Written By Nick Lyons – 10 Minute Read. Last Updated: June 10, 2020
Want The Best Skeleton Movement Wooden Watch?
Looking for the best men’s wooden watch with a skeleton face and movement to purchase as a gift or for yourself? Don’t worry, we researched and tested nearly 100 wood watches for men and pulled together the best choices for you here!
We found the top 15 best skeleton watches that offer both looks, quality and value and we will even help you find the best place to find them and get the best prices on your new skeleton watch.
Skeleton Watch Vs. Automatic Movement: How are they different?
People frequently ask us, what’s the difference between an automatic wooden watch? And a Skeleton wooden watch? Technically an automatic watch refers to the type of movement – these watches are powered by the movement of your wrist and do not require a battery.
A skeleton watch face refers to the face that it has a see through quality, so you can see the inner workings and gears inside the watch. Frequently the movement type of a skeleton watch is an automatic movement. But not always.
The opposite is true of mechanical, auto movement watches too. Sometimes they feature a skeleton face – but not always. You can also check out our list of the best automatic wooden watches.
Our Top 15 Skeleton Wood Watch Choices
Burnham Red Skeleton Auto Wooden Watch
- Price Category: Less Than $100
- Editors Rating: 9.5 / 10.0
Why We Chose This Skeleton Watch As #1
We love the rich color and style of the red sandalwood and ebony wood of this men’s skeleton watch.
At about 48mm dial width, it gives plenty of space to show the inner gears and mechanical winding movement. Which is the point of a skeleton watch!
The gears and movement inside are colored with bright gold which creates a beautiful contrast against your skin color and the rosewood colors.
In addition, it features a safety butterfly clasp for easy one handed putting on and taking off. Additionally, if you are looking for a gift, the solid watch band of this watch can easily be adjusted.
See our other best automatic wooden watches >
Zebrawood Skeleton Men’s Watch
- Price Category: Less Than $100
- Editors Rating: 9.2 / 10.0
This men’s skeleton watch is perfect if you are looking for something a little more classic than the Red Burnham. This watch features a solid zebrawood case paired with zebrawood and ebony wood original wood, solid grain band.
It’s slightly smaller too, featuring a 46 mm bezel which will fit most men’s wrists while still allowing plenty of window room to display the gears and movement through the face.
To complete the classic look, this watch is finished with silver mechanics. They will still shine, catch the light and plenty of attention.
With a price solidly below $100 dollars, this skeleton natural grain watch is a great deal. Our staff has a few and we have worn them almost every day for about a year.
Skeleton Watch Wood Color Options
One of the other features we love about this watch are the color choices. You can get in in the zebrawood, red sandalwood or a dark ebony wood color.
Wilds Wood Infinity Series Self Winding
- Price Category: $100-$200
- Editors Rating: 9.0 / 10.0
Wilds Wood builds absolutely stunning watches and creates very unique, but classic wood watch designs.
This automatic movement watch from Wilds Wood features beautiful craftsmanship and a skeleton face inside a blue accented crown – all surrounded by solid, handcrafted zebrawood.
Our favorite feature (besides the automatic movement and the skeleton face, is the blue accenting around the face – it gives the impression of some high end watches like Rolex.
Stainless & Wood Skeleton from Treehut
- Price Category: Classic $300-400
- Editors Rating: 8 / 10.0
This limited automatic watch from Treehut is a true winner in both function and design with it’s tourbilion design.
This style is a bit more masculine and solid of a wooden watch with the ebony wood from Tanzania and the stainless steel crown and band accents.
When testing this watch out, we love the heft and weight to it. Wearing it feels very solid and dependable. Additionally, the dark wood gives it a bit of a secret – from a distance you would never know, but up close you can see the beautiful wooden design work on the natural grains.
If you are looking for a top quality wooden watch, and are willing to explore other non-skeleton options, we’d really recommend checking out Treehut’s complete collection.
#5 Top Skeleton Wood Watch
It comes in 5 colors and styles, so check them all out or read our full Wilds Wooden Watch Review.
Wild Blue Chronograph Dual Dial Skeleton
- Price Category: Premium – Over $200
- Editors Rating: 9 / 10.0
At a little more than $200, this Wilds wooden watch definitely falls into the Premium category – but is ABSOLUTELY worth it.
It features an automatic, dual wheel, self winding 47 Jewels movement automatic movement that has a 40-hour power reserve. Not only are we impressed by the mechanics of this self-winding movement, but the blue face is absolutely royal looking and not to be missed.
If you are looking for an absolute top quality, mechanical wood watch for a man in the $200+ dollar range, that makes a bold and modern statement – this is our recommendation.
Wilds Wood Classic Skeleton Watch For Men
- Price Category: Standard $150 – $200
- Editors Rating: 7.5 / 10.0
At a little under $200, this Wilds skeleton wood watch for men makes our list because it’s the perfect blend of classic styling with a skeleton face that shows the silver gears and dials inside.
- This Wilds, features an automatic mechanical movement bearing 18 jewels
- Accurate to within +/-3 seconds per day
- 36 hour power reserve
- Wear it regularly during the day and it will power itself from your wrist movement.
Wilds Wood Skeleton Watch Size:
- Case diameter: 48mm
- Case thickness: 11mm
- Band width: 23mm
Brown Wooden Watch With Leather Band
- Price Category: Affordable – Under $100
- Editors Rating: 8 / 10.0
If you are looking for a skeleton watch with a hint of wood, but not too much or not a wooden band, check out this one.
Unlike many other wooden watches on our list here, this one features a leather band that offsets the natural wood color and the silver gears behind the skeleton face.
Specifications:
- Case diameter: 44 mm
- Case thickness: 12 mm
- Band width: 22 mm
- Movement: Automatic movement
- Band Materials: Genuine Leather
Jord Meridian Series
- Price Category: Premium – $250+
- Editors Rating: 7 / 10.0
The Jord Meridian is definitely one of the more expensive watches at the list with a price closer to $500 dollars, But Jord is a premium maker and we think this is one of their best looking watches.
It features a dual wheel sub dial skeleton face mounted inside a steel crown, but other than that, this watch is pure wood!
Specifications:
- Case diameter: 44 mm
- Case thickness: 16 mm
- Band width: 20 mm
- Movement: Automatic movement with 48 hour reserve
Bobo Bird Ebony Wood & Steel
- Price Category: Affordable – Under $100
- Editors Rating: 7.5 / 10.0
At closer to $100 we think this Bobo Bird watch is pretty close to a steal!
This solid ebony wood watch features classic steel band links to added durability and a little flash, but the real stand out is the face.
It’s powered by a high quality Sea Gull automatic movement embedded in a black metallic face and great red dials to offset with a bright color. It has a complete calendar with month, date & day of the week. It features a single sub dial window inso the movement in the watch.
It’s a very classy way to show case the mechanical movement without making the entire watch face gears.
Specifications:
- Case diameter: 45 mm
- Case thickness: 14 mm
- Band width: 21 mm
- Movement: Automatic Sea Gull movement with 48 hour reserve
Bobo Bird Zebra Wood & Steel
- Price Category: Affordable – Under $100
- Editors Rating: 7.5 / 10.0
Does this watch seem eerily similar to the watch above? It should – they are the exact same watch except for the color scheme. This one features the lighter color scheme with solid zebrawood for the band and case and a white background instead of black for the face. Other than that, same Sea Gull movement, same red dials and same steel accents.
Normally we would link to the other colors in the same watch ranking, but we think these 2 watches are both a fantastic deal and somehow look very different despite being the same watch.
We didn’t want you to miss out on making the right choice!
Specifications:
- Case diameter: 45 mm
- Case thickness: 14 mm
- Band width: 21 mm
- Movement: Automatic Sea Gull movement with 48 hour reserve
LAiMER Natural Olive Wood Watch
- Price Category: Standard – $100 – $200
- Editors Rating: 7 / 10.0
Laimer is a lesser known wooden watch company based out of the Italian Alps – so it should come as no surprise that they produce something both beautiful and unique all at the same time.
While many of the watches on the list feature darker grained woods like ebony or zebrawood, Laimer chose to go with Olive which has a golden honey color and then paired with silver gears showing through the skeleton face and a gray number band.
The back features a glass window so you can see the mechanical counterweight as it spins and powers your watch.
If you want to stand out from the crowd, we’d go with this Italian masterpiece.
Specifications:
- Case diameter: 43 mm
- Case thickness: 13 mm
- Band width: 24 mm
- Movement: Automatic Self Winding
TJW Red Sandalwood Skeleton
- Price Category: Affordable – Under $100
- Editors Rating: 8 / 10.0
TJW is a direct manufacturers brand that makes a few different watches that are simple but very popular.
This is their solid red sandalwood watch that features an automatic movement showcased with a glass window on the face that shows the silver gears inside.
If you want a very solid solidly made watch that features clean, solid red sandalwood ban and case with the luxury of visible gears. Check out this TJW for sure!
Specifications:
- Case diameter: 45 mm
- Band width: 24 mm
- Movement: Automatic Self Winding
Woodme Gold & Blue Skeleton Watch
- Price Category: Affordable – Under $100
- Editors Rating: 6.5 / 10.0
WoodMe is a smaller brand, but they deliver quite a stylish punch with some of their designs. If you like the shape and size of the TJW above, but want something that stands out with some more colors, check this watch out.
The watch starts out classic with a 47 mm dial and solid ebony wood for the band and watch case – but the simplicity ends there. The skeleton face and clear glass back reveal bright, shiny gold gears and mechanical movement inside. If that’s not enough, the numbers are marked in orange text on a blue face edging. Get one!
Specifications:
- Case diameter: 47 mm
- Case thickness: 14.7 mm
- Band width: 23 mm
- Movement: Automatic Self Winding
Bewell Automatic Movement With Ebony
- Price Category: Affordable – Under $100
- Editors Rating: 8.5 / 10.0
Ok, you caught us – this watch isn’t technically a skeleton watch because you cannot see through the face to see the insides – but admit it, you love this pairing of zebrawood and ebony wood band with the black face and date.
In our defense, this popular Bewell is an automatic movmeent and does feature a skeleton case back with a glass window that allows you to see the counter weight that powers your watch.
Specifications:
- Case diameter: 45 mm
- Case thickness: 12 mm
- Band width: 20 mm
- Movement: Automatic Self Winding
Wilds Premium Watch Collection
- Price Category: Standard – $100 – $200
- Editors Rating: 8.5 / 10.0
This watch is from Wilds Wood Watch’s Infinity series and blends a few different colors, but it made out list because of how well it blends the zebrawood case with the ebony wood band links and the silver skeleton face and black bezel.
In this high end collection they use their automatic, self-winding 18 Jewel bearing movement with a 36 hours power reserve.
Specifications:
- Case diameter: 45 mm
- Case thickness: 12 mm
- Band width: 20 mm
- Movement: Automatic Self Winding
What Is The Best Skeleton Wooden Watch I can Get For $100?
An automatic wooden watch refers to the type of movement that powers the actual watch mechanics. Unlike standard quartz watches that are powered by a battery – automatic watch movements use your movement to power the watch. You might think that this type of precision and complicated watch movement only comes in the absolute high end wooden watches – you’d be wrong.
You can actually get some great looking and great working skeleton watches for $100 or less. Check out our list above to seem multiple watches in that price range.
What Kind Can You Get For $100?
With an automatic movement, the natural movement of your wrist spins a small counter weight inside the watch to wind up tiny springs. The springs then power the gears that turn the hands of the watch.
Many automatic watches will actually have a glass window on the back of the watch case so that you can see the weight inside moving.
How Much Do Skeleton Wooden Watches Cost?
What should you pay for a mechanical wood watch with a skeleton face? What is the best automatic wooden watch for your money? These are some of the most popular questions we get about this type of wristwatch. The great news is that you can still find some good quality skeleton watches for under $100 and if you have $200-$300 to splurge a little on this purchase you can pretty much take your pick of the luxury skeleton wood styles out there.
Overview Of Price Categories:
- Standard: $50-$100 – Is the price you can expect for an entry level wooden watch with a mechanical movement.
- Classic: $100-$200 – Wooden watches in this price category with a auto movement would be consider your standard and will have a top quality parts and unique designs.
- Luxury: $200+ – Wooden watches over $200 with an automatic winding mechanism are considered luxury and will feature top quality mechanics & wood and are usually carrying a brand name from a well known brand like Jord or Holzkern.
What’s The Difference Between A Skeleton Watch And Automatic Wooden Watch?
While there can be a lot of overlap between these 2 items, an Automatic Movement refers to what powers the watch. In an automatic movement, the watch is powered when the movement of your wrist winds the watch using a counter weight and gears.
A skeleton watch refers the ability to see through the face of the watch to see in workings inside.
- So with a skeleton watch – you can see inside and it may have an automatic movement or battery powered movement.
- With an automatic movement – you may be able to see inside if it is also a skeleton watch – but it could also just have a normal face.
Tip On Choosing The Right One
Choosing the best watch for you starts with are you buying for youself? Or are you buying this as a gift for someone in your life? Maybe for valentines day? father’s day? A Christmas gift? Either way, the following are the categories to help you make the best skeleton wooden watch decision.
- Desired Price Range: First it’s important to take into account how much you are looking to spend on this watch. As long as you have a minimum budget of about $50-$75 dollars you can definitely find something to your taste. If you have upwards of $200 to spend on this skeleton watch, you can select from a number of the more premium skeleton watches.
- Style Of Bands: Do you want a watch with an all wooden band? A wood band with some stainless steel links as well for durability and color offset? Some of the watches on our list also feature leather bands for an additional classic taste.
- General Watch Color Scheme: What kind of watch coloring and style are you looking for? Do you want to stay pretty classic with dark wood colors like red or brown with black or stainless steel? Don’t worry, there are dozens of watches like that. Or perhaps you are looking for a mechanical skeleton watch that has some original grains of wood style, but also some flashiers colors like bright blue, yellows or reds? While there are slightly fewer, there are still plenty of these styles with some modern touches by Jord, Wilds, Burnham etc.