Hands-On: BA111OD’s Chapter 7 Skeleton Gets a Light and Airy Stainless Steel Build

I had heard the name but was not aware of the unforgettable spelling until I got a sample of my first BA111OD watch, the latest addition to the brand’s catalog: the Chapter 7 Skeleton. While BA111OD traces its roots back deep into the history of watchmaking, its modern incarnation has taken shape over the past seven years with several different chapters. One of the biggest evolutions we have seen in the brand’s contemporary catalog is in its movements. While early chapters got flack for keeping costs accessible with Chinese calibers, Chapter 3 incorporated the first Swiss caliber into the Swiss-based Maison’s lineup in 2022. The brand’s next installment, Chapter 4, continued to build on this trajectory with the BA111OD caliber BA.01. This movement was notably developed in collaboration with watchmaker Olivier Mory whose La Chaux de Fonds workshop has given rise to movements for brands across the industry, from Louis Erard to Yema. Then, BA111OD’s Chapter 5 went on to introduce the Maison’s first automatic chronograph thanks to the ETA Valjoux 7750. Next, Chapter Delta entered the lineup with a major shakeup thanks to another movement co-created with Olivier Mory, this time featuring a unique hypocycloidal mechanism. Instead of a standard central rotating hand, a satellite hour wheel rolls around a fixed central wheel. This creates a deltoid path where the hour dot naturally slows down and speeds up during its rotation cycle. Here, traditional circular minutes contrast with the asymmetrical, choreographic flow of the hypocycloidal hours for an incredibly interesting display. Later that year, Chapter 6 marked the introduction of BA111OD’s first dedicated women’s line to the catalog with models housing the Swiss-made Soprod P024 skeleton automatic movement. This brings us to Chapter 7, which introduces chronometers officially certified by the Geneva Observatory of Chronometry to the brand’s assortment. BA111OD initially launched Chapter 7 in 2023 with standard closed dial versions. The line later expanded with its first open-worked iteration in May 2025, and now, the brand presents the next skeletonized evolution. When it comes to some of my all-time favorite skeletonized luxury sport watches, the Zenith Defy and Girard-Perregaux Laureato rise to the top of the list, but these carry price tags starting at roughly $12,000 up to nearly $50,000 depending on the exact model. Needless to say, these are well outside of my budget and the budget of average collectors. BA111OD presents a very compelling alternative to these styles with the Chapter 7 Skeleton, which clocks in at just $1,295 for the rubber strap version and $1,635 for the bracelet version. I would have loved to have test driven the integrated bracelet model. As you might know by now, when it comes to watches sitting around the $1,000 price point, I think the quality of the bracelet is one of the clearest defining markers of quality – was it an afterthought or is it cohesive with the attention to detail put into the case and dial? However, I will speak to my experience with the rubber strap variant. Having test driven models like the Defy and the Laureato in the past, I can say the BA111OD Chapter 7 Skeleton provides a similar look and feel. The visual interest of the open worked dial really elevates this from your run of the mill stainless steel sport watch, even on the admittedly sportier rubber strap. The 40mm case with its trademark placement of the crown at the unconventional 4 o’clock position has that beautiful weight and heft I love despite being relatively thin at 10.5mm. When it comes to stainless steel sport watches, I like to lean into the oversized boyfriend look – I’ve been known to rock up to a 42mm even on my 5.75-inch wrist. Here, oversized feels like it serves an intentional purpose with the desired aesthetic – rugged, laidback, and cool. The finishing is the biggest change from the inaugural version of the Chapter 7 Skeleton from last year. The original edition featured a more unconventional dark, monochromatic anthracite PVD coating across the case, dial, and movement. However, for the new edition, we get a more classic, straightforward, and timeless stainless steel build with the tonneau-shaped case and decagonal fixed bezel featuring a vertically brushed finish with polished facets. The brightness of the metal paired with the skeletonized dial gives a light and airy feel despite the robust nature of the model. Here, the Soprod P024-SQ takes center stage, with its laser-cut and intricately decorated bridges and plates that showcase the mechanical components in action on full display. The rubber strap seems to strike a nice balance between sturdy and supple. While I only had the watch for a short time and can’t speak to the long term wear, it seems like a solid execution when the quality of rubber straps can vary vastly. My only very small beef is the strap length. For smaller wrists like mine, even on the tightest setting, there’s both too much gap in the strap’s curve around the wrist, and the drop doesn’t land quite right so the watch lays supplely to the wrist without adding a lot of extra bulk. Perfection is mere millimeters away. It would just take an ever so subtle shift – perhaps a slightly shortened length and just two additional holes – for the model to accommodate more petite wrists. I’ve seen much more egregious executions – BA111OD is so close to a seamless and versatile fit few watchmakers seem to be able to achieve. While I can’t speak to a hands on experience with the bracelet, I can share the highlights detailed in the press kit. Here, you have an H-link composition with a gradual taper with finishing that mirrors that of the case, combining fine brushed surfaces with polished bevels to create just the right amount of contrast. If you like options, it is worth noting that the model uses conventional spring bars without a quick-release system, so to switch up the strap, you have to go old school. The new stainless steel variations of the BA111OD Chapter 7 Skeleton are available now with delivery of the first models expected to be rolling out as early as this month. For more information, you can head directly over to BA111OD.