Few brands can boast such a recognizable formal and technical identity, built on a rare balance between mechanical art, purity of proportion, and a vision of the watch as an authentic manifesto of Swiss “savoir-faire.” The new Extra Plat Skeleton, presented during LVMH Watch Week 2026 in Milan, embodies this premise to perfection, representing both historical continuity and a turning point in the rebirth of the Vallée de Joux Maison.
This timepiece is also a profound reinterpretation of one of the pillars of the Daniel Roth universe: theExtra Plat. A watch that, in its apparent “simplicity,” has always embodied one of the most complex exercises in traditional watchmaking, namely the creation of an ultra-thin movement. The Skeleton version in 5N rose gold takes this concept to the next level, making visible what normally remains concealed.
The design of the new Daniel Roth Extra Plat Skeleton
The first element that catches the eye is, inevitably, the double ellipse case, Daniel Roth’s indelible signature since the late 1980s. In the new Extra Plat Skeleton, this iconic geometry is preserved with absolute fidelity, confirming the centrality of proportions in the brand’s philosophy. With dimensions of 38.6 x 35.5 mm and an overall thickness of only 6.9 mm, it sits perfectly in elegant watch territory, offering a discreet yet unmistakable presence on the wrist.
The choice of 5N rose gold gives the watch a warm and sophisticated tone, far removed from any superfluous decorative temptations. The surfaces are worked with extreme precision, alternating polished finishes that enhance the curvilinear contours of the double ellipse and emphasize the subtlety of the whole. The flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment protects the skeletonized movement, while the case back, also in sapphire, allows a full view of the caliber.
To speak of the “dial” is almost superfluous. Here, the movement itself becomes the face of the watch. The skeletonization is total and nothing is left to chance.
The blued steel hands, slender and elegantly profiled, stand out with striking clarity against the golden background of the caliber. The color contrast between the rose gold of the plates and bridges, the deep blue of the hands, and the mirror-black of the mirror-polished surfaces creates a visually balanced composition that avoids any excess.
Readability is often a critical point in skeleton watches, but here handled intelligently: the structure of the movement naturally guides the eye to essential information, while the absence of superfluous decorative elements leaves room for pure mechanics.
Complementing the watch is a calfskin strap with a width at the lugs of 20 mm, a classic choice that reinforces the elegant character of the timepiece. The understated and well-proportioned strap lets the watch do the talking, without distraction.
The caliber of the new Daniel Roth Extra Plat Skeleton
At the beating heart of the Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton is the new DR002SR caliber, a hand-wound movement developed and produced entirely in-house at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, under the supervision of two leading figures in contemporary watchmaking, Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini.
Derived from the DR002 caliber, the DR002SR is not simply a “stripped-down” version of the original movement. On the contrary, its architecture has been rethought from the beginning to accommodate the skeletonization. Bridges and plate have been redesigned in their shape and distribution to ensure maximum visual openness without compromising structural rigidity or chronometric performance.
The choice to make bridges and plates in solid 18K 5N gold represents a clear statement of intent. From an aesthetic point of view, gold offers a warm and vivid color base, ideal for enhancing hand finishing. From a technical point of view, it is a noble material that responds excellently to traditional machining, allowing flawless definition of internal angles and beveled surfaces.
Only 3.1 mm thick, the DR002SR manages to combine elegance and sturdiness while maintaining outstanding technical specifications: a free-sprung balance, a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), and a power reserve of 65 hours, a remarkable value for an ultra-thin hand-wound movement. The movement consists of 141 components and uses 21 jewels, a testament to its complex and refined construction.
Conclusions
Produced in limited numbers, it will be available from January 2026 at a price of 85,000 CHF (excluding tax).
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