Bronze Watches / Hardware Type?
Hey everyone!
My first WatchCrunch post, and one of the first watches I’d ever bought on my collecting journey. This is an Oris Big Crown Pointer Date with the bronze dial on a leather Zuludiver NATO strap. I’ve had the watch for about 2-3 years, so it’s been a joy watching the patina develop over time.
I am curious though - I have a few NATOs with bronze hardware, but they’re insanely tough to find. So my question: What’s everyone’s thoughts on bronze watches with stainless steel hardware? Does it work? Or is it mismatched and awkward?
To clarify, I’m not talking about the type of band (leather, cloth, bracelet, canvas, etc), but instead, I’m wondering about the hardware (buckles, keepers) that go with the band.
Thanks for your feedback, and happy hunting! ⏱️😃
Husband. Father. Nurse Practitioner. Critical care. Watch enthusiast.
A-but only if you replace the word "must" with "should"
It would be a nice detail but bronze ages so uniquely that even if its all bronze it will look different very soon.
Welcome aboard. I always lean toward personal preference on these kinds of things.
It would be a nice detail but bronze ages so uniquely that even if its all bronze it will look different very soon.
I’ve noticed this, actually, my Crown and Buckle bronze chevron bands are completely different shades at this point - could almost be entirely different metals. Thanks for the insight! 🤟
Welcome aboard. I always lean toward personal preference on these kinds of things.
Thanks for the reply! I couldn’t find anything online about it, wasn’t sure what the community thought about it… appreciate the feedback! 😃
I think bronze hardware is preferred, but roll with what you got.
For me, metals need to match reasonably closely.
YMMV
Don't mismatch steel with bronze. Rookie mistake.
I use rose gold PVD on mine.
I would opt for black over silver... but you have to use what you can find. BTW...Beautiful Oris!!
I've built a bronze-cased turtle and placed a waffle strap on it with stainless steel hardware. It doesn't bother me because I'm not looking for it when I wear it. However, if it does begin to bother me, my choice would be to go with a black buckle.
I have one bronze watch and I have a few straps for it with bronze hardware. For me it’s a necessity.
Don't have a bronze watch but on my Rose gold Tuna steel just looks so wrong and stands out like a sore thumb especially in the sun.
Bronze and rose gold hardware is not the easiest to find and colour match as the tones very massively. I found a black strap with black pvd hardware is a better compromise.
Maratac Pilot
Plenty of reasonable bronze hardware to be found on AliExpress:)
Not unless it's the same type of bronze. What looks more out of place than having steel hardware on bronze watches is having bronze hardware of a different type/shade/patina level.
I think a bronze watch would look best with matched hardware, but sometimes the contrast can be nice, especially depending on the rest of the strap and your outfit.
You can pull off rose gold depending on the bronze color and strap choice!
My titanium Bulova comes with black hardware and it works
My Bronze Yema Superman has a steel case back. So to me, it’s really not shocking to see steel hardware on straps.
Have a look:
Yeah I was disappointed when I got my bronze Hamilton khaki and it came with a steel buckle. Silly. I grabbed a NATO with one and made me much happier.
Your watch, your rules.. Here is mine..