LIST: Out of the closet and onto the wrist – 6 of the best skeleton watches

Felix Scholz

Skeletonised watches — where the solid dial, and in some cases the entire movement, has been pared down and stripped away to leave the bare bones of the architecture — can be something of an acquired taste. And, as with all watches, the look can vary greatly, from ultra traditional to modern, depending on the execution. But at their heart, skeleton watches allow you to see more of your watch, exposing the complicated beauty to the wider world. Here are six of the best skeleton watches we’ve seen this year.

Panerai L’Astronomo Luminor 1950 Tourbillon Moon Phases Equation of Time

Let’s kick things off with one of the big dogs of SIHH: the Panerai L’Astronomo Luminor 1950 Tourbillon Moon Phases Equation of Time. Epic name, epic watch. Believe it or not, this is the first time Panerai has ever made a moon phase watch. But, as you can see, this is so much more than that, with an intricate, exceptional tourbillon and detail for days.

Raymond Weil Freelancer Calibre RW1212

A little simpler, but no less skeletonised than the Panerai, is Raymond Weil’s latest take on their RW1212, a movement they’re justifiably proud of, and clearly keen to show off to its best advantage.

TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph GMT Heuer 02

The aggressively modern styling of this Carrera has become something of a staple at TAG Heuer over the last few years, but now the movement is the impressive Heuer 02, and there’s even a GMT in the mix.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Squelette Titanium

Squelette. It’s Swiss for skeleton. And when it comes to the Octo Finissimo there wasn’t a lot of fat to remove from the bones of this watch, but, gosh, is it beautiful.

Zenith Defy Classic Skeleton

Zenith is all about the Defy this year, and while there’s lots of versions on offer, this Classic Skeleton, with its attractive star motif, is, well, one of the star entrants.

Franck Muller Vanguard S6 Yachting

Franck Muller has form with skeletonised watches, as the bold geometry of this Vanguard goes to show. Skeletonised watches are rarely subtle, and Franck Muller definitely leans into the boldness.