Published October 7, 2026

·

See more of our coverage in your search results

But Depancel comes across as more authentic with its motoring-inspired designs than many other brands, probably because brand founder Clément Meynier, who also resurrected classic driver’s watchmaker Amida, is a legitimate car nut.

One of the brand’s key models is the Série-R Chronograph, a square-shaped watch that takes clear design inspiration from one of the most iconic motorsports watches ever made, the Heuer Monaco, but at a far more accessible price.

And just as TAG Heuer has modernized the Monaco with skeletonized versions, so too has Depancel now done with the Série-R Chronograph Skeleton.

The new Série-R Chronograph Skeleton is a highly limited variant of the brand’s Monaco-inspired chronograph boasting an all-new movement. While standard versions of the Série-R Chronograph are powered by a Miyota Calibre 9120 automatic movement, the Skeleton gets a Peacock SL-4802 automatic.

I’m assuming the change was made because the Miyota wasn’t available in a skeletonized version, and I have to say, I think Depancel made a good call with the Peacock.

The manufacture has a solid reputation for movement-making as far as Chinese watchmakers are concerned, and the SL-4802 is quite attractive with its blackened finish. The movement’s power reserve of 55 hours is also 15 hours longer than the Miyota’s

For a skeletonized dial, the Série-R Chronograph Skeleton is quite legible thanks to its clever use of lume and color. All subdials feature white markings with orange numbers at the top and either orange or white hands. The hour and minute hands are outlined in orange and filled with white Super-LumiNova, and the central chronograph seconds hand is all orange.

The applied indices stand out well, as they’re filled with white Super-LumiNova just like the hands. What’s more, the indices cleverly stretch out beyond their “circle in a square” dial to reach the interior edges of the case’s square frame, and these extended points are lumed, too.

The steel case has a plate on the 9:00 side bearing the limited-edition number out of 100, and the watch is paired with a perforated black leather rallye strap with orange top stitching that matches the dial accents.

If you like the look of this chronograph, you’d better hustle up, because Depancel isn’t making many of them.

The watch is limited to just 100 examples, so it’s quite rare. It’s set to go on sale on Depancel’s website tomorrow, October 8, at 10 AM EDT and is priced at $1,595.

While still pretty affordable for a mechanical chronograph, it’s worth noting that the price is almost double the SRP of the standard Miyota-powered Série-R Chronograph, which retails for just $850.