher Ward Bel Canto Azzuro
While the Christopher Ward Bel Canto isn’t a full skeleton, its open-worked dial makes a strong case for mechanical artistry.
The watch was designed to showcase its chiming complication in full view, complete with visible hammer, gong, and bridges, all set against a richly textured guilloché dial.
While the core Sellita SW200 movement remains hidden and untouched by typical skeletonisation, the Bel Canto still dazzles with its openwork charm, making it a must-see entry in our collection.
Skeleton dial watches look even better in person! Don't take our word for it and come down to our Watch Discovery Studio located in Collins Street in Melbourne to see for yourself!
