Openworked: Charlie Paris’s Skeleton Watch for Women
Who said women appreciate fine mechanics any less? Certainly not the watch brand Charlie Paris, which is enriching its collection of automatic watches with a women’s skeleton watch model, un sujet que nous abordons dans notre article sur automatic women’s watch.
The latest addition to the Initial 36 automatic women’s watch collection, the “Ajourée” is a “skeleton” watch. Nothing to do with bones: the term refers to watches whose dial allows you to glimpse—or fully see—the movement, its mechanics and gear train.
A quality movement
It’s always a little frustrating to wear a watch with an automatic movement and not be able to observe it if the caseback isn’t transparent or if the dial isn’t at least partially openworked.
Charlie Paris’ Ajourée reveals its robust Japanese Citizen Miyota automatic movement, calibre 8N4, with a 42-hour power reserve. It may not sound like much, but it will spare you from having to reset your watch if you leave it on your bedside table in favour of another piece that better suits your outfit. Forty-two hours after setting it down, the watch is still running—without needing to be wound by the motion of your wrist or via the crown, and without any need to set the time again.
Through the dial, you can watch the movement come to life… the escape wheel turning, the balance spring breathing… A fascinating miniature spectacle on your wrist, all protected by a sapphire crystal that will resist scratches.
The icing on the cake: the caseback is transparent too, so you can admire the movement from both the front and the back!
The case
36 mm—an ideal size for a woman’s wrist. The case is made of rose-gold-plated 316L steel. At 11.9 mm thick, it doesn’t feel bulky, despite the fact that the movement is automatic and therefore thicker than a quartz calibre.
It is water-resistant to 30 metres, but depending on the strap you choose, you’ll want to avoid swimming, won’t you?
Straps
Speaking of straps, the watch is offered with a choice of no fewer than 9.
It is available on a rose-gold Milanese mesh bracelet in the same tone as the case for a pleasing harmony, or on leather with a choice of 8 colours: sand, terracotta, ocean, peacock, brown, burgundy, green and ecru. All of these shades pair beautifully with rose gold—no fashion missteps in sight. My favourites are peacock and ocean.
Price and availability
The Ajourée is currently available for pre-order on the brand’s website (charlie-paris.com) at the time of writing (05 August 2021), and the watch will be available at the end of August.
You can get it for €365 instead of €395. For an automatic watch of this quality, assembled in France (near Besançon, the sanctuary of French watchmaking) with a Citizen Miyota automatic movement, it’s frankly a very good deal.
