Mondaine Doppio Solar Skeleton: The solar movement becomes part of the design
With the new Doppio 41 mm Solar Skeleton, Mondaine reveals what is usually hidden beneath the dial of a solar-powered watch. A circular opening offers a view of the solar cells and blends the technical aspects of energy generation with the design language of the Doppio collection.
Solar watches draw their energy from light, but this process is usually barely visible from the outside. Mondaine turns this principle on its head with the Doppio Solar Skeleton: The solar panel is not hidden behind a largely enclosed dial, but instead forms the visual centerpiece of the watch.
Mondaine Doppio Solar Skeleton
An open center instead of a traditional skeleton structure
The term “Skeleton” is used here in a slightly different sense than with a mechanical skeleton watch. Mondaine does not expose either the gear train or the escapement. Instead, the black dial has a precisely circular cutout in the center. This reveals the solar cell board beneath, while the outer dial ring retains the hour markers, ensuring clear readability.
This lends the watch a sense of technical depth without sacrificing the familiar design of the Doppio collection. The double-lined hands and hour markers, the concave dial, and the double-domed sapphire crystal continue the play on repetition and perspective that gives the collection its name. The logo and solar symbol are laser-engraved to keep the open center as uncluttered as possible.
Previous Doppio solar models already combined this design language with a light-powered movement. The new Solar Skeleton takes this approach a step further, particularly in terms of design: the energy source and the design are directly linked.
Up to eight months of power reserve in the dark
Beneath the dial, solar cells absorb both natural and artificial light and convert it into electrical energy. This energy is stored in a rechargeable battery. According to Mondaine, once fully charged, the Swiss Solarwerk can power the watch for up to eight months without further exposure to light.
Once the energy storage device is completely discharged, just a few minutes of sunlight are enough to reactivate the movement. Protection against overcharging and deep discharge is designed to ensure the battery’s long-term performance. There is no need to regularly replace a disposable battery.
Two versions: silver and black
Mondaine offers the Doppio 41 mm Solar Skeleton in two versions. The first combines a polished silver-colored 316L stainless steel case with a black strap made of vegan grape leather. The second features a black stainless steel case and a matching polished stainless steel mesh strap.
Both models measure 41 millimeters and feature an anti-reflective, double-domed sapphire crystal. A discreetly integrated date window complements the time display. With a water resistance of 50 meters, the watches are designed for everyday use but are not marketed as sports or diving watches.
Technical Specifications of the Mondaine Doppio Solar Skeleton
- Origin: Swiss Made
- Case: polished 316L stainless steel in silver or black
- Diameter: 41 millimeters
- Movement: Swiss solar movement by Ronda
- Power reserve: up to eight months when fully charged
- Dial: Black with a circular opening over the solar cells
- Glass: double-domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Strap: vegan grape leather or polished stainless steel mesh
- Water resistance: 50 meters or 5 ATM
Solar Technology as a Visible Design Element
The technical foundation of the new Doppio is not new, but its presentation certainly is. Mondaine transforms the necessary translucent surface into a deliberate design element. This fits perfectly with the Doppio, whose design has, from the very beginning, been defined by depth, repetition, and the interplay of different levels.
The two Mondaine Doppio 41 mm Solar Skeleton models have been available since August 17, 2026, on the Mondaine website and at select watch retailers. Prices have not yet been announced as of the market launch.
