Skeleton & Openworked Watches · Page 13

[VIDEO] Deep in the Heart of Texas: Recapping the First Ever Windup Watch Fair Dallas

Everything’s bigger in Texas, and that now includes the Windup Watch Fair! On March 15-16, 2025, Windup made its grand Lone Star State debut at the historic Hickory Street Annex in Dallas. Kicking off its 10th-anniversary celebrations, the fair brought together over 40 watch brands, passionate collectors, and curious newcomers-because let’s be honest, who doesn’t love hanging with a bunch of watch lovers? The Hickory Street Annex, originally built in 1921 as a Gulf Oil distribution center, set the perfect scene with its warm-industrial vibes. The airy, two-level venue gave guests plenty of room to dive into the world of horology-chatting with brand reps, trying on watches, and maybe even convincing themselves that they definitely need just one more piece for their collection. The lineup? Absolutely stacked. Christopher Ward dazzled with their Anglo-Swiss masterpieces, including the ever-impressive Bel Canto and The Twelve. Oris, while proudly sporting Miss Piggy pink, also celebrated 60 years of dive watch excellence with a special anniversary edition, while Zodiac launched some striking new designs in the form of the Super Sea Wolf Compression Skeleton Night Diver. One of the weekend’s standout moments was the special screening of a brand-new documentary, America Telling Time: 150 Years of Bulova, which chronicles the brand’s history of innovation and firsts. The film explored the brand’s deep roots in American watchmaking, highlighting its role in everyth...

Norqain now has a Wild One Skeleton in a 39mm case - with four new colours!

The new Norqain Wild One Skeleton 39mm may scale down the case, but it remains equally as robust and high-performing as its 42mm sibling.The post Norqain now has a Wild One Skeleton in a 39mm case – with four new colours! appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

First Look - The More Compact Norqain Wild One Skeleton 39mm

Ben Kuffer, the CEO of Norqain, is lucky to have industry heavyweight Jean-Claude Biver on his advisory board. Thanks to Biver’s valuable input, Norqain introduced its high-performance Wild One sports watch collection in 2022. Featuring an innovative carbon fibre composite case with a rubber shock absorber padding the titanium movement container, the Wild One is […]

Formex’s new Essence Ceramica Skeleton boasts the world’s first micro-adjustable ceramic bracelet - and it’s under $5,000!

The new Formex Essence Ceramica Skeleton debut's the world's first ceramic bracelet that includes on-the-fly micro-adjustment.The post Formex’s new Essence Ceramica Skeleton boasts the world’s first micro-adjustable ceramic bracelet – and it’s under $5,000! appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

Introducing - The Felipe Pikullik FPSK25 Regulator, The Latest Watch in the Indie’s Annual Skeletonized Series

One of the rising stars of the independent watchmaking scene, Felipe Pikullik’s career began in Glashütte, then working with renowned watchmakers including Kudoke and Rolf Lang. In 2017, at the age of 23, he launched his own brand in Berlin with a focus on hand-skeletonized movements – some of the most impressive we’ve seen recently. […]

Felipe Pikullik Introduces An Openworked Regulator Watch In The FPSK25

Formex Introduces the Essence Ceramica Skeleton COSC, Featuring a Full Ceramic Bracelet (with Micro-Adjust!)

We talk a lot about Formex here, and for good reason. Now celebrating its 25th year, Formex has built a well-earned reputation for pushing the limits of what we can expect from small, technical brands, and they’ve done it all while cultivating a pretty dedicated audience. Head to a Windup Watch Fair anywhere in the country and you’re sure to find a thick mass of enthusiasts trying to squeeze their way up to the Formex table in the hopes of checking out whatever wild watch the brand has most recently introduced. Formex’s latest and greatest is a new take on their fan-favorite Essence, only this time, it’s ceramic. The Essence Ceramica Skeleton COSC is a serious statement of technical capacity for a brand that has, up until now, never produced a fully ceramic watch (or, at least to my knowledge, a skeletonized one). With the Essence Ceramica Skeleton COSC, they’ve managed to do it while not only maintaining all the complexities of the Essence case - like the suspended mid-case the brand is known for - but also while introducing what they purport to be the world’s first micro-adjustable ceramic bracelet. On some level, it’s not remotely surprising that, with their first-ever ceramic watch, Formex would look to blow the competition out of the water, or that, in that attempt, they would largely succeed. I’ve yet to see these new watches in person (hopefully soon), but at first glance, these seem to be finished to a level far beyond what we normally see from ...

A Hands-On Introduction To The Formex Essence Ceramica Skeleton COSC Automatic 41mm

Formex is well known for bringing the heat to much more expensive brands in terms of features and pricing. Today, as the opening salvo of the company’s 25th-anniversary celebrations, the heat gets dialed up a little more. Say “hello” to the new Formex Essence Ceramica Skeleton COSC Automatic 41mm. Yes, that’s a mouthful, but it […] Visit A Hands-On Introduction To The Formex Essence Ceramica Skeleton COSC Automatic 41mm to read the full article.

Felipe Pikullik shows off his latest skeletonised creation with the FPSK25 regulator

The German independent's latest release changes up the layout, but doesn't compromise on finishing.The post Felipe Pikullik shows off his latest skeletonised creation with the FPSK25 regulator appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

First Look - The New Artya Purity Wavy HMS Mirror in Titanium

Founded by Yvan Arpa in 2010, ArtyA is synonymous with avant-garde, wildly creative watches, some early models flaunting unconventional raw materials like butterfly wings and real bullets. However, this independent brand’s latest direction is far more restrained and minimalist, with elegant, skeletonised movements often showcased in transparent sapphire crystal cases congregated in the Purity Collection. The […]

Hands On Review Of The New Vacheron Constantin 222

Building on the success of the yellow gold 222 reissue in 2022, Vacheron Constantin started its 270th-anniversary celebration in full swing this year with the introduction of the 222 in Steel, a long-awaited addition to its Historiques collection. What We Love: Timeless design of the 222 lives on. The stunning matte blue dial does justice to this timepiece, making it even more appealing. Case and bracelet design is exceptional with modern finishes. What We Don’t: Lack of micro-adjustment on bracelet. Lack of finishing on movement (skeletonised rotor perhaps?) Water resistance of 50m could be improved to offer better assurance for daily wearability. Overall Rating: 8.95/10 Value for Money: 9/10 Wearability: 9/10 Design: 9/10 Build Quality: 9/10 In January 2025, Vacheron Constantin kicked off its 270th-anniversary celebrations in spectacular fashion with the highly anticipated release of the 222 in steel. 2025 is shaping up to be an incredible year in the watch world, with many brands celebrating their anniversaries, but none quite like Vacheron Constantin. There are only a few brands that have surpassed the 250-year anniversary mark, which, when you think about it, is quite astonishing. Vacheron Constantin is one of those brands, but even more rare is that they have been in continuous production since 1755, a feat that remains unmatched in the world of horology. Over its 270-year history, Vacheron Constantin has created some genuinely timeless watches. From the FiftyS...

First Look - The Bold Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Wotto Limited Edition

The Maurice Lacroix Aikon collection needs little introduction. One of the first accessible takes on the concept of 1970s-inspired sporty-elegant watches with integrated bracelets, the collection launched in 2017-18 has expanded to incredible levels to integrate classic time-and-date watches, chronographs, ceramic models, openworked watches and even sportier Venturer editions. Some versions did catch our attention […]

Hands-On With The Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton

What would happen if you started working out in 1969? How would you look today? Well, if you were a watch, you would probably look like the 42mm Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton. When the athletic Defy A3642 came to life 56 years ago, the watch, with its muscular octagonal case and chiseled tetradecagonal (14-sided) […] Visit Hands-On With The Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton to read the full article.

Introducing: H. Moser & Cie. Launches The Streamliner Tourbillon Skeleton Boutique Edition (And Opens A New US Boutique)

An ingot on your wrist.

H. Moser & Cie. Introduces the Streamliner Tourbillon Skeleton Yellow Gold

A boutique exclusive to celebrate the opening of its Menlo Park store in Silicon Valley, the Streamliner Tourbillon Skeleton Yellow Gold is perhaps the most extravagant iteration of H. Moser & Cie.’s sports watch to date. This new iteration retains the same dimensions and specifications as its stainless steel predecessor, but is entirely in 18k yellow gold, giving it a somewhat retro feel that complements the “lobster” integrated bracelet. Initial thoughts Although the trend for integrated-bracelet sports watches has waned, the Streamliner still stands out as one of the better offerings in the category from independent watchmakers. It combines a distinctive design – rare in the segment – with mostly affordable pricing. At CHF125,000, the new Streamliner Tourbillon is of course not one of the affordable models since it is entirely in gold, but it is a good looking watch. Arguably the only weakness of the model is the increasing number of high-end Streamliner models, both in precious metals and set with gemstones, which make this less unique than it would otherwise be. Boutique exclusive Apart from its all-yellow gold construction, the new Streamliner Tourbillon mirrors its stainless steel predecessor, featuring a 40 mm-wide and 12.1 mm-thick cushion-shaped case. Visually, the focal point is the open-worked dial showcasing a one-minute flying tourbillon at six o’clock. Faceted baton-style hour markers and hour and minute hands are plated in yellow gold, compleme...

First Look: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “150th Anniversary” Openworked

Audemars Piguet’s 150th anniversary debuts are centred on perpetual calendars (at least for now), marking the closing of one chapter and the opening of another. The ingenious new calibre 7138 perpetual calendar marks a definitive new chapter in the brand’s history, while the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “150th Anniversary” Openworked is the swan song for a storied cal. 2120 movement that Audemars Piguet (AP) has relied on for decades. Presented in titanium with a polished BMG bezel, the final edition perpetual calendar is inspired by the Royal Oak pocket watch ref. 25729. This pocket watch lends its sapphire-and-blue aesthetic to the anniversary perpetual calendar, although the pocket watch was ironically powered by a manual wind calibre (as pocket watches tend to be). The ref. 25729PT was a 20-piece limited edition with a matching platinum chain, made in 1992 for the 20th anniversary of the Royal Oak Initial thoughts The anniversary edition marks the end of the cal. 5134/5135 (and the preceding cal. 2120/2800), the long-lived perpetual calendar movement that AP launched in 1978. While great in its time, the movement was dated and somewhat low-tech by modern standards. The retirement of the movement is well deserved, and it is certainly going out in style. At a distance the anniversary perpetual calendar is familiar, but up close it reveals details that make it a little bit more interesting than its peers. These include the blue ringed-sapphire dial, retro signatu...

Introducing - The Bianchet B 1.618 UltraFino, a Slim Tourbillon Integrated Sports Watch

Bianchet is an independent watchmaking brand founded by Rodolfo and Emmanuelle Festa-Bianchet, whose atelier is located in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Since 2021, the brand has been offering modern tonneau-shaped watches powered by architectural openworked tourbillon movements. As Watches and Wonders and its side events are fast approaching, Bianchet unveils a new model named the B […]

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked 150th Anniversary says goodbye to the Calibre 5135

It's been a great run.The post The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked 150th Anniversary says goodbye to the Calibre 5135 appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

First Look - The Titanium/BMG AP Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked “150th Anniversary”

Last year, with the John Mayer limited edition, Audemars Piguet announced the end of its older perpetual calendar movement, the calibre 5134. And indeed, as we have seen with the launch of the next-gen Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding, there is now a new and modern calibre 7138. But it’s not entirely the end of […]

Audemars Piguet Celebrates 150 years With An Openworked Perpetual Calendar And A 38mm Tourbillon

Why the Zelos Skyraider 40 Skeleton Titanium is totally unique

Zelos reminds us that they can do more than just cool, affordable divers.The post Why the Zelos Skyraider 40 Skeleton Titanium is totally unique appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.

First Look - The Bold 2025 Tissot T-Race MotoGP Automatic Chronograph Gets an Openworked Dial

With a partnership that goes back to 2001, when Tissot became the official timekeeper of MotoGP – the 2-wheel equivalent of Formula 1 – you can imagine that the T-Race collection is vast. Over the years, it has given birth to some of the most daring watches of the brand, all deeply inspired by the […]

Hands On With New Hublot Spirit Of Big Bang Collection

I take the new Spirit of Big Bang collection for a spin to see just how striking these fresh colourways look in person. From bold Sky Blue to versatile Beige and understated Dark Green, each model brings its own unique personality to the wrist! What We Love The three new colours offer different aesthetics to suit a wider audience Sky blue and beige colours are stunning in person New collection offers undeniable wrist-presence, especially with skeletonised dial and colour matching chronograph counters What We Don’t Doesn’t provide a perfect fit for smaller wrists Case back construction can be improved for better “snug” fit. Dark green model’s dial blends in the with skeletonised movement, which hinders readability of time and counters. Overall Score: 8.9 / 10 Value for Money: 9/10 Wearability: 9/10 Design: 9/10 Build Quality: 8.5/10 Hublot has started the year off with a bang…quite literally. The brand is celebrating arguably their most iconic collection’s 20th anniversary this year, so we knew it was always going to be quite spectacular. Early last month, Hublot unveiled a host of new timepieces, one of which was the new SAXEM green “sapphire” Big Bang, a true masterclass of a timepiece with a blend of different materials to create a unique and eye-catching timepiece. Another release that I personally loved was the new Spirit of Big Bang collection. For those that my not know, the Spirit of Big Bang collection from Hublot was introduced in 2014 as a b...

Hands-On: the Rado True Square Automatic Skeleton

I have a feeling that if you asked most watch enthusiasts to tell you their thoughts about Rado, they’d start with the Captain Cook. The brand’s diver has been revived in recent years and become an enthusiast favorite, appearing in both traditional vintage inspired designs as well as more forward thinking and tech oriented variants. I’ve handled my share of Captain Cooks and while I think it’s a perfectly fine dive watch, there’s something a little generic about it and it’s never quite grabbed my interest. It seems positioned as a calling card product for Rado, but I find myself wondering if it’s really the watch that we should most closely identify with the brand.  Because the truth is, when it comes to Rado, they are far more adventurous than the Captain Cook would lead you to believe. And, for that matter, they’re more adventurous than we should have any right to expect given their fairly competitive price points and their place within a big luxury watch group, not typically the home of risk taking when it comes to watchmaking. Beginning with the DiaStar in the 1960s (which featured a case made from an ultra hard alloy that was among the first watches marketed as “unscratchable”) and on into the 1980s when the brand really began hitting their stride with ceramic, Rado has carved out a niche for itself as a brand willing to experiment with both raw materials and the form and function of a watch.  There are many examples of this throughout the brand...