Overexposure might have reached its saturation point in the celebrity sphere, but baring all can still be a good thing. Take, for example, the skeleton watch, whose revealing nature—its inner parts are on full display—is the key to its beauty. Timepieces by Vacheron Constantin and Parmigiani flaunt a complicated tangle of gears that showcase the intriguing craft of old-school watchmaking. Offering more streamlined versions, Omega opts for components arranged in neat, concentric circles, while Corum’s face is set with a tidy row of tiny gold gears. Beautifully intricate, these mechanical wonders look especially chic when paired with an alligator or leather band.
Clockwise from top: Corum’s 18k rose gold watch with crocodile band, $24,000, at Neiman Marcus, Newport Beach, California, 949.467.3344; Parmigiani’s 18k rose gold watch with leather band, $41,400, at Cellini, New York, 212.751.9824; Omega’s 18k rose gold watch with alligator band, $98,000, at Omega, Beverly Hills, 310.860.9990; Vacheron Constantin’s 18k rose gold watch with alligator band, $179,000, 877.862.7555, vacheron-constantin.com.
Inside Job
Skeleton watches show what they’re made of.
May 2008
