Amid the watch industry’s current materials arms race, organically derived bioceramics have quickly risen to become some of the most intriguing options on the more affordable side of the market. With their extreme light weight, resilient construction, eco-friendly manufacturing, and their ability to be manufactured in a full spectrum of colors, it’s no surprise bioceramics are rapidly spreading through the industry at a rapid clip. Ferragamo is the latest brand to embrace the strengths of bioceramic construction, rendering its stylish integrated F-80 Skeleton model in a pair of striking bioceramic colorways. The new Ferragamo F-80 Skeleton models in bioceramic bring a sleekly futuristic new monochrome look to the series, with intriguing construction, capable movements, and a sustainable ethos that should find a following both in and out of watch enthusiast circles.
At 41mm-wide, the bioceramic cases of these new Ferragamo F-80 Skeleton models should carry a balanced, sporty presence on the wrist. Both models share the same silhouette, with sharply angled integrated lugs paired to a broad, chamfered smooth bezel. This general outline should feel familiar to enthusiasts versed in integrated case design, but Ferragamo iterates on this familiar concept with a handful of unique stylistic additions. Firstly, the case sides take on a distinctive ribbed appearance, which should add a sense of visual lightness on the wrist while breaking up the watch’s profile. The lugs themselves also add a unique twist. While stainless steel-cased versions of the F-80 Skeleton opt for a familiar array of oversized screws on the bezel, Ferragamo removes these for a smoother monochrome look here. In their place, Ferragamo reinvents these signature elements by placing a single, oversized screw at the center of each integrated lug assembly. The brand’s use of rose gold ion plating here adds a much-needed spot of contrast to the layout in photos, preventing the design from feeling too uniform. Ferragamo offers these new F-80 Skeleton models in a pair of colorways. First up is the Amaretto option, which renders the case in a medium matte tan tone with faint pinkish undertones. For those looking for a more masculine interpretation, the brand also offers the Navy Blue variant, which (true to its name) provides a rich and even matte navy tone that plays handsomely with the grainy matte case texture in photos. Ferragamo ensures that the sporty styling isn’t just for show here, and rates the new F-80 Skeleton models for a respectable 100 meters of water resistance despite their display casebacks.
Both new Ferragamo F-80 Skeleton models share essentially the same skeleton dial layout. Interestingly, nearly every element of this layout is changed from previous F-80 Skeleton iterations, from the blunted rose gold tone alpha handset to the diminutive beveled rectangular indices. It’s the skeleton dial surface itself that truly stands out in photos, however. This complex, layered web of spokes calls to mind both a lightweight racing wheel and a deconstructed pair of scissors in initial images, and hides the brand’s trademark double Gancini emblem at 6 o’clock. Amaretto-cased models render this intricate skeleton layout in a case-matching buff hue, although a metallic texture helps to keep this colorway from appearing too uniform in photos. The greater contrast between the rose gold ion plated dial hardware and the skeleton dial surface helps to make the Navy Blue model a far more legible option in photos, although it arguably loses some of the monochromatic smoothness of its sibling.
Ferragamo powers both new F-80 Skeleton models with the Landeron 24 automatic skeleton movement. This powerplant is closely patterned after the ubiquitous ETA 2824’s architecture, and offers broadly similar performance including a 40 hour power reserve at a 28,8000 bph beat rate. Although the performance may be average, the Landeron 24’s finishing is impressive. There are blued screws and ornate skeleton bridges on both sides of the movement, and the caseback side adds perlage for the bridges along with a brushed, signed gold tone rotor. To complete the design, Ferragamo fits these F-80 Skeleton models with integrated dial-matching straps. The brand continues the sustainable materials theme of the cases here with the use of bio-based polyurethane, and gives these straps a sense of texture with recessed hobnail-patterned central sections.
Although bioceramic cases are quickly becoming a considerable segment of the watch industry’s current material bonanza, the new bioceramic Ferragamo F-80 Skeleton models stand apart from this growing field by delivering an intricate, stylish design, handsome color palettes, and solid build quality alongside their environmentally friendly new materials. The new bioceramic Ferragamo F-80 Skeleton models are available now through select authorized dealers, and both models carry an MSRP of $2,195 USD as of press time. For more information, please visit the brand’s website.
