The resurrected Daniel Roth is keeping up the pace with new launches. At LVMH Watch Week 2026, the brand has finally unveiled an all-new model, one that is not based on a historical watch: the Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton. Though mechanically similar to last year’s Extra Plat, the skeleton version features a new movement boasting solid gold bridges that are hand finished, resulting in a movement that is visibly high quality in its execution.

While the case is the familiar double-ellipse form that’s the Daniel Roth signature, the skeletonised movement is a new calibre with a modern style that gives this a fresh feel compared to the brand’s recent models that are firmly grounded in the 1990s Daniel Roth aesthetic.

Initial thoughts

The Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton is a good looking watch that’s instantly recognisable as a Daniel Roth, but importantly it will never be confused with a Daniel Roth watch from the 1990s like its siblings in the catalogue that are essentially remakes. This makes it the first genuinely new model in today’s Daniel Roth line-up.

The Extra Plat Skeleton marks a new direction for today’s Daniel Roth, but ironically it calls to mind a skeleton model made by Daniel Roth when it was run by Bulgari. That’s not a bad thing; that particular Bulgari-Daniel Roth was one of the best watches produced by the brand during that period.

Beyond its novelty, the watch is intrinsically appealing because it is clearly made to high standards. This is apparent in the movement with its generous decoration and slender bridges. Beyond the obvious details, the movement also stands out for the less discernible elements like the finely shaped keyless works and Geneva-style stud carrier.

The Extra Plat Skeleton costs CHF85,000, a hefty premium over the conventional model with a solid dial. It’s arguably worth the extra because of the movement quality. And in today’s highly valued market, the same amount only buys a non-skeleton, but nicely finished, time-only watch from a startup independent brand, making this a square deal at the least.

Elegantly formed

While the DR002SR looks virtually identical to the “standard” DR002 architecture, there are many subtle details that make this skeletonisation quite interesting. The placement of the gears is the same but the plates and bridges are heavily modified and not just cut out.

At first sight it seems as if each gear is being supported by its own dedicated pair of finger bridges. This is just clever cutting of the mainplate, which gives the impression of these faux sloping finger bridges on both the dial and case back side. The construction lends an air of spaciousness while preserving proper rigidity of the components. 

Three faux finger bridges.

The slim bridges are connected to the mainplate via stubby, sloped polished steel pillars — much like plates were assembled in the past in French clocks and watches. It is truly a shame how these pillars sit mostly at the edges of the movement and they will seldomly be properly seen. 

Steel support pillar visible in the top right corner.

Another beautiful architectural detail is the spring for the keyless works. The graceful two-ended spring has an exaggerated sloped profile, which adds a degree of beauty to and otherwise unassuming mechanism. Keyless works are usually boring affairs, built with reliability and compactness in mind, but here the mechanism is just showing off. 

The balance and escapement are as good as they come, with the free-sprung architecture and shock absorbers for both the balance and escape wheel. The balance beats at 4 Hz and the escapement’s lively action can be admired from the dial side. The hairspring is pinned to a screwed Geneva stud and overall the only thing missing here is a Breguet overcoil. 

A good design choice was keeping all the metalwork free of engravings. While in his early skeleton work Daniel Roth himself added intricate engraving patterns on the bridges, such flourishes are no longer the flavour of the day in contemporary watchmaking. 

The lack of engraving makes it easier to enjoy the rest of the finishing, which is definitely on par with that of both finishing-oriented independents and the established high horology manufactures. The flat tops of the bridges are all finely brushed, while the (many) edges run with continuous anglage. There are numerous sharp internal angles and one can feel the human touch and effort in the rounded polishing.

Since the undersides of the bridges themselves are visible from certain angles, they are covered with perlage — a really commendable effort from the artisans at La Fabrique du Temps. The steel parts are either brushed or mirror polished, with highlights like the crown and click wheels and the gracious blade click. 

The barrel itself is open-worked and the coiled spring inside is on almost full display. This can even work as a makeshift power-reserve indicator, since the coils will be tightly packed around the arbour when the watch is wound and will loosen towards the barrel drum as the timepiece slowly runs down.  

All this craftsmanship is packed inside the signature Daniel Roth double-ellipse case, which here truly feels like a vitrine. The case lines are kept simple and faithful to the originals from the 1990s, with all the rounded surfaces fully polished. All in all the Daniel Roth Extra Plat Skeleton measures 6.9 mm in height.

Key facts and price

Daniel Roth Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton
Ref. DBBD02A1

Diameter: 38.6 by 35.5 mm
Height: 6.9 mm
Material: 18k rose gold
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: DR002SR
Functions: Hours and minutes
Winding: Manual-wind
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 65 hours

Strap: Calfskin leather strap

Limited edition: No
Availability: At Daniel Roth retailers
Price: CHF85,000 excluding taxes

For more information, visit DanielRoth.com.