Presence In Absence: Franck Muller’s 2025 Skeleton Watches

By stripping away the watch to its barest form, the artisans at Franck Muller shine the spotlight on exacting craftsmanship and evocative storytelling.

Less, it is often said, becomes more. A perfectly tailored suit elevated with just a discreet pocket square; a room distinguished by the faintest pops of colour; or economically written prose that conveys volumes. Time and again, restraint proves to be the truest form of beauty. And when taken to the extreme—as expressed with skeleton watches, where restraint actually gives way to reduction—the art of absence becomes even more breathtaking.

Skeleton watches first surfaced in 18th-century France, when André-Charles Caron reimagined decorative horology by attempting to reveal more of a watch with less. Caron did so by removing the dial and by stripping away excess metal from the movement, leaving only its bare architecture. Over time, artisans refined the craft by hollowing bridges and plates with greater sculptural finesse, and often adorning the remaining surfaces with engravings or filigree. These timepieces quickly became prized not only for their precision but also as expressions of ornamental artistry.

For Franck Muller, an independent watchmaking house that prides itself on testing the limits, skeleton watches are an irresistible invitation to dazzle and intrigue in equal measure. This year, the brand unveils two stunning novelties: the Vanguard Royal Bauxite, and the Vanguard Curvex Cut Flower. Although both collections uphold the time-honoured tenets of skeletonisation—anchored by architectural beauty and transparency of the mechanical movement—each tells its own unique story of art and innovation.