Miami is a town that appreciates beauty and brevity, and some of the world’s finest watchmakers offer both in the form of skeletonized and mainplate timepieces.
The concept is simple: strip away as much metal as possible to reveal the intricate inner workings of some of the world’s most technologically advanced timepieces. The result is captivating: a skeleton timepiece, so called due to the stunning see-through design, that allows collectors to enjoy a mechanical masterpiece from every angle. Little wonder these artful works of precision, beauty, and innovation are taking the watch world by storm. Skeleton or partial skeleton (the avant-garde trend in which the watch’s mainplate, gears, and wheels are visible, but only through the side of the dial), it takes a single craftsman hundreds of hours to carve away the metal, finely finish each tiny component, and assemble the timepiece in all its glory. Some of these watches (particularly those with bridges made of specialized materials, such as specially engineered sapphire) are created in very limited numbers because of the difficulty of their engineering and construction. Hence, the finest skeleton watches can cost a pretty penny—not to mention carry a lengthy waiting list. But for the connoisseur, this open-worked artistry offers impressive detail and delight.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:
1. From Armin Strom, this One Week Skeleton Fire watch ($49,900) is crafted in 18k rose gold. The hand-finishing and engraving of the skeletonized movement takes six days of workmanship. Les Bijoux, 306 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561-361-2311.
2. From Zenith, this El Primero Lightweight ($19,200) is crafted of ceramized aluminum and carbon. The dial has been skeletonized to view the 328 components of the El Primero 400B titanium automatic movement. It features titanium pushers and weighs just 15.9 grams. Mayors, Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Blvd., 305-937-1444.
3. This highly unusual Richard Mille 61-01 Yohan Blake watch ($120,000) celebrates the star athlete with colors of his native country. The watch is crafted in TZP-N ceramic with an NTPT carbon caseband and a Velcro strap. It features a manual-wind skeletonized movement. VAULT, 1024 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, 305-673-5251
4. From HYT, makers of hydrotechnology timepieces that use fluid to indicate the time, this H1 watch ($69,000) is crafted in 18k pink gold and black DLC. Through the sapphire crystal, one can view the movement parts, including the bellows and lines that move the fluid around the dial to indicate the hours.King Jewelers, 18265 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura, 305-935-4900