First of all I'll warn you off the Stauer.

The movement is the Chinese Standard movement. It's an excellent design, but sadly amongst most of the several factories producing skeleton versions, the build quality is very poor. The plate tolerances are amongst the worst in the industry. And unfortunately, I'm not familiar enough with the different cuts to know whether this is from one of the good factories or one of the bad ones.

Besides, how can you take seriously a spiel like this?

A trip to an antique book store led us to find one of the earliest designs of the sought after skeleton timepiece. With a 227-year-old design, Stauer has brought back the past in the intriguing old world geometry of the Stauer 1779 Skeleton. See right through to the precision parts and hand assembled movement and into the heart of the unique timepiece... ...Inspired by a rare museum piece dating to 1779, we engineered this classic with $31,000,000 worth of precise Swiss built machinery to create the intricate gears and levers. So the historians are thrilled with the authenticity and the demanding engineers are quite impressed with the technical performance... ...the gold-fused mainspring, escapement, balance wheel...

...We took the timepiece to George Thomas, a noted historian and watch restorer for major museums, and he dissected the 110 parts of the vintage movement. He gave the "1779" top reviews. "It is possible to build it better than the original, and your new skeleton requires so little maintenance." When we shared the price with him, George was stunned. He said that no other luxury skeleton can be had for under $1000...;

Sorry, I've veered off-topic a bit but I just had to share yet another Stauer literary gem. :-d

 

First of all I'll warn you off the Stauer. Besides, how can you take seriously a spiel like this?

...

Sorry, I've veered off-topic a bit but I just had to share yet another Stauer literary gem. :-d

I nearly sprayed hot tea onto my screen just now. That is comedy gold.

 

Do you have any other opinions, or suggestions for other inexpensive skeleton watches that I'm unaware of?

Thank you for your responses in advance.

I own two skeletons :

I recently bought this EYKI "Ventura" homage.

https://www.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=375247

Excellent fit & finish :-! you can have this one for less than $100 on the bay.

And this Wagner (I bought it 3 years ago, but it can't be found anywhere now)

https://www.watchuseek.com/showpost.php?p=2468982&postcount=1

 

Oh wow, Reno, I really love that EYKI. But of course I can't find one online at the moment. *sigh* That is one of the most nicely decorated movements I've seen in an ultra-affordable watch.

Still waiting on my Tauchmeister T0146...

 

And I empied my cup of coffee on my screen!!!
THIS IS WAY TOO HYLARIOUS!!!
I have to remenber this one!!!

nice day!
RJ van Melle.

 

My skeleton was from the 'Samson Watch Co'. Can't remember the exact price but it was well under $150
I think the movement is a variant on the Sea-Gull 3600, the one with the long regulator arm.
I like the look of this one, especially the big blued 'necktie' hands that show up well against the movement details.
Finish & decoration is good too and it has a nice quality look :-!

 

I really, really like the engraving on that one Alan. Nice find!

(edit to add
In reference to the original post, I found a variation of this watch on Ebay a while back for $50:
https://www.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=267215.
The casework was fantastic and the Sea-Gull ST-17 is a little jewel of a movement. I've not had any issues with it.

 

I really, really like the engraving on that one Alan. Nice find!

Thanks nderwater :-! It was the engraving that did it for me |>

 

Thank you for your responses, particularly to Chasecomm for the excellent humor and to nderwater for the link to another post with an extensive review of the Sea-Gull skeleton watch.

So, the Stauer is definitely out of the running thanks to Chasecomm, and I've got new choices to consider thanks to the rest of you. (I'm also considering NakedWatch products). Right now, the Sea-Gull is my preference, but it costs the most.

My principal problem remains that I don't have any experience actually viewing most of these skeleton watches in operation. The local Tourneau store only carries one skeleton and it's an Oris Artelier at over $2000. None of the other "mall" stores in my area carry skeleton watches, except Wal-Mart with an unappealing (to me) Armitron.

Are the inexpensive skeleton watch movements more or less the same in operation, or are there significant differences?

 

Reno, the current equivalent to the Wagner from what I can tell is being branded Winner. It even includes the wing motif.

 

Fuyate, Goer, Jaragar and Winner are basically the same watches. They share the same standard movement and quite often a similar dial design. The only exception that I've seen has been the Goer Manual Wind watch. But I'm sure that if you looked hard enough, some other ebay only "mushroom" brand makes a skeleton using the the same housing. For under $20 they're fun to buy, but I don't really expect them to last long. I've attached a couple shots of the Goer in gold plate, I've seen it in silver as well. They can be found all over ebay.

 

Hi Rich5665,

Are those brands you have mentioned the same quality ? For price around 20 dollar, which brand is good in terms of movement and styling ?
And, are they worth the money you pay ?
I am buying my first mechanical watch, will appreciate your comments !
Thanks !!:thanks

Regards,
MoonPhase

 

I just remembered I also have a standard skeleton

 

I just remembered I also have a standard skeleton

That skeleton cut looks quite different than the typical Chinese skeleton. I like it! Any other watches with this movement?

 

A closer look at the Goer Gold Skeleton.

 

They look so much more different, unique, when they're hand made.

 

Most skeletons out there are using the chinese movement that was mentioned before. I'm posting a picture of my watch. It has the exact same movment all the other skeletons at the mall have, seems like brands from kenneth cole all the way to "Paris hilton":-x! use it.

The Kenneth cole I have seems pretty good, It keeps reasonably good time. The power reserve lasts between 30 and 40 hours. I have yet to scratch the crystal, Im not going to tell you its Sapphire but Ive worn it just as long as another watch I have that does have a sappire crystal and yet has many tiny swirleys auuuugggggggggggghhhhhhhhhho| .
The movement lets you "hack" and you can also hand wind.
The only thing I dont like about this particular movement is
1) it seems "cheaply decorated" even from a distance. (its a matter of personal taste but I would have preffered something more plain, less pardon the expression "BLINGY" its shiny and engraved)
2) Already stated its a very comon movement almost all skeletons at the mall use it..and ill say it again "PARIS HILTON".....................:-s

This is a watch you can enjoy, there is alot to look at. and the plus side to it being a very comon movement means you have alot of variety when it comes to choosing a case.

 

It's a shame that you don't like the Walmart available Armitrons as they use the ST-16 movement. I have seen them for sale for under $50 at times. Also the Armitrons will say TY2807SV on the case back. This is the same as the ST-16.

 

Thank you again for your responses.

I chose to purchase the Sea-Gull M182SK.

I received it last week, and am posting with my initial thoughts.

First, my correspondence with Kevin Ma, the Sea-Gull USA representative has been excellent. He responded to my email inquiry very quickly, provided a modest discount for the product (10% for Watchuseek forum members) shipped the watch and sent emails confirming order processing and shipping the same day.

The watch arrived within three days, well packed. It was running when I unpacked it; I assume due to movement of the rotor during shipping.

All aspects of the watch look fine (materials, fit and finish, etc.) and are commensurate with the price. Portions of the movement visible through front and back crystals are nicely polished. The visible "operation" of the skeleton movement is OK, not as dramatic as I had hoped for, but "it is what it is". As noted by people who posted in this thread, it is my understanding that the same movement is used in a number of other inexpensive skeleton watches, such as Fossil, Armitron, etc.

Frankly, to my newbie watch-novice eye, I see very little difference between the fit and finish and operation of the Fossil skeleton watch that is available at local shopping malls for $80 and the Sea-Gull that I bought for more than double that amount. But, it is also my understanding from posts on Watchuseek that the Sea-Gull movements in Sea-Gull brand watches have higher levels of quality control, fitment, finishing, etc. than the movements that they sell to others.

Anyway, I've scratched my itch to have a skeleton watch, for under $200, and I'm generally happy with the decision. (This will save me from thinking that I need to buy a +$2000 Oris Artelier skeleton watch).

The Sea-Gull watch is running about +30 seconds per day. Is this within the normal expected range for the Sea-Gull ST-16 movement?

As a side note, my wife and I went to a cocktail/dinner party this weekend, and one of the other wives noticed the Sea-Gull watch, and it was the topic of conversation for a few minutes. It is rare for me to receive comments about any of my other watches (modest collection of "affordables") so this was a pleasant surprise.

 

Congrats on the purchase. I have considered the Sea-Gull in Gold. Can't wait to see some photos.|>

 

I can't really vouch for the quality yet, but so far I'm happy. My understanding is that these are a mass produced standard movement. I would equate them to the $20 watch found in Kmart, Walmart, and Target or any such store. That doesn't mean they are bad, just that they are not of the same quality as say a Parnis or an Alpha. Kind of like comparing an $80 watch to a $500 watch. Out of the 9 watches that I have bought so far, only one looked like it was rushed through quality control. The other thing I noticed is, you will see the same watch with different names. I think they all come from the same factory so that really is no surprise. thislink to the Chinese watch wiki explains the grades of the movements better than I can. There have been questions regarding what metals might be used in the manufacturing of the watches. The sellers indicate Stainless Steel. Not being a metallurgist I can't really say if that is true. If it is stainless Steel then it is most likely a lower grade. Most of the watches I have are plated. My best suggestion would be to buy one that interests you and form an opinion.

 

Thank you very much ,Rich5665 ! It is helpful and that link is very good,which I 've visited before. It is interesting that you equate them to the $20 watch from Walmart, Kmart....etc, I was expecting them to be a bit better than those watches in the shops.
You are right, I 'll just buy one and see the quality . Would you please recommend some reliable seller which you can trust ?
Also, it will be nice if I can see your affordable Chinese collection and from our members here !!
Many thanks !!

 

Here are a few of my watches. Still working on photographing the rest. and will edit this post as I add them.

Winner Skeleton

Winner Chronometer

Winner Aguaracer

Goer Gold Skelton

 

I have a LK Colouring skeleton watch with the exact movement. I ordered it from DealExtreme, $14.58 delivered. The only difference is that mine is more of a stainless/nickel finish but still attractive. Keeps good time, comparing it to readings off of my Casio Waveceptor atomic watch it seems to be within the +28 seconds a day range and I've had it running for three weeks now. By the way on the DealExtreme site it is shown as a Daybird crystals see-thru steel mechanical wrist watch. Is indeed a LK model #98001g. Thanks Mike

 

Thank you for posting the pics, they are good looking !
Are they from same seller, Nice00watch ??

Regards.

 

Most of my purchases have been fromeveryday.deal, if he doesn't have anything I like then I also browse a_ashop and watch-times. They all carry pretty much the same watches, but once in a while one will have something the others don't or have a watch listed a few dollars cheaper. I scored a Wilon Open Heart for $.01 with $9.99 shipping when every one else had the total cost up around $20.

 

Most of my purchases have been from

everyday.deal, if he doesn't have anything I like then I also browse

a_ashop and

watch-times. They all carry pretty much the same watches, but once in a while one will have something the others don't or have a watch listed a few dollars cheaper. I scored a Wilon Open Heart for $.01 with $9.99 shipping when every one else had the total cost up around $20.[/QUOTE

Thank you so much for sharing ! Everyday.deal and a ashop has a lot of offers with low pricing.I haven't bought anything from them . BTW, that first pic of skeleton watch, do the two circles are just decoration ?

 

I have a small Alpha Skeleton that I love a lot. Here are a few pictures:

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

That is a very beautiful watch :-!:-!:-! I've been looking at a similar one, I think you may have pushed me over the edge on my decision to buy one.

 

I've bought a few watches from "Everyday deal" as well - one was one of the above manual wind Goers the other was the below Winner - which I think is much nicer for the same price. The rotor in mine doesn't turn, but it does hand-wind easily, and it has been quite accurate. It has a domed mineral crystal. I especially like how I can see the mainspring and the pallet fork. It isn't a decorated skeletonized movement, but I actually prefer this. The pics are grabbed from a current auction. For about $15 shipped, it's pretty great I think.

Chris

 

wow - stunning - would easily pay 150-200 for that watch new!!

 

Armitron is a good brand.

 

Hi Alan,

I am new to the forum and a novice watch collector.

I really like this watch but am unsure where to buy it from. As a novice, I am unfamiliar with where these watches are often sold.

I would greatly appreciate your help if you can point to me where this watch was sold.

Thank you
South aussie

 

Hi Alan,

I am new to the forum and a novice watch collector.

I really like this watch but am unsure where to buy it from. As a novice, I am unfamiliar with where these watches are often sold.

I would greatly appreciate your help if you can point to me where this watch was sold.

Thank you
South aussie

PM sent ;-)