Skeleton hands are watch hands that are hollow, with all or nearly all of the centre cut away. Because only the outline remains, they can take any shape. On watches with skeletonized dials, they help keep the movement in view, as the hands do not block it.
What is the difference between skeleton and open hands?
The difference is how much of the hand is removed. A skeleton hand has all or nearly all of its centre taken out, leaving little more than the outline. When only one part of a hand is cut out, and the rest stays solid, the hand is usually called open instead. So a hand with a single cut-out section near the tip is open. A hand that is hollow along its length is skeleton.
Can skeleton hands be luminous?
Yes. Makers can put lume on the underside of a skeleton hand so that it fills the hollow. The luminous version keeps the same decorative design, but lume inserts fill the open spaces instead of leaving them as gaps. This method gives classic sports-watch styles such as the Mercedes hand. It can also work the other way. Some skeleton hands sold as plain once had lume inserts, which were carefully taken out to leave the hollow showing.
Which watches use skeleton hands?
Watches with skeletonized dials sometimes use skeleton hands, so that the hands do not block the view of the movement. The Richard Mille RM 27-04 Rafael Nadal and the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton both have skeletonized hour and minute hands. Some Baume & Mercier watches use them too. In the standard style, the hand carries a decorative pattern with open gaps, and these patterns vary a lot. Skeleton hands come in many shapes and sizes.
Checked
