The photos looked amazing but the actual watch was disappointing

Macro shots are the worst for this. They use focus stacking and perfect lighting, so every bridge looks flawless. Then you get it and see the machining marks they didn't bother to polish out.

Which brand? I've been eyeing a few and want to avoid the same trap.

The rotor grinding is a bigger red flag than cosmetics. Could be a loose bearing or just a cheap movement. If it's withon the return window, I'd send it back. Skeleton watches expose every corner they cut, literally.

Had the same thing with a kickstarter skeleton. Looked like a tiny piece of art in the renders. Arrived looking like a toy. Sold it within a week.

Honestly, once you've handled a well-finised skeleton in person, the photo difference becomes obvious. The light has to catch real bevels, not just reflections.

Was it at least keeping time? Some of these cheap skeleton movements are surprisingly accurate despite looking rough.

This is why I only buy skeleton watches in person now. Too many brands Photoshop out the ugly parts.

Smudges under the crystal can sometimes be cleaned by a watchmaker for cheap, if you otherwise like the watch. The grinding noise, though, I wouldn't ignore.

I've noticed a lot of microbrands use the same stock skeleton movement and just dress it up. The photos make it look custom but it's the same base as a dozen other watches. Maybe that's part of it.

Return it. If the photos were misleading, that's enough reason. Don't let the hassle of shipping stop you.

It's keeping around +8 seconds a day which is fine, but the noise is annoying. I'm gonna contact them about a return. The smudges I could maybe live with, but the rotor sounds wrong.