Show your bones.
Skeleton watches are notoriously difficult to execute well. Too often, brands create dial designs that compete with the movement underneath, resulting in a confusing mix of shapes, gears, and visual distractions.
The secret is balance. A successful skeleton watch should allow the architecture of the movement to guide the design, creating a cohesive structure where every bridge, gear, and component has a purpose.
Baillod (stylized as BA111OD) understands this approach perfectly with the Chapter 7 Skeleton. Now, the brand has introduced a new version that removes the previous dark coating and lets the watch’s mechanical details shine.
A Hidden Gem in the Integrated Sports Watch World
Baillod’s Chapter 7 was already an underrated contender in the crowded integrated sports watch category. It offered impressive specifications, including in-house construction and a COSC-certified automatic movement, all while staying comfortably below the $1,000 mark.
The Chapter 7 Skeleton Anthracite, released in 2025, took the concept even further. Featuring a fully skeletonized dial and movement, it stood apart with a striking monochromatic design.
As the name suggests, the entire watch was finished in anthracite PVD, covering the case, dial, bracelet, and movement bridges. The result was a dark, stealthy aesthetic — almost like a luxury sports watch designed for Batman.
The latest Chapter 7 Skeleton takes a completely different approach, removing the anthracite coating and revealing a bright metallic finish.
According to Baillod, the design draws inspiration from the “summer light of Neuchâtel,” the Swiss Alpine hometown where the brand is based.
A Brilliant Metallic Transformation
The 40mm stainless steel case features a combination of vertical satin brushing across the flat surfaces and mirror polishing along the chamfered edges.
The same finishing extends to the 10-sided fixed steel bezel, creating a refined contrast between brushed and polished surfaces.
With the darker anthracite finish gone, the intricate details of the skeletonized design become much easier to appreciate.
The sandblasted sections of the chapter ring now stand out in bare steel, while the black printed seconds track on the matte rehaut provides improved readability.
Seeing Through Time
The open-worked dial reveals the Soprod Caliber P024-SQ automatic movement beneath, with the brushed-steel framework carefully following the movement’s curves and lines.
The result is a cleaner, more harmonious view of the mechanical components inside.
The raised hour markers and alpha-style hour and minute hands feature white Super-LumiNova inserts, producing a blue glow in low-light conditions.
Inside, the automatic movement beats at 4Hz and delivers a 38-hour power reserve.
A screw-down exhibition caseback completes the “sapphire sandwich” construction, allowing owners to view the movement from both sides of the watch.
Sporty or Steely?
The Chapter 7 Skeleton continues to offer the same integrated H-link stainless steel bracelet found on earlier versions.
The bracelet mirrors the case design with brushed surfaces and polished chamfers, creating a seamless transition between the watch head and bracelet.
For those looking for a more casual and sporty appearance, Baillod also offers the watch with a fitted rubber strap.
The Frost Blue rubber option especially highlights the athletic character of the watch. It comes with a stainless steel deployant clasp and quick-release pins for easy strap changes.
With a slim 10.5mm case thickness and a crown positioned at 4 o’clock, the Chapter 7 Skeleton maintains a comfortable and unobstructed feel on the wrist.
Availability and Pricing
Integrated sports watches inspired by icons like the Royal Oak and Nautilus have become increasingly common in today’s market.
However, few watches offer the combination of finishing, mechanical specifications, and skeletonized design found in the Baillod Chapter 7 Skeleton at this price point.
For pure value, it stands out as one of the strongest options in its category.
The Baillod Chapter 7 Skeleton is currently available for pre-order directly from Baillod.
- Rubber strap version: $1,295
- Steel bracelet version: $1,380
Orders are scheduled to ship in August 2026.
