Gear guide
Best skeleton and open heart watches
Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick
Top picks at a glance
Compare all picks
Closest match for the job
Orient Star layered skeleton: 50 h with power reserve
The listing states a power reserve indicator, so you can see when it needs winding.
See price on AmazonSee it on Amazon
Most for the money on paper
Bulova Sutton full skeleton: 43 mm, 100 m
A full skeleton dial per the listing shows the movement from the front.
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Most complete listing
Hamilton Jazzmaster Open Heart 40 mm: H-10, 80 hours
The listing states an 80 hour power reserve, enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend.
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A skeleton or open heart dial lets you watch the balance wheel swing, but the more of the dial you cut away, the harder the hands can be to read. An open heart shows a small window onto the movement and keeps a full dial for telling the time. A full skeleton removes most of the dial and relies on hand contrast and lume. This guide ranks seven options by how legible they should stay in daily wear, using what each listing states: dial type, case size, movement, crystal and water resistance. Prices run from under $300 to over $1,000, so the list moves from affordable open hearts to Swiss skeletons. When a listing leaves out a spec such as case size, the table says Not stated, and you should check it before buying.
Compare the picks
- Orient Star layered skeleton: 50 h with power reserve
- Dial type
- Layered skeleton
- Case size
- Not stated
- Movement
- Self-winding and hand-winding, 50 h or more
- Crystal
- Not stated
- Hamilton Jazzmaster Open Heart 40 mm: H-10, 80 hours
- Dial type
- Open heart
- Case size
- 40 mm
- Movement
- Swiss H-10 automatic, 80 h
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bulova Sutton full skeleton: 43 mm, 100 m
- Dial type
- Full skeleton
- Case size
- 43 mm
- Movement
- 21-jewel automatic, 42 h
- Crystal
- Mineral
Seiko Presage SSA425: open aperture with 24-hour subdial- Dial type
- Open aperture
- Case size
- Not stated
- Movement
- Seiko 4R39 automatic, 41 h
- Crystal
- Not stated
Bulova Maquina 98A179: black IP skeleton, sapphire- Dial type
- Full skeleton
- Case size
- Not stated
- Movement
- Automatic
- Crystal
- Sapphire
Orient Bambino Open Heart: 40.5 mm, F6T22 movement- Dial type
- Open heart
- Case size
- 40.5 mm
- Movement
- Orient F6T22 automatic, hand-winding, hacking
- Crystal
- Domed mineral
Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Skeleton: Powermatic 80, 39 mm- Dial type
- Skeleton
- Case size
- 39 mm
- Movement
- Swiss Powermatic 80
- Crystal
- Not stated
| Pick | Dial type | Case size | Movement | Crystal | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orient Star layered skeleton: 50 h with power reserve | Layered skeleton | Not stated | Self-winding and hand-winding, 50 h or more | Not stated | - | Amazon |
| Hamilton Jazzmaster Open Heart 40 mm: H-10, 80 hours | Open heart | 40 mm | Swiss H-10 automatic, 80 h | Sapphire | - | Amazon |
| Bulova Sutton full skeleton: 43 mm, 100 m | Full skeleton | 43 mm | 21-jewel automatic, 42 h | Mineral | - | Amazon |
| Seiko Presage SSA425: open aperture with 24-hour subdial | Open aperture | Not stated | Seiko 4R39 automatic, 41 h | Not stated | - | Amazon |
| Bulova Maquina 98A179: black IP skeleton, sapphire | Full skeleton | Not stated | Automatic | Sapphire | - | Amazon |
| Orient Bambino Open Heart: 40.5 mm, F6T22 movement | Open heart | 40.5 mm | Orient F6T22 automatic, hand-winding, hacking | Domed mineral | - | Amazon |
| Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Skeleton: Powermatic 80, 39 mm | Skeleton | 39 mm | Swiss Powermatic 80 | Not stated | - | Amazon |
Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.
The picks in detail
Pick 1 · ORIENT STAR
Orient Star layered skeleton: 50 h with power reserve
See price on AmazonA Made in Japan Orient Star with a layered skeleton dial and a power reserve indicator. The listing states the accuracy range, which few watches here do, and a run time of 50 hours or more.
What the listing offers
- The listing states a power reserve indicator, so you can see when it needs winding.
- Time accuracy is stated as +25 to -15 seconds per day.
- Operation time of 50 hours or more per the listing is the longest stated reserve among the Japanese picks.
Limits to know
- Case size, crystal and water resistance are not stated on this listing, so confirm them before buying.
- A layered skeleton dial shows more movement, which can make the hands harder to pick out at a glance.
Pick 2 · Hamilton
Hamilton Jazzmaster Open Heart 40 mm: H-10, 80 hours
See price on AmazonA Swiss open heart with the H-10 movement and an 80 hour reserve in a 40 mm steel case. It suits buyers who want sapphire and a weekend-proof reserve on a dressy blue dial.
What the listing offers
- The listing states an 80 hour power reserve, enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend.
- Sapphire crystal is stated, so the dial should stay clear with daily wear.
- The 40 mm case is a balanced size for an open heart dress watch.
Limits to know
- It costs well over $1,000, several times the price of the Orient open heart.
- Leather strap with pin buckle per the listing, so a bracelet costs extra.
Pick 3 · Bulova
Bulova Sutton full skeleton: 43 mm, 100 m
See price on AmazonA 43 mm Classic Sutton with a full skeleton dial and two-tone steel case. The listing states a 21-jewel automatic, 42-hour reserve, luminous hands and 100 m water resistance.
What the listing offers
- A full skeleton dial per the listing shows the movement from the front.
- 100 m water resistance is stated, high for a skeleton dress watch.
- The listing states a 3 year limited warranty.
Limits to know
- Mineral crystal per the listing is less scratch resistant than sapphire.
- 43 mm is large for a dress watch and may wear big on slim wrists.
Pick 4 · SEIKO
Seiko Presage SSA425: open aperture with 24-hour subdial
See price on AmazonA black Style 60s open-aperture Presage inspired by the 1964 Crown Chronograph, with a 24-hour subdial and steel bracelet. For a buyer who wants to see the movement.
What the listing offers
- Open-aperture dial shows the balance through the front.
- 4R39 with a 24-hour subdial and LumiBrite hands, per the listing.
- Steel bracelet and black bezel with a 41-hour reserve.
Limits to know
- Case size is not stated on this listing.
- At $595 it is one of the pricier 4R-powered picks here.
Pick 5 · Bulova
Bulova Maquina 98A179: black IP skeleton, sapphire
See price on AmazonA Classic Maquina with a full skeleton dial and black ion-plated steel case. The listing states sapphire crystal, 100 m water resistance and a 3 year limited warranty.
What the listing offers
- Sapphire crystal and 100 m are both stated, rare for a skeleton design.
- A full skeleton dial per the listing gives a strong mechanical look.
- The listing states a 3 year limited warranty.
Limits to know
- Case size is not stated on this listing.
- Black ion plating can show wear at edges. The listing does not describe durability.
Pick 6 · Orient
Orient Bambino Open Heart: 40.5 mm, F6T22 movement
See price on AmazonA 40.5 mm Bambino with an open heart dial, exhibition caseback and leather strap. For a buyer who wants to see the balance wheel on a budget.
What the listing offers
- Open heart dial and exhibition caseback, per the listing.
- F6T22 automatic with hand winding and hacking.
- 12 mm thick with a 46 mm lug to lug and 21 mm lug width.
Limits to know
- The listing says 30 m is not suitable for swimming or bathing.
- Domed mineral crystal rather than sapphire.
Pick 7 · Tissot
Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Skeleton: Powermatic 80, 39 mm
See price on AmazonA Swiss skeleton in a 39 mm case built to show off the Powermatic 80 movement. The most compact case here for buyers who want a Swiss skeleton, though the listing gives few other specs.
What the listing offers
- The 39 mm case size stated in the title is the smallest skeleton case in this guide.
- The listing says the skeleton case is designed to highlight the Powermatic 80 movement.
- A blue dial per the title adds contrast that can help the hands stand out.
Limits to know
- Crystal, water resistance and power reserve are not stated on this listing.
- At $1,100 it is the priciest pick, and the listing gives the least detail for the money.
Read before you buy
- What is an automatic watch and how does it workHow an automatic watch works in plain terms: the rotor, mainspring, gear train, escapement and balance, plus why it needs no battery and how it differs from quartz.
- Skeleton vs open heart watches explainedAn open heart watch shows the balance wheel through a dial window; a skeleton cuts away the dial and movement. How they differ in view, legibility and price.
- Orient vs Orient Star: is the step up worth itOrient vs Orient Star compared: accuracy, power reserve indicator, reserve, crystals and price, using Bambino, Kamasu and Orient Star listings.
More gear: Choosing an automatic
Lume & Bezel chooses every product independently from what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission from the links above. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.