HANBORO A996 Tattoo Series Automatic Watch – Transparent Case, Skeleton Dial, Sapphire, 50M

HANBORO A996 Tattoo Series Automatic Watch – Transparent Case, Skeleton Dial, Sapphire, 50M

The HANBORO A996 Tattoo Series is a transparent acrylic-case automatic watch built around a graphic visual concept — large blue geometric “tattoo-style” hands sweep across an open skeleton dial, with the internal movement visible through the clear case from multiple angles. Crystal-set stainless steel bezel (42 crystal stones). Sapphire glass dial window. Silicone strap with double-press safety buckle. 42mm, 10.8mm thick, 80g, 50M water resistance. Available in black/black, white/white, and rose-gold bezel/white strap variants.

Key Specifications

Transparent Acrylic Case

The defining feature of the A996 is its transparent case construction — made from clear acrylic rather than metal, allowing visibility into the case structure and movement from the side as well as through the dial. This gives the watch a distinctive light, see-through appearance unlike any standard metal-cased watch.

It’s worth understanding what this material trade-off means: acrylic is significantly softer than stainless steel and more prone to scratching and scuffing with daily contact. The transparency is the entire design point of this watch — buyers choosing the A996 are prioritising the visual concept over the durability profile of a metal case. At 80g it is also notably lighter than most automatic watches in this case size, a direct result of the acrylic construction.

Skeleton Dial with Tattoo-Style Hands

The open skeleton dial exposes the internal mechanical movement, viewed through the sapphire glass window. Large blue geometric hands — angular, graphic shapes rather than conventional baton or sword hands — sweep across the dial face, creating the “tattoo” visual effect the series is named for. This is a deliberately artistic, statement-oriented hand design rather than a conventional legibility-first layout.

Crystal-Set Bezel

The bezel uses a stainless steel frame set with 42 individual crystal stones around the perimeter, providing a bright, decorative accent against the otherwise minimal transparent case. These are decorative crystal elements, not diamonds.

Sapphire Glass

The dial window crystal is sapphire glass with a diamond-cut finish — Mohs 9 hardness, scratch-resistant, providing clear visibility through to the skeleton dial and movement detail below.

Movement

The A996 uses what the supplier describes as an “original hollow mechanical movement” — an automatic caliber with no specific named brand, jewel count, or power reserve figure confirmed in available documentation. As with any automatic watch, it self-winds through wrist motion and can be manually wound via the crown if stopped.

Luminous Details

Luminous coating is applied selectively — on the white dial variant, only the tattoo-style hands carry luminous material (the dial markers do not). This is worth noting since it differs from full luminous coverage found on most watches; low-light readability relies primarily on the hand position.

50M Water Resistance

Rated 50M / 5ATM — suitable for splash exposure, rain, handwashing, cold bathing, and swimming. Not suitable for hot water, steam, or deep diving.

Colour Variants

Black/black — black bezel detailing with a black silicone strap. The boldest and most graphic of the three variants.

White/white — white silicone strap with lighter dial presentation. The cleanest and brightest configuration.

Rose-gold bezel/white strap — rose-gold bezel accent against a white strap. The warmest and most decorative variant.

How the A996 Compares to Other HANBORO Models

The A996 is the only model in the HANBORO range on this site to use a transparent acrylic case rather than metal — a distinctly different design proposition focused on visual concept over material durability. For metal-cased skeleton automatics, see the HANBORO 937 Tonneau (Miyota 82S7, carbon fiber, sapphire), the HANBORO 985 Supercar Series (double flywheel, 60hr reserve), the HANBORO 851 Double Flywheel (Shanghai JH515), the HANBORO King Bee Series 2003 (honeycomb skeleton), the HANBORO A980 Three-Body Starry Sky (globe dial, 304 steel), and the HANBORO Roulette (Miyota 8215, spinning wheel).

FAQ

What is the case made of? Transparent acrylic — not metal. This is the defining design feature, allowing a clear see-through view into the case and movement. Acrylic is softer than stainless steel and more prone to scratching with daily contact; the transparency trade-off is the core appeal of this watch.

Is the crystal sapphire? Yes — sapphire glass with a diamond-cut finish covers the dial window, providing scratch resistance and clarity.

What movement does the A996 use? An “original hollow mechanical movement” per the supplier — automatic, self-winding through wrist motion. No specific caliber name, jewel count, or power reserve is currently documented.

Are the bezel crystals diamonds? No — 42 decorative crystal stones set into the stainless steel bezel frame, not diamonds.

Do the hands glow in the dark? On the white dial version, only the tattoo-style hands carry luminous coating — the dial markers do not glow. Low-light readability relies primarily on hand position.

Is it waterproof for swimming? Yes — rated 50M / 5ATM, suitable for cold bathing and swimming. Not suitable for hot water, steam, or deep diving.

How heavy is the watch? Approximately 80g — notably light for a 42mm automatic watch, a direct result of the acrylic case construction compared to metal alternatives.