Audemars Piguet Skeleton

They say love is about letting someone see your heart. If that’s true, then this Audemars Piguet is baring its soul. A late ‘70s stunner nicknamed Open Heart Surgery (with affection, not drama), this watch doesn't just show off its movement—it invites you into it. And somehow, it steals your heart in the process.

This is AP doing what AP does best: skeletonization. Not the flashy, look-at-me kind, but the kind that whispers, “I’ve been doing this since the ‘30s—relax.” Audemars Piguet was one of the first to bring open-worked wristwatches into the spotlight almost a century ago, and this piece shows just how far that mastery has come.

Let’s talk dial. Actually, less dial. A silver chapter ring floats around the movement, anchoring the eye with bold black Roman numerals—big enough to read, but not so big they yell. There's a lovely, understated guilloché pattern along the inner and outer edges, a subtle flex that elevates the whole face. And thankfully, the chapter ring also prevents this from turning into a wrist-mounted anatomy lesson. (Because while your arm hairs are charming, they don’t need a front row seat.)

The main event? That view. A 14kt yellow gold bridge plate, completely hand-engraved, frames the movement like a piece of mechanical filigree. The bevelled bridges, the depth, the interplay of shadows—it's like a miniature sculpture that just happens to tell time. Manual-wind, of course. Calibre 2003SQ. A skeletonized version of AP’s legendary Calibre 2003, each one uniquely serialized, beating away in full view. You don’t wear this watch to check the time—you wear it to see time.

It measures 32mm, which on paper sounds compact, but don’t let the numbers fool you. The absence of a full dial gives it a much bigger wrist presence—light dances through it, drawing the eye straight into its golden circuitry. The 18K yellow gold case is razor sharp and flawlessly preserved, paired with a matching original AP buckle and a black alligator strap that echoes the numerals and keeps everything feeling considered.

If you're the type who appreciates quiet craftsmanship over loud branding, this one might just get under your skin—in the best way. With its sapphire crystal keeping everything crystal-clear (literally), and its late '70s B-serial pedigree to back up the story, this is a piece that’s aged without a wrinkle. In flawless condition, it feels less like a vintage watch and more like a time capsule—one that just happens to have a heartbeat.

Try not to fall in love. Or do. Your call.