With their more or less worked openwork dial, the skeleton watches exert a real power of fascination. Beyond simple aesthetic considerations, this design allows them to display their mechanism from almost all angles.
If this type of architecture is often found on luxury watches, you will see that some brands also offer nice skeleton models at affordable prices. Discover therefore our selection of 5 beautiful skeleton watches between 400 and 1250€.
LIP Himalaya Hourglass
A great classic from the house of LIP, the Himalaya was born following a discussion between Fred Lip and his friend Lionel Terray, a high mountain guide. But it is also (and above all) the mountaineer Maurice Herzog, the first to climb Annapurna, who contributed to the popularity of this model.
This one has not lost any of its charm over time, quite the opposite! Especially in this “Hourglass” version, with the particular opening of its dial. You can see the gears of the Miyota 8N24 automatic movement, also visible on the back of the 40 mm case.
Finally, the combination of the blue dial and the light brown cowhide leather strap undeniably contributes to the timeless charm of this model made in Besançon.
Sevenfriday T Series T2/01 Revolution
If you’re looking to stand out from the crowd (or off the beaten path) with your watch, this T Series is the one for you. We have already talked about Sevenfriday several times on Masculin.com, this Swiss brand created in 2012 by Daniel Niederer.
And if the design of its models is often divisive, this T2/01 Revolution turns out to be almost “classic” compared to the rest of the collections. Classic, yet untypical, and especially very attractive, with its rounded 45mm square case and its gradient green dial that reveals the Seiko TMI NH70 automatic skeleton movement.
The style of the hands, positioned on a rotating disk, and the indications of the railway are just as many details that confirm that Sevenfriday will never do anything like everyone else: you either love it or hate it, but you can’t remain indifferent!
Tissot Chemin Des Tourelles Skeleton
It’s not just the PRX or the Seastar at Tissot! For several years now, while these two models have been a must-have, the Locle brand hides other gems in its collections.
This is the case of this classic Chemin des Tourelles, equipped with a new automatic movement in 2023 and now enriched with new skeleton versions. We particularly love this version in black PVD whose sunray dial is topped by a smoked glass. Between shadow and light, this watch offers a captivating visual rendering, accentuated by the gold components of the Powermatic 80 skeleton movement.
Hamilton Jazzmaster Open Heart
We say it and we repeat it, but Hamilton always surprises us with the diversity of its collections: Ventura, Murph, Khaki Navy Scuba… there really is something for everyone! And even within the Jazzmaster family, versatility is the order of the day, ranging from the sporty elegance of the Performer to the sophistication of the Face 2 Face.
With the Jazzmaster Open Heart version, Hamilton finds a perfect balance between the refinement of the carmine red dial and the unusual opening of the dial. Add to this the always very careful finishes, the beautiful leather bracelet or the essential caliber H-10, and we get one of the most beautiful skeleton watches of the moment. In any case, one of those offering the best value for money!
Mido Baroncelli Signature Skeleton
We remain within the Swatch Group to conclude this small overview of beautiful skeleton watches for less than 1500€. Mido is a brand that deserves to be known within the sprawling Swiss group, with its vintage-inspired watches (often) but with a resolutely contemporary style.
This Baroncelli Skeleton embodies all the expertise of Mido, with its very sleek and openwork anthracite gray dial on its central part. It offers a nice view of the automatic movement caliber 80 (base ETA C07.631) which gives it 80 hours of power reserve.
If she can wear a black leather bracelet, this watch gains in elegance with this 100% steel look and its Jubilee type bracelet.
We could also extend this selection to watches that only offer a small opening on the dial, like the Bambino Open Heart from Orient for example. A popular brand on social networks like CIGA Design (which belongs to the Chinese group Xiaomi) also offers many models that are not necessarily uninteresting… even if they lack a “little” subtlety. Whatever the case, there’s no need to spend a fortune to wear a nice skeleton watch on the wrist!