This just maked me want to bring back clear-plastic electronics.
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high-end watches are crazy. this is a 500 grand jacob & co astronomia:

they have tons of these, all with free-floating three-axis tourbillions.
I never liked Jacod & Co, I don't find their watches useful at all. Imagine walking and your hand goes on the wall.
Just insane that thing even works. Crazy engineering.
This is not a watch you wear, this is a display watch/collectors item.
Back when my wife and i were dating I kept talking about wanting a skeleton watch, but I never thought to communicate what that was, and didn't know why she was always so profoundly unenthused by something I was showing interest in, it was unlike her. She was much happier about it when my folks got me one for x-mas and she found out it it was not, in fact, a watch decorated with skeletons, lmao.
I have one of the cheapest you can buy, a Relic. It’s been working great for me for over 10 years now.
Not sure if this counts or not, but Swatch has many lovely pieces that showcase the internal components, most of which go for under $300. This one has been my daily driver for about 18 months now

I have honestly never seen a skeletonized quartz. That's actually kinda cool.
TIL there's a fancy name for "replacing the back plate with glass."
Clear bottom case is different from skeleton. The watchface is specifically designed for see through, as are mechanical parts.
I've never sesn a post that made me so ready to spend money before
They aren't too expensive really, and I think it's a great thing for people to have something like this that doesn't rely on anything digital at all.
could someone recommend a good cheap starter?
I'm always over stimulated by the choice and want something nice and quality for the money.
Is 200 too cheap?
I'm happy with my Seiko 5. It was like 90$ when I got it 7-8 years ago. It took a bit for it to "wear in" but now it keeps time for months without me having to set it.
Seiko makes excellent mechanical wrist watches. What is your intrigue? I'm assuming you like the idea of mechanical wrist watches and want a timepiece that is accurate and built to last. $200 is just a little below their entry price point I believe but you can always find used watches on eBay/Marketplace and the like. If you learn a little bit more about the industry then you might be able to find a bargain and get it serviced to work like new.
I got extremely lucky when I was fixated on the idea of owning or restoring a mechanical watch when I learned that my grandfather left behind a 1930's Hamilton. Nothing super high end, but a watch that would probably go for $600 today and was my style. I find it hard to match my style today because it seems everyone is searching for a massive statement piece on their wrist. I just wanted a watch that ticks when its quiet, has character, and can be passed on to my own children.
As a watch collector, they're usually on the cheap side. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but they're usually on the shitty side as well. Kind of like those weird ass knives at truck stops are basically Chinese pot metal crap, they just want someone to think they're cool who has no idea what they're buying.
Maybe some, but can't you actually get one that's made well? I've seen a few for a couple hundred.
I have a few. They really run the gamut. I have some very nice pieces, and a handful of extremely cheap ones from Ali Express which, ironically enough, get more road time. Jaeger le coultre is kinda infamous for their skeleton guys, although known for being some what overpriced for the quality. You want to see a really cool one where the movement itself is built into the hands? Look up ulysse nardin freak.
I've found plenty that are very nice quality. I mean like the decently good Bulova/Citizen kind of quality, and not the TAG Hauer / Breguet kind. But that's a pretty long way from shitty Chinesium. Although there's plenty of shitty watches of all kinds, too.
Okay neat but why? Does look practically to tell time. Reminds me the time the Fossil Watch store sold sundail watches.
The image I posted is of the back of one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeleton_watch

Why is for aesthetics. I have a pocket watch like this. I think the gear work is beautiful in its own way, and the front of it is like any normal watch face (just with a transparent face so you can see behind it).
My pocketwatch:



Seiko invented the self-winding watch, which has a big counterweight on the back, so as you moved around, the counterweight swung around, naturally winding the watch throughout your day. It was a notable innovation, and kind of confusing to describe, so Seiko put glass backings on their watches so you could watch the counterweight swing. I believe that was the event that made it a mainstream trend. Flashier brands like Seiko and Swatch were big fans of it, but higher end brands like Rolex and Breitling tend to avoid it to make a "We're not like the others" kinda statement.
On top of what has already been said, some advice based on personal experience; if you plan to wear the watch, check what the watch face material is and avoid bio-ceramic. My first mechanical watch had a few big scratches within a few months which was kind of disappointing.
Metal (literally)
I had a fake Breitling that was like that. It was so beautiful just watching the mechanism tick away.
Omg, where's the nsfw tag?!? /s
unzips
Have one and it's just incredible. Rather affordable too, if you have an interest in watches. Mine is a Seiko Presage cocktail time (blue) and it's going strong for almost 8 years now. Its very well built
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