Top 11 Best Affordable Skeleton watches [List & Guide]
Skeleton watches are a unique type of timepiece that stands out from most watches on the market. What makes them stand out is their dial and the fact that they are skeletonized. This allows for a very unique look with a unique appeal.
If you want something different that stands out from the ordinary, a skeleton watch is a great choice. Due to the fact that they allow you to see the movement inside, they are also particularly appreciated by watch enthusiasts who have a passion for mechanical movements.
What is a skeleton watch?
A skeleton watch is a timepiece with a skeleton dial that allows you to see through it to the movement. Technically, a skeleton watch does not have a dial, but instead, it usually features ”bridges” which are decorated and have several cutouts which allow you to see the movement. Many skeleton watches have see-through case backs which allow you to see all the way through the watch, but others have closed case backs.
Skeleton watches tend to vary a lot in design, with some timepieces being only particularly skeletonized, and others fully skeletonized. Regardless, the main purpose of the skeleton watches is to highlight the movement and allow the wearer to appreciate the fine craftsmanship of the watch. In other words, this type of watch design doesn’t only allow for a unique look, but it is also a true enthusiast’s watch that highlights the beauty of fine mechanical watchmaking.
Best affordable skeleton watches
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Below, we go through the best and most popular affordable skeleton watches. Some of these watches are fully skeletonized, but others are presented only with a so-called ”open-heart” which is a partially skeletonized dial that allows you to see a part of the movement inside.
The concept of ”affordable” is always subjective because it depends on what you compare it with. There are, for example, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet skeleton watches for tens of thousands of dollars, but there are also skeleton watches for less than 100 dollars. In this article, we will primarily focus on watches with a price tag of less than 1000 USD. But keep in mind that because skeleton watches are in general more complex to manufacture than regular ones, they are in general not as affordable as the cheapest alternatives on the market.
Orient Classic Automatic Open Heart FAG00003B
The Orient FAG00003B is a so-called open-heart watch with a classic dressy design that makes it sleek and elegant. The watch is simple in its design, but its open heart makes it stand out from the ordinary as it allows you to see a part of the Orient caliber 46A40 inside.
The watch is, as mentioned, powered by an automatic caliber that operates at a frequency of 21600 BPH and has 21 jewels.
On top sits a domed mineral glass. The case has a diameter of 43mm and a thickness of 11.5mm. It has a water resistance of 5ATM/50 meters.
If you want to see more of the movement, you can simply turn the watch around to see the movement through the back via its see-through case back.
This watch is a great choice if you want a high-quality automatic watch with an elegant design that works perfectly on formal occasions.
Specifications
- Diameter: 43mm
- Thickness: 11.5mm
- Water resistance: 50m/5 ATM
- Movement: Automatic Orient caliber 46A40
- Frequency: 21600 BPH
- Crystal: Mineral glass
Bulova Automatic 96A187
The Bulova 96A187 is a large and sporty skeleton watch. It has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 43mm and is presented on a stainless steel bracelet. The water resistance is 30m/100 feet. The watch is powered by a self-winding automatic movement. On top of the case sits a flat mineral glass.
The skeleton dial really makes this timepiece stand out and allows you to see the majority of the dial. The cutout dial is designed with large Roman numerals in blue and matching blued hour hands.
If you want a full view of the movement, you can simply turn the watch around to see the movement through the see-through case back.
This is a great alternative for a skeleton watch if you want something more sporty and versatile for everyday wear, but also want to be able to appreciate the mechanical craftsmanship inside it.
Specifications
- Diameter: 43mm
- Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
- Crystal: flat mineral glass
Bulova Automatic 98A177
The Bulova 98A177 is a highly popular skeleton watch from the brand, and it is easy to see why. It has great build quality, great automatic movement, and nice attention to detail, and is offered at a price that makes it great value for money.
This watch has a sporty design with an integrated strap design and a case finished in a rose gold color. The case has a diameter of 46mm and offers a water resistance of 100m/330 feet. It is powered by automatic movement which, obviously, you can see and enjoy through the skeleton dial but also through its see-through case back. The power reserve is 40 hours.
With its 46mm case which is finished with sharp angles, it gets a very sporty appearance that makes it perfect for everyday wear. On top of the case sits a sapphire crystal.
Naturally, the dial is the highlight of this watch is the dial, and Bulova has really done a great job by incorporating lots of different details and decorations. This is a timepiece that is sure to stand out, whilst still retaining a classic and sporty appearance.
Specifications
- Diameter: 46mm
- Movement: Automatic self-winding
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
- Power reserve: 40 hours
- Crystal: Sapphire
Swatch Unisex SUOZ147 Skeleton Watch
If you want a simple, classic, and affordable plastic watch, you turn to Swatch. This watch is presented with Swatch’s classic design, but what stands out is of course its skeleton dial.
The watch has a 42.7mm plastic case with a plastic crystal. It is powered by a quartz movement and a water resistance of 30m/99 feet
When it comes to skeleton watches, most people prefer to have a mechanical movement simply because they are more beautiful to look at and have much more appealing craftsmanship behind them. But this works great as a start, in particular considering its very attractive price.
Specifications
- Diameter: 42.7mm
- Water resistance: 30m/100 feet
- Movement: quartz
Hamilton HML-H32565735 Jazzmaster Open Heart
Hamilton is known for its high-quality watches, and the Jazzmaster Open heart H32565735 is no exception.
As its name suggests, the watch is presented with an open heart dial and not a full skeleton one. The open heart design comes in the form of cutouts on the dial which enables you to see different parts of the movement. It has a classic design that has a perfect balance between dressy and versatile. On one hand, it has a sleek black dial with a classic case, but on the other, a cutout dial that makes it stand out from the ordinary. The watch is powered by an automatic movement.
The watch features a stainless steel case with a diameter of 40mm and a water resistance of 165 feet. On top of the case sits a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
This is simply a perfect everyday watch for people who want something more elegant, but not boring.
Specifications
- Diameter: 40mm
- Water resistance: 165 feet
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Movement: Swiss automatic
Bulova Automatic Open Heart 98A187
The Bulova 98A187 is a sleek and elegant dress watch with a diameter of 41mm and a thickness of 12mm. This is a really interesting watch because it has a very simple and minimalistic case design, but at the same time, an appealing open-heart design. With that said, it is not a full-on skeleton watch.
It is presented with a matte grey dial with applied rose gold markers and rose gold hands. The water resistance is 30m. On top of the case sits a mineral crystal.
Apart from the open-heart design, the watch is also presented with a see-through case back. It is powered by an automatic movement with a power reserve of 40 hours.
This is a great dress watch for the watch enthusiast.
Specifications
- Diameter: 41mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Water resistance: 30m
- Crystal: curved mineral crystal
- Power reserve: 40 hours
- Diameter: 41mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Movement: Automatic
Tissot T0704051641100 T-Complication Squelette
The Tissot T-Complication Squelette T0704051641100 is a highly popular watch from Tissot with a very interesting design. It is presented with a stainless steel case with a diameter of 43mm and a thickness of 12mm. It is presented on a black embossed leather strap which also gives it an elegant and classy look. At the same time, it is presented with a full skeleton dial through which you can see the manual-wound movement. This is a perfect watch for horology enthusiasts as it gives almost a full view of the movement inside. On top of the case sits a sapphire crystal.
The water resistance is 50m/165 feet.
The watch is equipped with a manually-wound movement which is something that watch enthusiasts particularly enjoy. All of these things come together to create a unique watch with plenty of features that are perfect for watch enthusiasts. Although this watch doesn’t stay under 1000 USD, it still deserves a place on this list.
Specifications
- Diameter: 43mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Water resistance: 50m/165 feet
- Movement: manually-wound
- Crystal: Sapphire
Hamilton Jazzmaster Viewmatic Automatic Skeleton H42555751
The Hamilton Jazzmaster H42555751 Viewmatic is a sleek and stylish automatic watch with a skeleton design. It is presented on an embossed leather strap which gives it that elegant appearance, which is then paired with a large dial. The case measures 40mm in diameter and has a thickness of 11mm. The water resistance is 50m. On top of the case, we have a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
The watch is powered by an automatic movement. The watch also has a see-through case back which enables you to view the movement from the other side as well.
All in all, this is a great elegant timepiece with great attention to detail that has a perfect balance between sportiness and elegance thanks to its skeleton dial.
Specifications
- Diameter: 40mm
- Thickness: 11mm
- Water resistance: 50m
- Movement: Automatic
Fossil Grant Automatic
If you’re looking for an affordable skeleton watch with an automatic movement, the Fossil Grant is one of the best alternatives on the market.
The watch has a diameter of 45mm and a hardened mineral crystal on top. The watch has a sleek and classic design that doesn’t stand out too much, which makes it perfect for everyday wear. The watch is water-resistant up to 50m.
The center of the dial is skeletonized which allows you to see the movement. And if you turn the watch around, you’ll also be able to see the movement through the see-through case back.
Specifications
- Diameter: 45mm
- Crystal: hardened mineral glass
- Water resistance: 50m
- Lug width: 22mm
- Movement: Automatic
Bulova Automatic 98A179
The Bulova 98A179 is another great skeleton watch, but this time, it has a very sporty design in many aspects. First and foremost, it has a 46mm gunmetal IP stainless steel case which makes for a black look. Furthermore, the watch has an integrated bracelet design which makes for a unique and sporty appearance. The bracelet is also gunmetal IP treated.
The dial is familiar to the other Bulova skeleton watches we have looked at and gives a great view of the movement. Inside beats an automatic self-winding movement with a power reserve of 40 hours.
The watch is water-resistant to 100m/330 feet
All in all, this is a great sporty timepiece that is perfect for everyday wear. It is a true enthusiast’s watch that stands out from the ordinary but also allows you to appreciate the mechanical craftsmanship that has gone into it. In addition, the case back is open, which gives a view of the movement from the back as well.
Specifications
- Diameter: 46mm
- Power reserve: 40 hours
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
Bulova 98A165 skeleton
Last but not least, we have the Bulova 98A165 which is a skeleton watch that combines sportiness with dressiness. It is presented with a diameter of 43mm and a thickness of 12mm. It has a water resistance of 100m/330 feet. The black has a rose gold-colored bezel and a blacked PVD case for a perfect combination of sportiness and elegance. For further dressiness, it has an alligator grain brown leather strap.
The dial is skeletonized with brown and rose gold accents and showcases the automatic movement inside. If you turn the watch around, you’ll also see the movement through the see-through case back. On top of the case sits a flat mineral glass.
Specifications
- Water resistance: 100m/330 feet
- Diameter: 43mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Movement: Automatic
- Crystal: flat mineral glass
Buying a skeleton watch
The good news is that because skeleton watches have become so popular today, there is a large selection to choose from, both when it comes to style, price, and brand. You can find skeleton watches under 1000, but you can also find skeleton watches under 100. And, of course, you can find skeleton watches for tens of thousands. In other words, there is a skeleton watch for everyone.
Skeleton watches are available with either quartz or mechanical movements and which you choose depends on your needs. But in general, automatic skeleton watches or mechanical skeleton watches tend to be the most popular. The obvious reason for this is that mechanical watches feature more complicated movements, and an important purpose
of having a skeleton design in the first place is to be able to appreciate the complicated craftsmanship and fine watchmaking that goes into making a watch movement. In other words, a mechanical movement is both more interesting to look at and also looks better. At the same time, quartz watches do serve a purpose, mainly accuracy and practicality, so if you prefer, you can still find quartz skeleton watches on the market, and in this case, that is great news.
Furthermore, a skeleton watch is sure to make you stand out and can be a great conversation piece. In a world where a lot of watches look virtually the same, a skeleton watch stands out and catches people’s attention with the open-worked dial. If you’re tired of watches that look very similar, a skeleton watch can be a really nice contrast.
Why buy a skeleton watch?
You could say that skeleton watches do not serve a practical or functional purpose. The appeal of these watches lies in the cool look it gives them, but most importantly, the appreciation for fine watchmaking and complicated mechanism. Normally, you never see the movement in a watch. You know it’s there, but it’s quite difficult to fully appreciate something you cannot see. There are a lot of watches with see-through case backs, but skeleton watches enable you to see the movement of the watch each time you glance at your wrist.
Naturally, the more expensive and the more complicated the watch is, the more beautiful it will be to look at. What differentiates the most affordable skeleton watches from the ultra-luxury watches is the level of finishing of the visible parts. For example, on Patek Philippe watches, each part of the movement will be hand-finished and carefully thought-out, whilst the more affordable alternatives may be machined and not have an as beautiful finish.
Regardless of which skeleton watch you choose, it gives you a unique opportunity to appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into making it
Why are skeleton watches expensive?
As mentioned, skeleton watches are available in all kinds of different price ranges, but in general, they are more expensive than non-skeleton versions. The reason for this is the increased complexity of making them.
First off, most skeleton watches tend to be mechanical, whilst there are some that are quartz. Since mechanical movements cost more than quartz, it makes them more expensive. But in addition, just the way a dial is decorated and designed, the same now needs to be done with the movement. Since it is more complicated to finish a movement with all of its different parts, the result is often a higher price tag. This is particularly true for the more expensive alternatives where the manufacturer puts a lot of focus in decorating the movement so what they present is truly striking.
History of the skeleton watch
The fact of the matter is that skeleton watches have been around for a long time. And what’s more interesting is that they continue to be really popular.
The first skeleton watch was made in the 1760s when the French watchmaker, André-Charles Caron removed the dial on a pocket watch, leaving the movement visible. The primary driving factor in this was not to leave the movement visible, but actually to make slimmer timepieces which were something that his customers requested. During this time, skeleton designs didn’t really break through, but they would eventually do so during the 1900s.
It was during the quartz crisis when luxury swiss watch brands fought with much more expensive quartz alternatives from mainly Japan. One way that would help Swiss watches stand out was to highlight the beautiful craftsmanship that was behind a Swiss watch in an effort to explain and justify their higher price. The Swiss watch industry did many things to tackle the Japanese quartz threat, and making skeleton watches was one of them.
During this period, and a period to follow, many of the top luxury brands like Jaeger-LeCoultre and Patek Philippe started to focus a lot on skeleton watches in order to highlight the fine watchmaking and complexity that went into making the watches to prove that Swiss watches were more than just a mean of telling the time – they were art.
What is the best skeleton watch?
Ultimately, this depends on your need and budget. All of the affordable skeleton watches we have looked at in this article are widely appreciated due to their great relation between price and quality, but naturally, they cannot compare with a watch that costs tens of thousands of dollars. In particular when it comes to attention to detail and finish.
With that said, the best watch also depends on your needs. As you have seen, there are skeleton watches in all kinds of different designs, both sporty and dressy. Asking yourself these questions will help you find the perfect watch for you:
- What style do you need? Do you want a dress watch or a sports watch?
- What water resistance do you need?
- Do you want quartz or mechanical movement?
- What size do you want?
- Do you want a metal, leather, or rubber strap?
- Do you want a gold or steel watch?
