Done - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

DONE Watches is a Swiss watch brand founded in 2016 in Neuchâtel by microtechnology engineer Thierry Clottu; born from a Kickstarter-backed launch, the maison embraces a “clearly mechanical” approach where design and transparency serve the movement, with assembly and quality control performed in a workshop in the canton of Neuchâtel.

“DO + NE”: Neuchâtel roots, the 2016 Kickstarter and a young independent’s path

From day one the brand explained its name as a fusion of “DO” (to act) and “NE” (Neuchâtel), a way to infuse its entrepreneurial mindset and local origin into each dial — this straightforward identity grammar has framed DONE Watches’ messaging since the earliest releases.

The public debut came via a 2016 Kickstarter for a hand-wound mechanical watch, swiftly followed by automatic and skeletonized iterations that foreground the engine’s choreography — this crowdfunding genesis established a direct line to buyers focused on value for money.

With a founder trained in product development for established houses, the structure leans on Swiss partners while keeping volumes tight and oversight close, enabling careful finishing control — the “Clearly Mechanical” tagline encapsulates this blend of technical clarity and aesthetic restraint.

“Clearly Mechanical” language: open-work displays, legibility, and assembly in Dombresson

DONE Watches uses sharp cut-outs, re-drawn bridges and high-contrast hands so that the eye tracks the kinematics without losing time-telling — transparency is used as a didactic tool rather than a mere visual trick.

On skeleton pieces the craft centers on balancing voids/solids and preserving stiffness in reworked components, while the “Auto” models keep restrained, well-hierarchized dials (faceted markers, peripheral ring, big date on selected variants) — the vocabulary stays disciplined for day and night usability.

Watches are assembled and checked in the canton of Neuchâtel (workshop communicated as Dombresson, with a nearby showroom), featuring sapphire crystals, 10-ATM ratings and no-tool quick-change straps to simplify everyday wear — the guiding intent is to deliver tangible, “Swiss Made” objects that are easy to live with.

Mechanica families: Auto 40/35 and Skeleton 44/35, a tight and readable range

The core “Auto 40 mm” line uses the Swiss Sellita SW400, sapphire front/back, 10 ATM water resistance and BGW9 lume, conceived as a “one-watch-for-everything” with a wide strap ecosystem — this base is the natural gateway into the DONE universe.

The “Skeleton 44 mm” range adopts a hand-wound ETA 6497-1 re-drawn and skeletonized in-house, a Grade-5 titanium case, 10 ATM, and a staged view of mainplate/bridges with grained finishing; B02 and B03 (the latter a 50-piece limited edition) are the flagships — the piece projects purposeful technical presence while staying wearable thanks to its slim profile.

For slimmer wrists or a more urban brief, “Skeleton Auto 35 mm” pairs an automatic Swiss calibre with dial/movement openness in an elegant footprint, while “Auto 35 mm” (closed dial) maximizes discretion and versatility — these sizes extend the same design language without ergonomic compromise.

• DONE Watches Mechanica Auto 40 mm — three-hand/date, Swiss SW400 automatic, sapphire front/back, 10 ATM, “Quick Easy Change” strap system.
• DONE Watches Mechanica Skeleton 44 mm B02 — Grade-5 titanium, fully in-house-skeletonized ETA 6497-1, 10 ATM, grained bridge finishing.
• DONE Watches Mechanica Skeleton 44 mm B03 — limited to 50 pieces, brighter/silvery aesthetic, Grade-5 titanium, same in-house reworked base.
• DONE Watches Mechanica Skeleton Auto 35 mm — automatic skeleton, 35 mm, sapphire both sides, quick-change straps, an “evening/daily” hybrid.
• DONE Watches Mechanica Auto 35 mm — closed dial, compact stance, legibility first for mixed contexts.

Beyond spec sheets, the range logic remains short and intelligible, each family staking a clear claim through size, powertrain and dial openness — this clarity helps buyers orient themselves fast without drowning in sub-references.

Pricing, availability and assurances: “accessible premium” with an explicit D2C focus

Observed list prices on the official site hover around CHF 1,099 for “Auto 40 mm,” CHF 1,383 for “Skeleton Auto 35 mm,” and ~CHF 3,233 to ~CHF 3,696 for “Skeleton 44 mm” (B02/B03 titanium), with a two-year international warranty, global shipping and a 30-day return right — this framework places DONE Watches in a credible “accessible premium” tier.

Availability rests mainly on direct distribution (website, showroom, appointments) complemented by a handful of referenced retail partners, with exact per-reference volumes not published (“not disclosed”) — the short customer loop supports nimble series management and after-sales.

Road-map evolution leans on occasional limited runs (B03, 50 pieces) and prior crowdfunding to seed new launches, while granular annual planning remains “not disclosed” — this measured stance avoids dilution and safeguards quality for a young independent.

How to choose: size, use-case and degree of expression

For versatile daily wear (work/leisure/travel) balancing comfort and presence, “Auto 40 mm” is the straightforward pick thanks to the no-tool strap changes and 10-ATM rating — it fits the “one-watch-for-everything” brief.

For an expressive “see-it-breathe” experience, “Skeleton 44 mm” (B02/B03) adds the ritual of hand-winding, the open view of bridges and gear-train and the lightness of Grade-5 titanium, ideal for weekends or assertive outfits — a conversation piece that remains legible and wearable.

For smaller wrists or a subtler vibe, “Skeleton Auto 35 mm” and “Auto 35 mm” deliver the DONE language in compact formats, with BGW9 night-time legibility and refined ring/marker treatments — you gain versatility without sacrificing the house aesthetic.

Conclusion

A young Neuchâtel maison, DONE Watches translates “visible mechanics” into tight, wearable collections. Choose by real use (everyday all-rounder, expressive weekend, slim-wrist elegance), size (35/40/44 mm) and dial preference (closed versus skeleton). Pricing confirms a credible “accessible premium” stance versus components (sapphire, titanium, Swiss movements) and local assembly. To fine-tune among the references and validate on-wrist impressions, the most helpful compass remains Dialicious customer reviews.

(Updated August 2025)