Visible Keyless Works Watch Movement Guide

Ichiran · 2025-07-17T04:23:26Z

Explore Ichiran's collection of luxury watches featuring visible keyless works, a testament to intricate horological artistry. Discover pieces from Roger Smith, Vincent Deprez, and Cyril Brivet-Naudot.

Ichiran's latest post delves into a fascinating horological niche: the visible keyless works. This often-hidden mechanism, crucial for winding and setting a watch, is celebrated by Ichiran as a pinnacle of aesthetic and mechanical integration. His personal collection showcases how master watchmakers transform this functional component into a captivating display of artistry, inviting fellow collectors to appreciate this intricate detail.

It has not started that way for me during my early days of collection but as I continue along this journey, I have become subconsciously attracted to watches with visible keyless works mechanism, and began to collect them. Below are the ones I have and will receive later, and also some others that got away which are painfully beautiful. Hope you enjoy these pics. Series 5
r

1967

Seconde Vive (pic from his IG)

SBCA (pic from Simon Brett's website)

AK-06 (pic from SJX)

Vincent Deprez Tourbillon (pic from his website)

Key Points from the Discussion

The keyless works represent the 'final frontier' of mechanical watch aesthetics, as their intricate beauty is often overlooked or concealed, making their visible display a mark of a watchmaker's commitment to unifying mechanism and aesthetic.
Modern watches integrate winding and time-setting through the crown via a system of gears and levers, a significant evolution from early pocket watches that required a separate key for each function.
Displaying the full keyless works mechanism often necessitates extensive black polishing to ensure an aesthetically pleasing presentation, highlighting the additional craftsmanship involved.
Ichiran adds the Cyril Brivet-Naudot Eccentricity as another example of a timepiece featuring beautifully visible keyless works.

The Discussion

Watchonthewrist

Jul 17, 2025

Wow thats a impressive and amazing lineup of beautiful watches

Ichiran

Jul 17, 2025

Thanks only the 1st 2 are mine 🙏🏻

Bruno.M1

Jul 17, 2025

That is still impressive and amazing 😀

Ichiran

Jul 17, 2025

I'm honored, thanks Bruno 🙏🏻

Mike H

Jul 17, 2025

All are amazingly beautiful! 🤩🤩🤩

agyzace

Jul 17, 2025

Amazing set of high horology pieces.

Thanks for sharing!

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