One appeal of owning a mechanical watch is the ability to see the finely tuned movement inside. The concept of a “skeleton” design caters to this sensation by exposing a portion or all of the movement through an opening in the dial.

Creating the dial opening is not the challenge – doing so artfully, is. The new DV One Skeleton, introduced at Baselworld 2013, is Versace’s take on skeleton design; it combines the brand’s most iconic watch case with its celebrated fashion sensibility.

Versace DV One Skeleton

The highlight of the watch is, of course, the dial, which is divided into two hemispheres – the skeletonized east and the dialed west. With almost half of the dial dedicated to the skeleton display, there is ample space to show off some of the components that make up the Dubois-Dépraz chronograph module and base movement. Finishing techniques such as linear graining, polishing and perlage are visible.

In the western hemisphere, Versace style and creativity takes over. On a base color of black, three sub-dials are connected by way of a suspended bridge in IP rose gold. A second part of the bridge, colored blue and shaped like an arch, stretches across the minute register in perfect counterbalance to the open date wheel on the opposite side. Red accents at the center of each register match the tips of the small hands. (The sub-dial hands are stationary; instead, the register wheels rotate.) In all, the combination of blue, red and rose gold on a black background is lively and smart looking, and the bridges add symmetrical and geometrical depth. The luminescent hour hand, minute hand and indexes – which circle the entire dial, even on the skeletonized side – are also coated in IP rose gold.

While the focus of the Versace DV One Skeleton Watch is most certainly on the dial, the case is anything but an afterthought. At 43.5 mm, the look is confident and modern. The case material is an alloy of ceramic and titanium; the result is an extremely hard and lightweight substance that is strong and highly resistant to scratches. The bracelet and bezel are also made of ceramic titanium.

The bezel features a tachymeter scale and IP rose gold accents that complement the dial. The crown and chronograph pushers are also colored with IP rose gold. The bracelet features a butterfly style folding buckle.

To own one, prospective buyers will have to act quickly – the Versace DV One Skeleton introduced at Baselworld 2013 is produced in a limited edition of 500 pieces.

Source: Gevril Group