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A bronze watch is becoming a popular choice again. When you are so great that they named an era in human history after you, bronze has to be really something. After all, it was the first alloy that humans mastered smithing a few millenniums ago. So, let's start by giving you some precious pieces of information. We will teach you everything you need to know about bronze and bronze watches specifically. 

Below we will answer a few of the most asked questions when searching for a bronze watch. We will discuss the history of bronze watches and how they became popular, and the drawbacks and advantages of the material itself.

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PI42GMLEBRBL &Pioneer mens tan watch - black dial - gun metal case
PI42GMLEBRBL &Pioneer mens tan watch - black dial - gun metal case

Pioneer

Black Dial - Brown Leather
£229.00
PI42SI3LSINA &Pioneer silver watch mens - navy blue dial - 3 link strap
PI42SI3LSINA &Pioneer silver watch mens - navy blue dial - 3 link strap

Pioneer

Navy Dial - 3-Link
£249.00
outlet sale
PH36SIMESIBM PH40SIMESIBM
PH36SIMESIBM PH40SIMESIBM

Philosopher

Brushed Metal Dial - Mesh
£184.00
PH36SI5LSIXX PH40SI5LSIXX &Philosopher silver watch mens - white dial - 5 link strap
PH36SI5LSIXX PH40SI5LSIXX &Philosopher silver watch mens - white dial - 5 link strap

Philosopher

5-Link
£194.00
outlet sale
ST16BRRGLEPI &Leather watch straps in pink - rose gold buckle - 16mm

Pink Leather Watch Strap

£20.00 £39.00
-49%
ST20PORGLEBL &Vegan leather watch straps in brown - rose gold buckle - 20mm

Brown Leather Watch Strap

£39.00
New
NR28GO5LGOMP NR32GO5LGOMP &Native mother of pearl watch - gold case - 5 link
NR28GO5LGOMP NR32GO5LGOMP &Native mother of pearl watch - gold case - 5 link

Native

Mother of Pearl Dial - 5-Link
£159.00
New
NR36GMNYNANA NR40GMNYNANA &Native gunmetal watch - navy dial - navy blue nylon strap
NR36GMNYNANA NR40GMNYNANA &Native gunmetal watch - navy dial - navy blue nylon strap

Native

Navy Dial - Navy Blue NATO
£129.00
UN28RGLEGRXX UN32RGLEGRXX &Unika rose gold ladies watch - white dial - rose gold case - grey leather strap
UN28RGLEGRXX UN32RGLEGRXX &Unika rose gold ladies watch - white dial - rose gold case - grey leather strap

Unika

White Dial - Grey Leather
£194.00
NR36SINYNAXX NR40SINYNAXX &Native silver watch women - white dial - navy blue nylon strap
NR36SINYNAXX NR40SINYNAXX &Native silver watch women - white dial - navy blue nylon strap

Native

White Dial - Navy Blue NATO
£129.00
PI42SI3LSIBL &Pioneer silver watch mens - black dial - 3 link strap
PI42SI3LSIBL &Pioneer silver watch mens - black dial - 3 link strap

Pioneer

Black Dial - 3-Link
£249.00
outlet sale
PI42SILEBRBS &Pioneer mens tan watch - sunray brown dial - silver case
PI42SILEBRBS &Pioneer mens tan watch - sunray brown dial - silver case

Pioneer

Brown Sunray Dial - Brown Leather
£115.00 £229.00
-50%
UN28RGLEBRXX UN32RGLEBRXX &Unika ladies leather strap watches - white dial - rose gold case - brown leather strap
UN28RGLEBRXX UN32RGLEBRXX &Unika ladies leather strap watches - white dial - rose gold case - brown leather strap

Unika

White Dial - Brown Leather
£194.00
ST20PORGMERO &Milanese watch strap - rose gold - 20mm

Rose Gold Mesh

£49.00
bestseller
PH36SI3LSIBM PH40SI3LSIBM
PH36SI3LSIBM PH40SI3LSIBM

Philosopher

Brushed Metal Dial - 3-Link
£194.00
ST20PORGLENA &Blue leather watch strap - rose gold buckle - 20mm

Navy Blue Leather Watch Strap

£39.00
UN28SILEBLXX UN32SILEBLXX &Unika ladies leather strap watches - white dial - silver case - black leather strap
UN28SILEBLXX UN32SILEBLXX &Unika ladies leather strap watches - white dial - silver case - black leather strap

Unika

White Dial - Black Leather
£194.00
outlet sale
UN28GMMEGUBL UN32GMMEGUBL &Unika gunmetal watch - black dial - mesh strap
UN28GMMEGUBL UN32GMMEGUBL &Unika gunmetal watch - black dial - mesh strap

Unika

Black Dial - Mesh
£102.00 £204.00
-50%
PI42SILENANA &Pioneer silver watch mens - navy blue dial - navy blue leather strap
PI42SILENANA &Pioneer silver watch mens - navy blue dial - navy blue leather strap

Pioneer

Navy Dial - Navy Leather
£229.00
Native - BUNDLE White Dial Rose Gold | Brown Leather / Black Leather / Rose Gold Mesh Strap
Image description is missing

Native

BUNDLE White Dial Rose Gold | Brown Leather / Black Leather / Rose Gold Mesh Strap
£114.00 £227.00
-50%
outlet sale
Vegan
ST16PORGVEDG &Vegan leather watch straps in grey - rose gold buckle - 16mm

Dove Grey Vegan Leather Watch Strap

£20.00 £39.00
-49%
PI42GMNYNAXX &Pioneer gunmetal watch - white dial - navy nylon strap
PI42GMNYNAXX &Pioneer gunmetal watch - white dial - navy nylon strap

Pioneer

White Dial - Navy NATO
£219.00
outlet sale
ST18PORGLEPI &Leather watch straps in pink - rose gold buckle - 18mm

Pink Leather Watch Strap

£20.00 £39.00
-49%
IN32RGXXMEROLEBR
IN32RGXXMEROLEBR

Infinity

BUNDLE White Dial Rose Gold | Rose Gold Mesh / Brown Leather Strap
£107.00 £213.00
-50%
Vegan
PH36SIVEBLXX PH40SIVEBLXX &Philosopher silver watch mens - white dial - black leather strap
PH36SIVEBLXX PH40SIVEBLXX &Philosopher silver watch mens - white dial - black leather strap

Philosopher

Black Vegan Leather
£174.00
ST18PORGLEGR &Leather watch straps in grey - rose gold buckle - 18mm

Grey Leather Watch Strap

£39.00
ST16BRRGLEGR &Leather watch straps in grey - rose gold buckle - 16mm

Grey Leather Watch Strap

£39.00
New
NR32SINYBLXX NR36SINYBLXX NR40SINYBLXX &Native silver watch mens - white dial - black nylon strap
NR32SINYBLXX NR36SINYBLXX NR40SINYBLXX &Native silver watch mens - white dial - black nylon strap

Native

White Dial - Black NATO
£144.00
PI42SIMESINA &Pioneer silver watch mens - navy blue dial - mesh strap
PI42SIMESINA &Pioneer silver watch mens - navy blue dial - mesh strap

Pioneer

Navy Dial - Mesh
£239.00
PH40SINYNAXX &Philosopher silver watch mens - white dial - navy blue nylon strap
PH40SINYNAXX &Philosopher silver watch mens - white dial - navy blue nylon strap

Philosopher

Navy Blue NATO
£164.00

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Are a bronze watch and a brass watch the same?

Absolutely not, although we understand the confusion. First, a little time-travel.

In ancient times, the island of Cyprus had rich copper mines. Of course, at that time, the name was "cuprum", hence the modern today's name. Both brass and bronze have a copper base, but they aren't the same. It's a common mistake. It goes so far that even Google search tends to mix these two.

A few millenniums ago, blacksmiths experimented with copper by adding tin. That experiment gave them firm alloy, easy to work with, and sparkled the Bronze Age. Bronze is the most common of all the copper alloys and has a wide range of use, from ship making to the electrical industry. Also, it's one of the few metals used for coin making, along with silver and gold. To increase certain properties, smiths add other elements in traces, like nickel, in the alloy. Bronze has lost its popularity and wideness of use due to stainless steel nowadays. Stainless steel is more durable, more resistant, and cheaper to produce.

Brass is an alloy made from copper and zinc and some other elements in traces, like iron or aluminium. As zinc is harder to find in nature, opposite to tin. Hence, the discovery of brass took place many centuries after the bronze. However, brass wasn't popular until the industrial revolution. Even today, brass has little to no popularity in watchmaking. 

How did bronze watches become popular?

One word - patina. Patina (or tarnish, for the silver watches) is a mostly green layer that appears on the objects made from bronze. Some watch enthusiasts prefer the patina look. The most famous object with patina is the Statue of Liberty that had a bright gold-ish colour at the start. Actually, patina naturally forms on bronze, brass, and copper objects by the oxidation process. So, by giving your bronze watch some time to oxidise, you will get a timepiece with a unique look. That look works great for all the fans of vintage and retro.

The second reason is the bronze is highly resistant to saltwater. That fact made the bronze a popular choice for the diver's watches. Also, regarding the divers, bronze isn't that shiny, so it doesn't attract unwanted attention under the sea. In the end, the layer of patina protects the material from corrosion. 

What are the downsides of bronze watches?

Bronze disease

There is a thing called "the bronze disease". Although it might sound similar to patina, the bronze disease actually ruins the bronze watches. You see, in a certain set of events that include humidity and bronze, this process starts. Although this process isn't yet fully understood, it happens more often than you think. When the cuprous chloride in bronze reacts with water, it starts to create hydrochloric acid. The acid starts to erode the bronze and further reacts with the copper. You can notice that by the appearance of the green fuzz on the surface. If you don't treat it, the acid will literary destroy your wristwatch. Also, there is no cure for this phenomenon; you can only slow the process. It's funny, though, how bronze is resistant to saltwater but not to mere humidity. Always store your bronze watches in a totally dry environment. 

Patina

Although most people buy bronze watches just for the patina, some people aren't fans of it. For those people, the advice is to get some patience and learn to clean the bronze. The patina will always show, again and again, as a natural oxidation process for bronze.

Skin reactions

Bronze has numerous variations regarding the percentage of the elements added. Substantially, some contain more nickel than others. Nickel allergy is a very common allergy that develops when your skin gets into constant contact with nickel. That means bronze watches are not hypoallergenic. Even without the nickel problem, the other factor is copper. When in longer contact with skin, bronze watches tend to leave green marks on the surface of your wrist. It's not dangerous, though it can get pretty annoying.

Does Nordgreen offer a bronze watch?

Our material of choice is stainless steel 316L. As for watchmaking, it has serious advantages over bronze. Stainless steel is more durable, more scratch-resistant, and much sturdier than bronze. Also, it's much more affordable, lightweight, and maybe the most important thing, hypoallergenic. However, we have a great offer on bronze-coloured watches.

As a company that listens to our customers, we decided you shouldn't be limited to your choice of colours. Although we don't make watches from silver, gold, or bronze, we make beautiful timepieces in those very colours. Our Philosopher, Native, and Pioneer men's watches come with the gunmetal choice. You can even pair them with our interchangeable straps, also available in gunmetal colour. You can have all the stylish advantage of the bronze watch, without any physical disadvantages of the bronze material.

Conclusion

There is an old navy saying: "Above the sea, steel is better, under the sea, bronze is better". Bronze watches, as pretty as they can be, just aren't made for everyday wear. Also, they lack a certain dose style and versatility, making them a choice for just a smaller group of bronze aficionados. However, nobody can deny the beauty of them, with or without the patina.

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