Thoughts on skeleton watches?

A skeleton watch using a cheap movement where most of what one sees is plate Is not appealing to me. The very high end makers like MB&F and (gulp) RM, do a nice job of showing off the movement. Cartier also nails it with this:

However, some folks do not care for that look, which is where I think something like the Defy Classic does a nice job of decorating the dial where while it it skeletonized, it is not a boring view of a base plate.

Totally agree with your point about how boring it is to view the plate of a standard movement.

I feel the same way as I do about cars that have exposed or visible engine bays. Actually that's not true, as there are some oddball cars where the engine is exposed for a reason beyond vulgar exhibitionism. A better analogy might be see-through clothing. What's underneath matters a bit, but it's never an improvement.

I owned that Zenith for a while. The detail on the dial was incredible. The exposed date wheel was probably my favourite part of it. 
Also it had one of the best bracelets one can buy. The light titanium with the polished interlinks was incredible when the light played off it. 
Reasons I didnt keep it - Dial a bit too big For my wrist. Couldn’t get a perfect fit on the bracelet either. 
But I’d still recommend it to anyone looking for a Skeleton. 

My feelings are decidedly unmixed: I don't care for them.

I like them. They're interesting. I got me a (relatively) cheap one early on. It was half off at Macy's, and it excited me at the time, though even on clearance it seemed expensive (my, how things have changed). I still like it, though I don't wear it very often. It's probably unobtanium, but maybe some day I'll get something like a Breguet. Some people call the Christopher Ward C60 Sapphire a skeleton, though I don't really think it is. And they complain that the dial side of the movement looks too plain and workaday to be exposed, but it attracted me from the first time I saw it; it looks like some machine under water. 

I had the all black croft from previous editions and I loved it. The movement was a regular seiko and unimpressive to look at but the whole watch came together nicely, the only reason I sold it is because it was too big for me, and the black case didn't really suit me.

Love the Cartier skeleton! is the defy considered a skeleton or open worked? i always thought the skeleton would the movement modified to take everything out but the essentials to making it work? i could be wrong..

If it doesnt make it harder to read im down for it.

A skeleton is like a naked woman. Its too distracting to see where the hands are and you get tired of looking at it all the time.

Not a fan. Some may even be nicer than others or whatever but I don’t ever see me buying one for sure. Now an exhibition case back, on the other hands, is something I love and want on every watch. 

Good question, it is technically a skeleton watch as it doesn’t have a dial, but nothing Like the Cartier for example.

That's fair. So it wasn't the skeleton dial that drew you to the watch but the sum of the parts?! I like it.

Totally agree. In the end, it's a watch to me not solely a piece of art 

Exactly, because the watch looks rugged and somehow the basic movement fit that look, if the new steel version was 38x46x13 I'd get it in a heartbeat.

I have a skeleton watch from a microbrand - ERA timepieces. The watch is called ERA Prometheus. Definitely, not a cheap watch but has a GMT function, day-night indicator, and tourbillion. 

It is one of my favorite watches and gets wrist time twice a month

Yeeeeaaah, no. 🤮🫣😅

Generally I find skele-dials are brutal for legibility, which is a non starter for me.

I went with this Rado Captain Cook with dark sapphire dial.  You can subtly see the heartbeat of the balance wheel and pearlage on the plates.  

So skeletor from certain angles, but it’s still super easy to read 

I suspect they make better pictures than wearable watches. I also think they’re most successful when they are truely have open space and you can see thru them. The Santos that someone posted is a good example. In any event, it’s not something I’d pay for. 

see right thru but its cheap, Chinese and not working which makes it a good watch to practice on.

Interesting piece!

I have one and it's fun to wear once in a while, but I would certainly not recommend it to anyone who actually wants to read the time on a wristwatch.

Hit or miss for me. I personally love this one by Seiko, but it makes me stare at the dial way too much though: 

Seems like most people agree on the hit to legibility of skeleton dials. I own one as well and I only wear it occasionally when I looking for variety and it goes well with my outfit. 

This one looks pretty crazy and from Tissot probably didn't break the bank 

I often have trouble reading the time on any skeleton watch 😅

Indeeed. It was reasonably priced (think I paid around $1500 including tax). Best looking skeleton I could find at the time under a few thousand. 

someone posted above - but i think there's a certain allure and charm about skeleton watches. it's important that all the components come together though - you're not just buying a movement or dial - you're buying a complete watch. cohesiveness is key!