Ever since the dawn of horology, people have been fascinated by the interaction of wheels, levers, and springs in timepieces. Therefore, it is not surprising that gifted watchmakers occasionally took a fancy to showcasing the wondrous inner choreography of their creations – much to the delight of their customers. These were the origins of skeleton watches, the challenging art of cutting openings into plates, bridges, and cocks until the limits of mechanical and functional feasibility are attained. The Patek Philippe Ref. 5180/1 salutes this fine art in a way that by far transcends the notion of the skeleton watch.
