Top 7 Best Affordable Bronze Watches
Most wristwatches today are made of stainless steel. This is because it is cheap, easy to work with, looks good, and is relatively tough and durable.
But there are plenty of other materials that manufacturers are experimenting with as well. Some of those that are also quite common are rose gold, platinum, yellow gold, and white gold.
But another material that has become increasingly popular in the last couple of years is bronze. Bronze is certainly not the first material that comes to mind when you think about watches, but many brands such as Tudor, Montblanc, Oris, and many more, have released bronze watches, and despite (or because of) their uniqueness, they have actually proven to be quite successful.
Why bronze watches?
So why would you want a bronze watch? Well, there are obviously several reasons for this equation, but the primary reasons are that it is unique, it looks good, and of course that they develop a highly unique patina depending on how you wear it. Since bronze oxidizes, it changes its look from a yellow gold-tone sheen to a darker, brown/greenish tone which looks industrialized and tool-like. And this is a look that goes very well together with sports watches which are meant to look robust and have a tool-like look.
Furthermore, bronze is most commonly seen used in dive watches, and this also has a historical connection that is actually very relevant for dive watches. In fact, back in the day, divers used diving helmets made of bronze, and bronze was also used for boats and ships as well. In other words, they had a close maritime connection historically, which is why it makes sense to make dive watches in bronze as well considering their maritime purpose.
The benefit of bronze as a material for maritime purposes is that it has tough properties and resistance against saltwater corrosion. Over time, bronze gets an oxidized layer which gets a protective function of the bronze and keeps it from corroding. As long as the bronze is in contact with the oxidation, it will continue to oxidize, but once the layer is thick enough, it will eventually stop oxidizing and have a fully protected case.
With that said, bronze as a material for dive watches is a very relevant material to use for watches. In addition, their historical maritime connection adds to the charm when it is used for dive watches. And lastly, these watches develop a patina that is essentially unique to the wearer depending on how and where the watch has been worn.
There are both bronze watches that are made with solid bronze cases, or with a bronze, PVD finish. Those with PVD focus more on the look and style rather than to get the full properties of bronze watches. Which you choose obviously depends on your preference.
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Orient Automatic RA-AC0K04E10B
The Orient RA-AC0K04E10B is a stainless steel watch with a bronze finish/look to its case. With that said, it looks like a bronze watch but offers the properties of a stainless steel watch.
The watch is presented with a case size of 43.4mm and a thickness of 12.8mm. Its bronze look contributes to its bold and sporty appearance and makes look more like a tool watch, which is obviously suitable for its dive-watch-inspired design. Speaking of dive watch, it has a water resistance of 200m/660 feet, meaning you can go swimming and diving without any issues. It is powered by an automatic movement
In terms of design, this watch is exactly what you would expect from a dive watch, with the exception of its bronze, tone case. It has a green dial with large hour markers and hands which ensure excellent legibility at all times. These are also filled with luminous material which helps improve legibility. It is equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel which is orange for the first 15 minutes and green for the rest. For improved comfort and a distinctive look, the crown is positioned at 4 o’clock, which prevents it from digging into the wrist. At 4 o’clock, it has a date window discreetly integrated as well.
Specifications
- Water resistance: 200m/660 feet
- Movement: Automatic
- Thickness: 12.8 mm
- Diameter: 43.4 mm
Glycine Sub Combat 42mm Automatic Bronze
The Glycine Sub Combat Bronze is a sporty tool watch just as the name suggests. It has a diver-inspired design with a solid bronze case with a diameter of 42mm. With that said, you get all of the traits of a bronze watch as discussed above, meaning it develops a patina over time when exposed to oxygen and acids such as when it is in contact with the skin or when swimming. For practical reasons, it has a solid stainless steel case back.
On top of the case sits a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and it is equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel with a 60-minute graduation scale. The dial is matte and has large applied hour markers with luminescent material, and equally so the hands.
It is powered by an automatic movement with a power reserve of 38 hours and 25 jewels. For convenience’s sake, it has a date window positioned at 3 o’clock. This is a true enthusiast’s watch that is solidly built and offers great value for money. It is built to be sporty, robust, and tool-like, which also aligns perfectly with its solid bronze case.
Specifications
- Diameter: 42mm
- Movement: Automatic
- Water resistance: 200m/660 feet
- Power reserve: 38 hours
- Thickness: 10.6mm
- Lug-to-lug: 50mm
- Crystal: Sapphire
San Martin Bronze Mechanical Pilot
The San Martin is a pilot’s inspired watch with a solid bronze case with a diameter of 39mm and a thickness of 12mm. On top of the case sits a sapphire glass.
Being a pilot’s watch, it has large Arabic numerals printed on the dial as well as large hands filled with luminescent material. The lume used is C3 super green lume from Switzerland which ensures a bright and long-lasting glow for optimum legibility in low-lit conditions.
It is powered by an automatic Seiko nh35 Automatic-self-winding movement and offers a water resistance of 200m/660 feet, meaning you can go swimming and diving without any issues.
All in all, this watch is built as a tool watch and is meant to handle harsh conditions, shocks, and bangs. It has a timeless and sporty look that you simply cannot go wrong with. And with its bronze case that develops a unique patina over time, it certainly stands out from the crowd and gives the watch lots of personalities.
Specifications
- Water resistance: 200m/660 feet
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Diameter: 39mm
- Thickness: 12mm
Timex Chronograph Quartz TW2R96300
The Timex TW2R96300 chronograph is a chronograph made with a plated stainless steel case which gives it a bronze look, although it won’t get the same oxidizing properties as a solid bronze watch. What the bronze finish does, however, is give it a sporty and tool-like look, making it more versatile.
It is presented with a diameter of 41mm and a thickness of 13mm which suits many men’s wrists. Being a chronograph, the dial is presented with three sub-dials which are slightly recessed, providing more depth to the dial. Whilst we are on the dial, Timex has added lots of details to make it more sporty, such s a matte finish, a grey color, and hands with a matte finish, as we as brown/aged luminous material.
For improved legibility, Timex has equipped this watch with an Indiglo light which lights up the dial and makes it easier to read the time in the dark. The watch is powered by a quartz movement and has a calendar function, date, and stopwatch.
The water resistance is 50m which isn’t the most impressive, but it is a chronograph, so the water resistance isn’t generally a crucial aspect.
All in all, this is a stylish, sporty, and military-inspired chronograph with lots of details that shows Timex has really paid close attention to every single aspect of it. For a sportier look, it also features a bronze-tone case, but it is not made in solid bronze.
Specifications
- Diameter: 41mm
- Thickness: 13mm
- Water resistance: 50M
Glycine GL0200 Combat Sub 48 Bronze Automatic
If you’re looking for a bigger and sportier bronze watch compared to the previous Glycine we looked at, the Glycine GL0200 combat sub may be the watch for you.
It offers all the same design features and functions, but instead, it is presented with a larger 48mm bronze case. The water resistance is 200m/660 feet, making it suitable for both diving and swimming and diving. As a diver should, it is equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal on top.
The dial is matte black and has large luminous hour markers and hands for optimum legibility. At 3 o’clock, it has a date window which can be convenient to have for everyday wear.
With its 48mm bronze case, it is obviously a rather large watch, and is, therefore, most suitable for individuals with large wrists. But at the same time, the large size goes very well together with its sporty look and purpose. So if you enjoy big watches and want a tough bronze watch, this is definitely a great choice.
Specifications
- Water resistance: 200m/660 feet
- Movement: Automatic
- Diameter: 48mm
- Thickness: 11mm
- Crystal: Sapphire
Alpina Bronze PVD Swiss Automatic AL-525LBBR4V4
The Alpina AL-525LBBR4V4 is a sporty, robust, and tough high-quality Swiss watch with a sporty design that stands out from the ordinary. It has a bronze PVD case, so it does not have a solid bronze case, but the looks of one.
It is designed as a professional diver’s watch with a water resistance of 300m/1000 feet. It is presented with a matte black dial with large hour markers and large contrasting hands with generous amounts of luminescent material which ensures excellent legibility. At 3 o’clock, it has a date window. On top of the case sits an anti-reflective sapphire crystal.
It is powered by a Swiss-made automatic AL-525 movement with 26 jewels and a see-through case back which allows you to see the movement inside. The movement has also been decorated for a more beautiful view.
Being a dive watch, it is also equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel.
Specifications
- Water resistance: 1000 feet/300m
- Crystal: Anti-reflective sapphire
Glycine Combat Vintage Automatic GL0265
Here we have the Glycine Combat vintage which is a sporty, robust, and military-inspired timepiece with a solid bronze case. The case has a diameter of 42mm and a thickness of 10.6mm. It has a water resistance of 200m/660 feet, making it suitable for both swimming and diving. Being a diver’s watch, it features a unidirectional rotating bezel with a 60-minute graduation scale.
The watch has a scratch-resistant crystal and a solid case back. The dial goes very well together with its sporty design and has a matte black finish with large hour markers and hands featuring luminescent material.
If you’re looking for a tough, sporty, and versatile everyday watch made in bronze, the Glycine Combat vintage is definitely a great choice.
Specifications
- Diameter: 42mm
- Thickness: 10.6mm
- Movement: Automatic
- Water resistance: 200m/660 feet
- Crystal: Scratch-resistant sapphire
Reasons to buy a bronze watch
There are many good reasons to buy a bronze watch, and these also explain why bronze watches have increased in popularity in recent years. Let’s have a look.
They develop a unique patina
One of the primary reasons people enjoy bronze watches is that they develop a unique patina that gives the watch character and makes it look more sporty. Depending on how you use it, each bronze watch will also change its look differently. With this said, bronze is essentially a way to make a watch more personal.
It is a historical material
A lot of many watches’ charm and appeal lie in their history and background. Because bronze is a historical material that has an interesting history in the watch industry, it makes it a suitable material, particularly for dive watches.
It gives a sporty and rugged look
Bronze is one of the metals that look the most sporty and tool-like. As such, it makes for a perfect material for sports watches that goes well with the design of these timepieces.
Do Bronze watches scratch easily?
Bronze is not a material that scratches easily. Bronze is a hard material that handles and resists scratches quite well. As a matter of fact, bronze is actually more scratch-resistant than stainless steel. In addition, due to the nature of the oxidation of the case, scratches are concealed really well underneath the layer of oxidation meaning you don’t see scratches that well compared to, for example on stainless steel.
Are bronze watches good?
The short answer to that question is yes! The longer answer to that question is that it depends on your taste and preferences. If you’re looking for an elegant dress watch, bronze is not the ideal material as it gives more of a rugged impression which is not the kind of look that you want to achieve with a formal outfit. On the other hand, for sports, and in particular dive watches, bronze is definitely one of the best materials due to its resistance against rust as well as its history.
Furthermore, a lot of people see bronze as a more affordable alternative to gold, as it has a similar rose gold sheen. That means that you can get a watch that gives the impression of being in rose gold but without the hefty price tag that comes with it.
How do bronze watches age?
The key thing that signifies bronze is its unique aging and patina development. Bronze ages in a way that few other materials that are commonly used in watches do, and as a result, it is a great choice for someone who is looking for something completely different.
When a bronze watch ages, it creates an oxidation layer on top of the bronze which is a chemical reaction that gives it a rather colorful surface. The benefit of this patina is that it not only looks cool but also forms a protective layer on top that protects the case.
How to speed up the patina process on bronze watches
The best way to speed up the patina process on your bronze watch is to subject it to acidic ingredients. The most effective that are commonly used to do this is saltwater or boiled eggs. Both of these will speed up the patina process and quickly give the watch an aged look.
How to remove the patina from your bronze watch
The good news is that if you want to remove the patina and bring your watch back to its gold-tone shiny look, you can.
The most effective way to remove the patina from your bronze watch is by soaking it in acidic substances such as lemon juice or vinegar helps remove unwanted patina. You can also use a Cape Cod polishing cloth.
Conclusion – buying a bronze watch
Bronze is a unique and different material that stands out in the watch industry for many reasons. Although it has been used for watches for centuries and is a historical material, other materials have been more favored, in particular stainless steel. Bronze is certainly not for everyone, but for those who wants something completely new and different that is sure to stand out from the crowd, and, most importantly, age and develop a highly unique patina, it is an interesting choice.
Bronze as a material has a lot of benefits, but it also has a few downsides to it. This includes things like the fact that it isn’t a hypoallergenic material and contact with Bronze can turn your skin green. Still, bronze watches offer great appeal and are an interesting alternative to the other more common materials normally found in watches.
