Has anyone gone from disliking skeleton watches to collecting them?

I went the opposite way. Bought a skeleon as my first 'real' watch, wore it for a week, then realized I couldn't read the time. Now they just sit in a drawer looking pretty. So no, not a 180, more like a 360.

I wouldn't say I collect them, but I definitely softened. The turning point was seeing a hand-finished skeleton in person. Photos make them look busy; in the metal, the light plays off the bevels. That said, the cheap ones still look like a pile of staples to me.

Nope, still dislike them. Every one I've seen under under $500 looks like a toy. But I'm here to be convinced, so keep talking.

Funny, I was just thinking about this. My gateway was a skeleton with a solid chapter ring. It toned down the visual noise enough that I could actually enjoy the gears. Now I have three, but they're all pretty restrained. The full-on exposed-everything ones still aren't my thing.

Restrained skeleton is a good term. The ones that leave a bit of dial for indices or a logo feel more like watches and less like a movement display.

Still not convinced. Every skeleton I've tried on felt like a magic eye poster. Maybe I need to see a high-end one in person.

Do it. Find a dealer with a skeletonized chrono or something with an openworked mainplate. It's a completely different experience. The entry-level stuff almost does the style a disservice.

Also worth noting: skeleton watches are a pain to photograph. I've passed on ones that looked flat online and then loved them in person. So if your only exposure is forums and stock photos, your opinion might be skewed.

That's a fair point. My drawer skeletons actually look better in person than in photos, which is backwards from most watches. Still can't read the time though.