The Bronze Age: 15 of the Best Modern Bronze Watches

When it comes to luxury watches, people typically want to make sure they look the same for years, even decades. The most valuable are locked up in safe vaults, never again to see the light of day until they emerge half a century later to be put up for auction. 

After all, who wants to risk putting a scratch mark on their latest several-thousand-dollar acquisition? It’s something you almost always have running through the back of your mind as a luxury watch owner: keep your arms in, don’t risk hitting your watch on anything!

That manner of thinking is exactly why I find bronze watches so interesting. Unlike any other style of watch, bronze watches are encouraged to change, age, and patina over time. That’s almost the entire point of the watch. 

Every mark, every speck of patina, is a badge of honor for a bronze watch. If you’re looking for something unique and special, something clearly distinct from all the rest of the watches that can so easily seem to run together and all look the same, a bronze watch is just what the doctor ordered.

What to Know About Bronze Watches

Before we get into the listing, there are a few things you should know about how your future bronze watch will act and look in different conditions. First of all, there are two different types of bronze, which is a metal alloy of copper and one other metal. 

The first type is tin bronze, or CuSn (with different proportions of Sn, or tin, in the chemical formula depending on the specific type). The other is aluminum bronze, which uses aluminum in place of tin. The two are similar in most regards, but I do want to touch on a few of the differences briefly. 

Tin bronze has a little bit more of a warmer tone to it, and is the type of bronze that has been used historically (such as in the famous Bronze Age), while aluminum bronze is harder and more modern.

Tin bronze also oxidizes more quickly than the aluminum variant. As such, you can find watches in either type of bronze depending on your specific needs for the watch.

Each bronze watch will slowly but surely develop a unique and special patina, much like you’d see from any bronze sculpture or statue outside. This is typically in a black or dark brown color, which gradually overlays the bronze underneath to change its color. 

I called it “unique” just a moment ago because it actually is just that: no two bronze watches will look quite the same because of the different patina pattern that each acquires over time, which is a result of the environment it’s exposed to and the composition of the bronze alloy. However, this isn’t the only type of patina that bronze watches can develop. 

There’s also verdigris, which is the bright aquamarine discoloration that you see on the Statue of Liberty and bronze objects that are more exposed to water. Verdigris isn’t an oxide, so it doesn’t just develop when your watch is exposed to air. 

Rather, it’s produced by the chemical reaction of copper with other compounds like acids and chlorides. It creates an extremely striking effect, and works really well on dive watches to create the image of a watch that has been submerged underwater for a long time.

You do want to be a little careful with this one though, as verdigris can be toxic if you ingest it—although it should be fine on your skin. Just don’t start licking your patinated watch! 

If you’re into this look, however, the best thing you can do for it is go for a lovely salt-water swim (yes, this is me telling you to take a vacation), as the chlorides in salt will react splendidly to form the verdigris you’re looking for.

As a final note, I do want to talk about avoiding patina entirely, or “resetting” it. It’s actually possible to regularly clean your bronze watch without harming it, since the oxidation layer that forms is strictly on the surface level and no deeper. 

If you like the color of bronze and want to avoid patina on your watch, you can clean it using lemon juice or, better yet, a paste made of lemon juice and baking soda.

You’ll want to use a toothbrush, your fingers, or a cloth to apply it to the outside of the watch (don’t just submerge it!) and then gently rub over patinated areas to remove any marks on the bronze. 

This will return your watch back to a lovely bright and shiny state, which means it’s also a great technique to use if you’ve just bought a bronze watch secondhand and you want to “reset” its patina to be unique to you.

The 15 Best Bronze Watches

Now that you know what to look for and how to take care of your future bronze watch, let’s get right into the listing here! There’s something for every interest and budget here, so take your pick, because there’s no right or wrong in watches: only what interests you!

Zelos Aurora Field 38mm BR “Teal Mop” – $500

Zelos has kind of made bronze their thing, so I figured what better place to start off this list than with an affordable and yet striking Zelos field watch? This “Teal Mop” (your guess is as good as mine as to the name) features a tin bronze (CuSn₈) case and a particularly lovely mother-of-pearl dial with a teal fumé color applied to it. 

Even the buckle of the rubber strap it comes on will patina, and Zelos offers additional bronze bracelets for an extra $199. Considering that there are very few other bronze watches out there that also come with a bronze bracelet, I’d definitely give that option some serious thought.

Despite the reduced price, this Zelos runs on an automatic 9-series Miyota movement, the 9039, which is a strong workhorse option used by a lot of smaller brands. Nothing to write home about here, but it gets the job done and avoids falling into the temptation of quartz to save money. That’s all I could ask for.

IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire Bronze – $7,100

If you get your hands on this watch, I’ll promise you one thing: the patina is going to look incredible. Please don’t polish it! The pairing of dark brown patina, forest green sunray dial, and rich brown strap is just about as close to perfect for a bronze watch as you can get. This is one that was made, without a doubt, with patina in mind, and it shows to excellent effect.

I’m a huge fan of almost everything about this watch: those chronograph pushers, for example, are superbly proportioned; the dial is large and legible; the lozenge hands are perfectly executed and sumptuously lumed. If you’re looking for a textbook pilot’s watch, this is it.

Tucked safely behind the closed caseback, you’ll find ticking away inside the in-house IWC caliber 69380, a superb column-wheel chronograph with automatic winding and a 46-hour power reserve. 

If there was anything else you could possibly ask for, it’d be magnetic resistance—but IWC has you covered there too, with a soft-iron cage surrounding the movement to protect it.

Like the fighter jet it’s named for, the Spitfire will be both the workhorse and the most memorable member of your watch collection.

Tudor Black Bay Bronze – $4,800

Here we have our first bronze dive watch, which is in my personal opinion the best genre to allow bronze to shine. After all, if you allow the watch to live out its purpose as a companion on swims and dives, it’ll not only patina quickly but also develop those stunning pops of verdigris as well. 

Admittedly, however, as much as I am a supporter of allowing bronze to patina, I also love the pairing of the rich bronze color and the slate gray bezel and dial. You really can’t go wrong either way here—both just bring such a beautiful look to the watch. This is a beautiful timepiece no matter what you do to it.

Under the hood, you couldn’t really ask for anything better: Tudor’s in-house caliber MT5601 supplies you with the time with extreme precision since it’s chronometer-certified by COSC. It does one thing, and it does it well. 

You won’t be able to admire its steadfast ticking since the caseback is closed, but you’ll surely see the fruits of its labor every day. The MT5601 can run for about 70 hours straight, and will stay topped up anytime you wear it thanks to automatic winding.

Bremont Argonaut Bronze Blue Dial – $4,200

You don’t see a lot of internal-bezel dive watches these days. Actually, you don’t see a lot of Bremonts either, but that shouldn’t be taken as a reflection of their quality. These are some really solid British-made timepieces, and the Argonaut in particular is one of their finest. 

It’s made as a military watch, inspired in particular by the original Dirty Dozen watches made during WWII for the British military. Since bronze forms a strong oxidation layer on the outside of the metal, it’s actually great for use in naval applications as that layer serves as a protection for the rest of the metal. 

As such, the Argonaut Bronze remains not only strikingly beautiful but also particularly pertinent to its military heritage. The blue dial is extremely legible for any diving use, and both the hands and indices are treated with Super-LumiNova for that much-needed nighttime glow. 

Do note that to use the internal bezel, you’ll want to make use of the watch’s upper crown, while the lower is for setting the (very accurate and chronometer-certified) time. 

Inside, you’ll find the modified caliber BE-92AV, which has all the bells and whistles including a strong 38-hour power reserve, Nivaflex mainspring, Anachron hairspring, and Glucydur balance wheel—all three of which are alloys specifically designed to make each part of the movement run better in all sorts of conditions, especially temperature variations.

Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 300 Bronze – $1,300

Another bronze-and-blue diver! There’s just something about that color pairing that works so well for bronze watches, and looks absolutely spectacular here. I love the rich blue ombré lacquer paired with the rose gold indices and hands, which help to pull out the rich tones in the bronze. 

In particular, I can’t help but smile when I see the trident-shaped counterweight on the seconds hand, which could very easily have looked tacky but because of its craftsmanship and style actually is particularly striking.

In a rarity for bronze-cased watches, this one actually features an exhibition caseback, which provides a glimpse at the Sellita SW200 movement inside, which is also COSC-certified, automatic, and has a 38-hour power reserve.

The rest of the caseback that isn’t sapphire is also made from steel, so your skin doesn’t have to be much in contact with the patinated bronze.

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition – $7,100

Limited to 1858 pieces, this Montblanc is a beautifully classy timepiece dedicated to exploration, which you should be able to discern at a glance thanks to the fascinating and pioneering way that Montblanc has chosen to represent the world timezones, via two rotating globes at 12:00 and 6:00. 

I particularly love the cathedral-style hands, which are reminiscent of other exploration watches like the Hamilton Khaki Field, as well as the compass bezel—which yes, you can actually use to find north.

Another fine detail you’ll be sure to appreciate with this watch are the unobtrusive red dots marked on each of the world time indicators, which show the location of the seven mountains that make up the Seven Summit mountaineering challenge.

Flipping the watch over, you’ll be treated to an enameled depiction of the desert, which is the inspiration for the color palette of the watch. It’s framed by the engraved names of each of the Seven Summit mountains, as well as the typical hallmarks. 

If you had X-ray vision, you’d probably be able to see the caliber MB29.25 beating away behind that enameled painting, but since you don’t (or do you?), I’ll just have to tell you about it.

It’s based on the Sellita SW300, but of course has been upgraded with the complication that features both of the world time discs that was developed by Montblanc’s watchmakers. 

It also has automatic winding and a 42-hour power reserve, making for a quality ébauche worthy of the high-quality watch that frames it.

Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Pioneer Bronze – $1,465

Fun fact about me that nobody asked for: my great-aunt used to work for Hamilton, so I have a particularly soft spot for the ex-American-turned-Swiss brand. That said, it doesn’t take a soft heart to be particularly fond of this exceptional watch. 

It’s extremely subtly done, from the glossy black dive bezel to the fine circular brushing on the case to the beautifully textured matte black dial at the center of it all.

Interestingly, to keep a monochromatic color palette, Hamilton opted to keep even the lume color in an aged yellow, a choice I find curious and yet appealing.

The movement, visible through the exhibition caseback, is rather surprisingly industrial, with its large broad bridges and even straight graining. In that sense, I guess it suits the rest of the watch: utilitarian and purpose-built, even though it still has touches of elegance.

If you’re looking to put a name to it, it’s actually the ETA 6498-1, with special finishing and engraving for Hamilton.

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Bronze Green Dial on Bracelet- $3,200

There’s something both vintage and romantic about a pointer date, a watch that shows the date using a hand mounted at the center of the dial instead of a window on the side.

Oris has perfectly capitalized on that old-time charm with a gorgeous green dial and lovely large cathedral hands, as well as, of course, that beautiful bronze case. 

There’s something about the fluted bezel and domed crystal that captivates me: it completes the watch by adding something I can’t express.

But my favorite part? That gorgeous bronze bracelet, sure to acquire the finest patina imaginable since parts of it will be rubbed cleaner by friction and others allowed to develop that beautiful dark brown glow.

Oris’ curious pointer date complication is driven by their caliber 754, which is simple and straightforward but gets the job done perfectly. 38 hours of power reserve and automatic winding? Check. Instantaneous date changeover? Check. Hacking seconds? Check. The cal. 754 passes with flying colors!

Baltic Aquascaphe Bronze Brown – $720

Just one glance at this Baltic Aquascaphe, after the rest of the watches we’ve examined, should be enough to make you curious.

Yes, you’re right—the bronze case is more of a brassy color than the others! That’s because this one is made from aluminum bronze, the variant that patinates more slowly and is much harder and resistant to bumps and knocks. 

Rest assured, however, that it will patina, just with a delayed progression. My favorite part of this watch, though, is that gorgeous brown dial, which evokes vintage “tropical” dials to play off the antique appeal of bronze.

I know some people hate the look of the “fauxtina” in the hands here, but I think it just completes this vintage-style watch.

Just like the Zelos (#1) above, this Baltic makes use of the Miyota 9039 to power its hands. Nothing else to add here that I didn’t mention there, except that here the closed caseback is engraved with a lovely little depiction of a diver for the Aquascaphe line. Enough said!

Zelos Skyraider Bronze Meteorite – $1,099

Sometimes I get a craving for something fully and totally unique. In that mood, no amount of “bronze patina is unique, Marcus!” can get to me. It is, sure, but I need something a little more. If that’s ever you, this next Zelos is for you. 

Not only will its lovely reddish bronze case patinate, but its meteorite dial is also completely unique to you, since it’s cut from a real meteorite and will have unique patterns. Even the hands are in a unique style, thanks to the interesting way that they’re skeletonized. 

Inside, the ETA 6498 is beautifully finished with blued screws, Côtes de Genève, and an anthracite PVD coating to give it that blackened coloring. This one is manual-wind only, which allows you to admire the lovely finishing with nothing in the way as well as interact with your watch each day as you wind it up.

Panerai Submersible Bronzo Blu Abisso – $15,900

We’re now firmly in an entirely different price tier when it comes to bronze watches, but this Panerai Submersible is a spectacular timepiece that certainly merits its cost. 

Not only is it an original spin on one of the most iconic and recognizable watches of all time, but it’s a nearly perfectly executed dive watch that can accompany you all the way down to 300 meters underwater, if you choose to put it through its paces. 

In particular, that large and full cushion case will acquire a superb patina over its extended surface, which will really make this unique watch feel like an artifact from the deep.

Through the exhibition caseback, you’ll be treated to Panerai’s in-house caliber P.900, an automatic-winding movement with a power reserve of an astonishing 3 days without any need to rewind it.

It’s one of the best things about this already-spectacular watch, and shows why Panerai is world-renowned for their divers.

Venezianico Redentore Bronzo – $750

The price tag here has come crashing back down to earth after that Panerai, and yet for the price you still have an absolutely superb bronze timepiece. It was inspired, or so the brand says, by the Four Horses of St. Mark in Venice, the home of Italian microbrand Venezianico. 

If, like me, you’d have to resort to a Google search to picture what we’re talking about here, it’s a sculpture of four bronze horses originally created in ancient Greece which now adorns St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice—hence the name. The best part of this watch, though, isn’t the heritage. 

It’s that exceptional and unique dial, which is crafted from a brass disc that’s been bronzed and patinated, then slightly treated with abrasive material to reveal the underlying metal in places. This process creates a beautiful and unique texture which complements the bronze case, and its later patina, perfectly.

The caseback is adorned with a lovely engraved depiction of the Four Horses that I referred to above, and behind it, we have that trusty old Miyota 9039 that we’ve already seen make an appearance twice before in this article! Nothing more needs to be said about it here—it’s a great movement, and there’s a reason so many brands use it.

Longines Legend Diver Bronze Green Dial – $3,125

I get it. You’re looking for a brand name. Something with a little extra oomph behind it, as compared to a microbrand. An assurance of quality, really. But not with such a big price tag! Here’s just the one for you, my dear imaginary friend: the superb Swiss-made Legend Diver by Longines. 

It’s got all the class and charm you’re looking for, including a brilliantly-executed internal bezel. The dial is so rich and pairs perfectly both with the bronze of the natural case and the patina of a watch that’s been allowed to age gracefully with time.

Even the hands are quite lovely, and to my eyes the hour hand evokes a harpoon as if to further conjure up a bygone age of diving.

The caseback perhaps reinforces my harpoon theory, thanks to its charming little engraving of a diver holding a harpoon as he descends further into the murky depths of the sea. Behind the closed caseback, you’ll find Longines’ caliber L888, which is based on the ETA A31.L11. 

It’s perfect for all your diving and daily-wear needs thanks to its automatic winding and prodigious 72-hour power reserve. It’s a diver that deserves to be a staple in any collection!

Formex Reef Radiant Bronze COSC 300M – $2,065

You’re probably noticing by now that something looks a little different about this one. No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you, that really is a steel case. I wanted to change things up a little bit here by including a bronze dial watch. 

Unlike other bronze watches, however, this Formex has been treated with a lacquer to prevent it from oxidizing, so if you enjoy the natural luster of bronze, this is without a doubt the watch for you. It’s on full display in that gorgeous dial, which just pops in such a lovely and striking way against the black bezel.

The closed caseback, engraved with an interesting wavy pattern, conceals a Sellita SW300-1, another COSC-certified chronometer with automatic winding and a prodigious 56-hour power reserve.

If you could see it, you’d surely also appreciate the custom skeletonized rotor and heat-blued screws used on the movement, but you’ll just have to rest secure in the knowledge that inside your watch is something of real quality, whether you can see it or not.

Omega Seamaster 300 Bronze Gold – $14,300

As a final means of changing things up before we exit this list for good, I’d like to introduce you to this lovely Seamaster 300, crafted in Omega’s proprietary Bronze Gold alloy.

Bronze Gold, as the name suggests, is composed of 37.5% gold, which is around 9K in purity, and is also mixed with palladium and silver. This combination gives it a gently rosy tone and also ensures that it will never acquire a verdigris patina. 

It does patinate just like any other bronze, apart from the verdigris, except at a much slower rate, allowing you to easily clean this watch more frequently if you wish to keep its bronze color or alternatively watch a more gradual progression as it ages. The rest of the watch, let me hasten to add, is gorgeous, with a deeply vintage feel that isn’t too in-your-face. 

All of the indices and markers on the dial are made out of tin bronze, so they’ll acquire a patina more rapidly than the rest of the case and end up in a lovely rich brown color.

Inside, you’ve got probably the best movement you’ll see all day, Omega’s caliber 8912, which is a METAS-certified Master Chronometer with—get this—the Co-Axial escapement.

I’m a bit of a geek for the Co-Axial, as it was originally invented by the brilliant George Daniels and now finds its home in many Omega watches. 

It’s one of the best escapements invented in decades, if not centuries, and it’s part of what helps this caliber earn such a prestigious accuracy rating. It’s also automatic and has a solid 60-hour power reserve to boot. It doesn’t get better than that, trust me.

Conclusion

There you have it! 15 of the finest bronze watches ever made, each one of them as unique as you are. Whether you’re a diver looking for something that reminds you of the aquamarine sea or a lover of patina in watches, bronze is perfect for you. You can even keep it shiny if you want! The choice is yours.