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Skeleton Pocket Watches

68 in collection

Skeleton Pocket Watches have the dial cut away so you can see the gears and the balance wheel turning while the watch keeps time.

4.8 / 5 195 reviews

Skeleton Pocket Watches

A skeleton watch is one where the dial has been cut away so the movement is on show. Instead of a closed face with numerals printed across it, you get an open frame with the gear train, the escapement and the balance wheel visible, all of it moving while the watch runs. It is the closest you can get to watching the mechanism work without opening the case, and it is the reason people pick this range: they want the watch to be the thing that gets noticed, not just a way of telling the time.

Hand-wound, with no battery

Nearly all of these are hand-wound mechanical, which is part of the appeal, because the movement you can see through the dial is the one keeping time. Winding is straightforward. Turn the crown clockwise until you feel firm resistance, then stop rather than forcing it, and do it at roughly the same time each day so the watch does not run down. A small number of pieces in this category use a quartz movement instead, and the movement type is listed on each product page. Every movement we sell carries a 12-month warranty.

With a lid, or without

Most of the skeleton pieces here sit inside a hunter or half hunter case rather than being left fully exposed. If you want a lid that closes over the cut-away dial, look at Full Hunter Pocket Watches. If you would rather read the time through a window without opening anything, Half Hunter Pocket Watches pair particularly well with a skeleton dial, since the movement shows through the window. A handful are open face. The wider collection sits under Vintage Style Pocket Watches.

Finishes, chains and delivery

Finishes are plated and tone finishes rather than precious metal, and cover silver-tone, gold-plated, brass and black, so you can match the case to a suit or to the rest of someone's jewellery. A chain is sold separately and there is a matching one for every watch, with a free matching chain added to orders over $100; they are listed under Pocket Watch Chains. In-stock pieces leave Brisbane within 1 to 2 business days, free Express Post applies on Australian orders over $60, and unworn watches can be returned within 60 days.

Skeleton Pocket Watches: questions we get asked

What is a skeleton pocket watch?

It is a pocket watch with the dial cut away so the movement inside is visible from the front. Rather than a closed face, you see the gear train, the escapement and the balance wheel working while the watch runs. The hands and hour markers sit over the top of the open frame so it still reads as a normal watch.

Do skeleton pocket watches need winding, or do they take a battery?

Almost all of the skeleton pocket watches in this range are hand-wound mechanical, so they need winding and take no battery. Turn the crown clockwise until you feel firm resistance and then stop; doing it at about the same time each day keeps the watch from running down. A few pieces in this category use a quartz movement instead, and that is stated on the product page.

Can I get a skeleton pocket watch with a cover over the dial?

Yes. Most of the skeleton pieces we stock are cased as full hunters or half hunters, so the cut-away dial sits behind a hinged lid and is protected in a pocket. A full hunter lid opens at the press of the crown, while a half hunter has a window cut into the lid so you can see the movement and read the time with the case closed.

What finishes do skeleton pocket watches come in?

The range covers silver-tone, gold-plated, brass and black finishes. These are plated and tone finishes rather than precious metal, chosen to suit the vintage styling of the cases. Brass gives the warmest, most aged look, and black is the most modern of the four.

Is a skeleton pocket watch a good first mechanical watch to give as a gift?

It is one of the easier ones to give, because the open dial explains itself the moment the recipient looks at it. The only thing to pass on is the winding habit, which is a daily turn of the crown until it stops firmly. A matching chain is available for every watch and is free on orders over $100, and a bamboo presentation box is free with the code BAMBOOBOX on orders over $80.

Real reviews

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Skeleton Pocket Watches have the dial cut away so you can see the gears and the balance wheel turning while the watch keeps time.

Almost every piece in this range is hand-wound mechanical, which is rather the point of it. The movement on show is the one doing the work, and there is no battery involved. Most sit inside a full hunter or half hunter case, so the open dial is protected by a lid, and finishes run through silver-tone, gold-plated, brass and black.

This is the range people choose when they want the watch itself to be the talking point, which makes it a strong statement gift or a first mechanical watch. In-stock pieces leave Brisbane within 1 to 2 business days, and made-to-order pieces need extra time.