Bronze Watches! Do You Like Them?
What's with all the bronze watches? - luxxee
Bronze has quickly become one of the trendiest materials in luxury watches. luxxee magazine finds out why and shines the spotlight on five of the best bronze watches available right now.
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I recently wrote this article about bronze watches, let me know what you think if you give it a read 😀
What are your thoughts on them? Do any of you own one? Do you like that they tarnish/patina? Or do you wish that they didn't do that?
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Celine
I've worked in different areas of the watch industry over the last 15 years. Now, I'm a freelance luxury watch writer. Instagram @luxwatchwriter. Champion of #ladieswhocrunch.
Laguna Beach, CA, USA
Member since
Last active: 53 min ago
I do, especially this one.
Nice article btw. The Seamaster 300 looks fantastic, and I've had my eye on the BB58 for some time now. My only concern is given how much I love the color of the Oris, will I like the others as much? While the Oris patinas, it also cleans up very easily. Normal handwashing keeps the patina at a low level, and a little soap and water shine it up almost like new. It's not that I don't like the patina, but I really love the warm pink-gold color when it's relatively clean.
Nice article btw. The Seamaster 300 looks fantastic, and I've had my eye on the BB58 for some time now. My only concern is given how much I love the color of the Oris, will I like the others as much? While the Oris patinas, it also cleans up very easily. Normal handwashing keeps the patina at a low level, and a little soap and water shine it up almost like new. It's not that I don't like the patina, but I really love the warm pink-gold color when it's relatively clean.
Great to know! Thank you for sharing your experience. I love love love that Oris 👏
Great article. I have sold a lot of bronze in my life. Most of it for bearing surfaces and I truly love the color of just machined bronze. Bronze watch cases paired with green or brown dials and straps are a very pleasing combination to my eyes.
This thing you call patina to me is simply decay. Although I am a fan of vintage, I am more of the NOS (new old stock) kind of vintage. Tarnish, rust, pitting, faded colors are the reasons I have passed on many vintage pieces.
I am too scared of how a bronze watch case may ultimately look to risk buying one even though I love the look of it brand new.
No.
The Bronze Age ended more than three millennia ago because a better, more useful, metal was able to be worked.
Bronze is weaker and heavier than steel. Unlike gold and stainless steel, it oxidizes. In almost any other situation oxidation is considered "bad".
Is it quirky and cool? Sure. The Steampunk aesthetic will play out and people will remember why we don't use bronze for watches.
I like bronze watches and have two of them. I would think that most people who buy bronze watches, knowing they are bronze, also know that bronze develops patina. By extension then, they must presumably like the idea of patina. Alternatively, of course, some buyers just like bronze...
I’m thinking about getting one with not too much of a cash outlay just to see if I like it.
If anyone is looking for a bronze diver, ShopHQ has a bronze Glycine Combat Sub for less than $300.
Nice article! I love bronze on watches. Brings an sire of old world authenticity to each piece in my opinion.
I’m still thinking of getting one…🧐
No.
The Bronze Age ended more than three millennia ago because a better, more useful, metal was able to be worked.
Bronze is weaker and heavier than steel. Unlike gold and stainless steel, it oxidizes. In almost any other situation oxidation is considered "bad".
Is it quirky and cool? Sure. The Steampunk aesthetic will play out and people will remember why we don't use bronze for watches.
Normally I'd be with you here, I generally think fads are annoying. But there's just something about the color that gets me. Maybe it's just the one I have, honestly, other bronze watches look much more yellow/brown which I don't like as much. Time will tell, but I don't see it looking worse than gold-plated watches from the 50s-60s, and most people still think those are beautiful.
I’m still thinking of getting one…🧐
Great article!
I wish they didn't tarnish/patina. I feel like I'm on an island but...I like my watch to look as new as possible for as long as possible. I can associate memories with my timepiece without the physical wear and discoloration.
Another great article, @celinesimon! I'm not a fan of bronze watches.
Really enjoyed your article. I'm a fan of Bronze watches. I will be adding one to my collection, not sure which yet, at first it was the Tudor but now that I saw the Tag Heuer Autavia I may have to decide between those two. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I'm a fan of patina so bronze is a good fit for my first luxury watch.
Thanks Celine! I really enjoyed your article and I fully understand why you are writing about Panerai and Tudor. I saw that you are a freelance writer so I know that you are not compensated by the big brands.
My point on advertising was directed at the large magazines like WatchTime, Revolution, HODINKEE, Oracle Time, iWatch, etc. - they will only talk about the watches that pay the bills and that's understandable. But that is exactly why they are the brands that even the relatively astute watch buyer knows about.
The fawning articles that run in some of these publications can almost be embarrassing to read. Together with the YT channels that are funded by these brands - I won't mention names but you can probably guess - they will ignore the bad behavior of brands like Panerai, calling a standard ETA movement an "in-house" movement, and instead wax hyperbolic on the magnificence of the watch.
Agreed! It’s especially difficult these days to separate fact from fiction as more media sites are also becoming official retailer e-commerce sites. The lines are getting blurred. That’s why forums like these, filled with real people sharing their real experiences are so important.
One of my fave sites that speaks Panerai truth is https://perezcope.com. I think Panerai even changed some of the language on their site because of him.
I love the look of a bronze diver. Looks like an old divers helmet. But I feel like I really should live on the coast for a genuine patina.
I have this Oris and I really like it 👍🏼
I own the BB58 Bronze and I absolutely love it. It is the watch that tends to get the most compliments as well, which is saying something. I do not wear it daily, but no green wrist hear either. Once again, great work.
Gorgeous watch! Have you had any issues with green wrists?
I've had the BB58 Bronze for almost two months and so far, no skin issues. Green wrist syndrome is a myth of the haters perhaps?
I've had the BB58 Bronze for almost two months and so far, no skin issues. Green wrist syndrome is a myth of the haters perhaps?
Awesome! I'm so glad you haven't had issues.
I saw this super dramatic video on YouTube by this guy with a DISGUSTING wrist after some sweaty weekend in the UK. I was skeptical but open-minded. It may be true (my skin has turned green after wearing questionable jewelry) but that type of content is fantastic clickbait too.
Yes. I love mine (Baltic Aquascaphe) and for me its a watch with a completely different story to tell because of the nature of bronze
https://www.ajbarse.com/baltic-aquascaphe-bronze/
I don't like the idea of remember when I took my tetanus shot before setting the time on the watch....
Love them !
No.
The Bronze Age ended more than three millennia ago because a better, more useful, metal was able to be worked.
Bronze is weaker and heavier than steel. Unlike gold and stainless steel, it oxidizes. In almost any other situation oxidation is considered "bad".
Is it quirky and cool? Sure. The Steampunk aesthetic will play out and people will remember why we don't use bronze for watches.
Have to agree with every word. I bought a bronze Zelos a few years and couldn’t get rid of it fast enough. Too heavy, color changed way to fast, and I was constantly cleaning off the green patina from sweat around the lugs.
Great article on bronze watches! I love bronze! But personally, I’m not a fan of patina. I just have 3 bronze watches.
I just had them for a few months. so far, it just turns darker in colour. I hope that they don’t turn green. But, if they do, I’ll probably still love them anyways 😅
Recently snapped up this Edox SkyDiver Military when I got a deal that seemed far too good to be true for a bronzed-cased watch. Time will tell how it holds up, but thus far, I'm really enjoying this one.
Great article on bronze watches! I love bronze! But personally, I’m not a fan of patina. I just have 3 bronze watches.
I just had them for a few months. so far, it just turns darker in colour. I hope that they don’t turn green. But, if they do, I’ll probably still love them anyways 😅
Gorgeous trio!
Recently snapped up this Edox SkyDiver Military when I got a deal that seemed far too good to be true for a bronzed-cased watch. Time will tell how it holds up, but thus far, I'm really enjoying this one.
Nicely done; I like the leather strap with it and the smokey dial!
I don’t have one . . . yet. They are on my list, looked at the Oris entrise, and they weren’t for me - but more because the candy-like dials were too much with the brass. Still on the hunt. Thanks for the link to the good article.