Guide
What is a skeleton watch?
Short answer
A skeleton watch has a dial, and often movement plates, cut away so you can see inside. Mechanical skeletons show the moving parts of the movement; quartz skeletons use layered openwork dials to create the same see-through depth with quartz accuracy.
What makes a watch a “skeleton” watch?
A skeleton watch has a dial, and often a case back, that is cut away so you can see inside the watch. On a traditional mechanical skeleton, the watchmaker removes as much metal as possible from the movement's plates and bridges while keeping it strong, then finishes the remaining edges by hand or machine. What's left looks like a frame, which is where the name comes from.
The term is used loosely in shopping, so it helps to know three related styles:
- Full skeleton: most of the dial and movement plates are removed. You see gears, springs and bridges across the whole face.
- Open-heart: a single round cut-out shows only the balance wheel ticking. The rest of the dial is solid.
- Openwork or layered dial: the dial is built in cut-away layers that create depth. This is common on quartz skeleton watches, where the movement itself is small and electronic.
Can a skeleton watch be quartz?
Yes. A quartz watch keeps time with a quartz crystal that vibrates 32,768 times a second, driving a small stepper motor. The movement is compact, so quartz skeleton watches use layered openwork dials, plates and wheels to create the see-through look. You get the visual depth of a skeleton watch with quartz accuracy and no winding. The Hexagon Storm is built this way.
If a listing doesn't say “automatic,” “mechanical” or “self-winding,” assume it's quartz and check the specifications.
Are skeleton watches harder to read?
They can be, because the hands sit over a busy background. Look for hands with a contrasting color or finish, a clear minute track and a dial color with good contrast. White and blue dials are usually the easiest to read; all-black skeletons are the hardest in low light.
How do you care for a skeleton watch?
- Keep it within its water-resistance rating. A 5 ATM watch is fine for rain and hand-washing, not swimming.
- Clean the crystal with a soft microfiber cloth. A sapphire crystal resists scratches but still shows fingerprints.
- For a quartz model, replace the battery when the second hand starts jumping in 4-second steps, a common low-battery signal on many quartz movements.
- For an automatic, wear it daily or keep it on a watch winder so it doesn't stop.
See the Hexagon Storm skeleton watch, a 46 mm hexagonal quartz skeleton watch in five colorways.
Quick answers
What is a skeleton watch?
A watch whose dial (and often movement plates) is cut away so you can see inside. Mechanical skeletons show the working movement; quartz skeletons use layered openwork dials to create the same see-through depth.
What is the difference between a skeleton and an open-heart watch?
An open-heart watch has one round opening that shows the balance wheel. A skeleton watch opens up most of the dial.
Are skeleton watches only automatic?
No. Many skeleton watches are quartz, which means no winding and higher accuracy. The Hexagon Storm is a quartz skeleton watch.