CLAUDE MEYLAN
BLACK PVD SKELETON
3 500.00 CHF
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Buy a pre-owned Claude Meylan watch at The Swiss Collector
Located in L'Abbaye, at the heart of the Vallée de Joux (the cradle of Swiss high watchmaking) the family House of Claude Meylan perpetuates a heritage dating back to the mid-18th century. The Meylan family is one of the four historic founding families of Swiss haute horlogerie : Samuel-Olivier Meylan and Abraham-Samuel Meylan trained in the watchmaking arts before returning to the Vallée de Joux, where they crafted pocket watches with musical movements and complications. In 1988, Claude Meylan founded the house bearing his name with a singular philosophy : to "undress" the movement and reveal every component, then sculpt and hand-decorate each one. This is what the house calls l'Art du Squelette : the Art of Skeletonisation. Now led by Philippe Belais, Claude Meylan offers the widest range of skeleton watches in Switzerland. At The Swiss Collector, our pre-owned Claude Meylan selection is constantly evolving, with every piece being unique.
Claude Meylan's History : Three Centuries of Family Watchmaking
The Meylan Family and the Origins (18th Century–1988)
The Vallée de Joux, a Jurassian enclave isolated by harsh winters, forged a unique watchmaking tradition unlike anywhere else in Switzerland. It was in this valley that the Audemars, Piguet, Le Coultre and Meylan families laid the foundations of haute horlogerie. In the mid-18th century, Samuel-Olivier Meylan returned from his training to design and make pocket watches with complications and musical discs : already a signature of the revealed and ornamented movement. This tradition passed through generations. Decades later, a descendant of this lineage, Claude Meylan, trained at the local technical school and completed his CFC qualification as a watchmaker-restorer. He then refined his craft at Audemars Piguet from 1977 to 1981, and later at Les Ambassadeurs in Geneva.
The Founding and the Art of Skeletonisation (1988–2010)
In 1988, Claude Meylan launched his eponymous brand in L'Abbaye. His approach was radical in the watchmaking landscape of the time : rather than hiding the movement beneath a dial, he exposed it in its entirety : removing every bridge and plate to its barest essentials, then decorating each visible element by hand. This metalwork (bridges, wheels, gear trains) gave birth to the name that defines the house : the Sculptor of Time. After the founder's departure in 1994, the house was led by Henri Berney, a respected master watchmaker who preserved and developed the skeleton DNA. Historically, Claude Meylan movements were used by more than 110 prestigious jewellers and watchmakers worldwide, including Cartier, Tiffany and Van Cleef & Arpels.
The Renaissance and Range Expansion (2010–Today)
In 2010, Philippe Belais (previously with Émile Péquignet, Dunhill and Van Cleef & Arpels) took over the house and established it durably within the Swiss independent watchmaking landscape. Under his leadership, Claude Meylan structured its range around four emblematic lines (Lac, Tortue, Lionne, L'Abbaye) while developing exclusive in-house calibres and ambitious complications. The house received a nomination at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève for the Tortue Petite Fleur. Today, Claude Meylan claims the widest range of skeleton watches in Switzerland, with movements entirely developed in-house and full artisanal decoration carried out in L'Abbaye.
Claude Meylan:
The Watchmaking Art of the Vallée de Joux
Claude Meylan Collections
Key References & Secondary Market Prices
Lac skeleton steel : Round, manual wind, 35–38 mm
CHF 1,400 – 2,000
Tortue skeleton steel : Cushion, manual or auto, 38–43 mm
CHF 2,800 – 4,300
Tortue black PVD : Cushion, treated steel, skeleton
CHF 2,800 – 3,800
Tortue Lady : Cushion, feminine finishes, 31–35 mm
CHF 2,900 – 5,300
Lionne / Ondine : Round, skeleton, decorated movement
CHF 1,800 – 3,500
L'Abbaye : Full hand decoration, limited series
CHF 3,800 – 5,200
Grand complications : Rattrapante, perpetual calendar, moon
CHF 8,000 – 15,000+
Vintage / older calibres : Manual wind, Valjoux or ETA
CHF 400 – 1,300
Prices vary depending on condition, box and papers, and model rarity. Contact our The Swiss Collector experts for a precise valuation.
Claude Meylan vs Jaeger-LeCoultre vs Frédérique Constant : which one to choose ?
Claude Meylan occupies a precise segment : artisanal independent skeleton watches, often compared to skeleton propositions from accessible major houses.
Claude Meylan
The choice for the connoisseur who wants a skeleton watch genuinely made and hand-decorated in an independent atelier, with three centuries of family history in the Vallée de Joux. Claude Meylan offers real exclusivity : limited production, village workshop, fully artisanal approach. For a movement enthusiast who wants to step away from the large groups without sacrificing quality.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
The Grande Maison of the Vallée de Joux. JLC is the world reference for luxury skeleton watches with its Master Ultra Thin Squelette. It benefits from global name recognition, stronger secondary market liquidity, and fully in-house calibres. The entry price is significantly higher than Claude Meylan.
Frédérique Constant
The Genevan brand offers automatic skeleton watches at very accessible prices (CHF 800–2,000 new). It's the entry point for Swiss skeleton watches, with less elaborate finishing than Claude Meylan but greater accessibility and stronger liquidity thanks to higher production volumes.
The Swiss Collector's verdict
For a skeleton watch with a genuine artisanal approach and an authentic family history, Claude Meylan is hard to beat in its price range. For global name recognition and easier resale, JLC is the benchmark. For the tightest budget, Frédérique Constant remains a fine option.
Claude Meylan and Notable Personalities
Pre-Owned Claude Meylan Buying Guide
- Budget : Pre-owned Claude Meylan watches start from CHF 400 for vintage calibres and can reach CHF 15,000 and beyond for grand complications. The ideal entry point into the brand sits between CHF 1,400 and CHF 3,000 with a steel Lac or Tortue.
- Condition : We classify each piece (mint, very good, good, worn) with high-resolution photographs. For skeleton watches, particular attention is paid to the condition of the movement decoration visible through the openworked dial.
- The Swiss Collector guarantee : All our watches carry a 12 to 24-month warranty depending on condition and configuration.
- Secure delivery : Insured and trackable shipping worldwide.
Servicing a Pre-Owned Claude Meylan
Recommended service interval
Claude Meylan recommends a full service every 5 to 7 years. Skeleton movements, with their artisanal decoration, require an experienced watchmaker familiar with these lightened calibres.
Signs of good condition
Clean, dust-free visible movement, smooth winding crown, no excessive play, no visible oxidation on movement decoration.
Specific point of attention
Skeleton watches are more sensitive to dust than closed-dial watches, as the movement is directly exposed. A sapphire crystal in good condition is essential for movement protection.
At The Swiss Collector
All our Claude Meylan watches are inspected by our partner watchmakers before listing. Need a service ? Our partner workshops handle full maintenance and overhaul. Contact us for a personalised quote.
The Swiss Collector's View on Claude Meylan Watches
"Claude Meylan is one of the last independent ateliers in the Vallée de Joux to perpetuate the art of skeletonisation in a fully artisanal way. In a watchmaking market dominated by large groups, the House offers something rare : an authentic three-century family story, savoir-faire passed down through generations, and watches where every visible detail of the movement has been touched, sculpted and hand-decorated. For a fine mechanical movement enthusiast, it's a house we are genuinely proud to introduce."