Skeleton Pocket Watches

Skeleton Pocket Watches

A skeleton watch shows you the part of a watch that is usually hidden. The dial, the cover or both are cut away so the wheels, the spring barrel and the escapement stay in view while the watch runs. The effect ranges from a small aperture in an otherwise ordinary dial through to a case that is open front and back. It is the most-looked-at style we sell for exactly that reason: people who are given one tend to open it in front of other people.

Case styles in this collection

Skeleton is a dial treatment, not a case type, so the same open look appears across several cases. Most of what is on the shelf here is a half hunter with a window in the lid, so see Half Hunter Pocket Watches if that is the shape you are after. Behind those sit full hunters with a solid lid, a smaller group of fully cut-away dials, and a single double hunter that opens at both ends. The rest of the collection sits on the Pocket Watches page.

Movement and winding

Every skeleton piece in stock is hand-wound mechanical, which is the point: a quartz movement gives you very little to look at. Wind the crown once a day, at roughly the same time, and stop as soon as the resistance turns firm rather than pushing for one more turn. Set the time by pulling the crown out a notch, turning it, then pushing it home. The movement is covered by a 12-month warranty.

Finishes and delivery

Brass is the busiest finish here, followed by gold, black and silver tones. The warm option is Brass Pocket Watches and the darkest is Black Pocket Watches. In-stock orders are usually dispatched from Brisbane within one to two business days, Monday to Friday, and standard shipping is free on New Zealand orders over $99. Made-to-order pieces take longer, so order early for a dated occasion. A matching chain is sold separately.