The 14 Best Bronze Watches That Will Patina Beautifully

The watch industry is one of constantly evolving trends. Dive watches were all the range in the 1960s, chronographs had their moment in the sun in the 1970s, and by the time the Quartz Crisis rolled around everyone was rocking either integrated bracelets or two-tone setups. The market today is enmeshed in multiple trends, from vintage styling to green dials, but one of the more original that has come on in recent years is the prevalence of bronze watches.

The best bronze watches make use of their material’s unique properties to create one-of-a-kind timepieces that will not only last the test of time but will do so by acting almost like a living, breathing organism. While it looks like gold or copper fresh out of the box, bronze watches begin oxidizing as soon as they are exposed to the air, and will keep doing so forever. For many watch fans, the idea of having a timepiece that uniquely ages alongside them is an appealing prospect, which is why we’ve gathered together a list of the best bronze watches for men that are currently on the market.

What Is Patina? The Main Selling Point for Bronze Watches

Arguably, the main reason why most people buy bronze watches is because of the patina that they develop over time. Bronze is an alloy containing large amounts of copper, and as a result, it is highly subject to oxidation. This is a chemical reaction that occurs when certain metals are exposed to oxygen, and it results in the formation of a thin layer of green or brown discoloration on the metal’s surface that we call patina. You know how old pennies turn green? That’s patina, a result of their copper coating reacting to the air. So why would anyone want patina on a watch?

There are a couple of reasons. One is aesthetic. A lot of people just like the way patina looks. It’s similar to how many prefer the look of “patina” on aged leather to new leather; they simply prefer things that look like they’ve been used. Another reason why patina is popular is psychological. Many like that their watch is changing as it ages, earning its looks in a way. They also like how patina makes a watch unique, as no two watches will ever patinate in the exact same way. Now, just because a lot of people like it, that’s not to say patinated bronze is all sunshine and rainbows. Bronze also oxidizes when it comes into contact with moisture, like on your skin, and certain bronze watches can pass that green patina onto you while you’re wearing them. Because of this, most bronze watches will have a caseback made from a material other than bronze.

BOLDR Odyssey Bronze

BOLDR has made a name for itself in the outdoor gear space by crafting rough & ready watches that objectively look best once they’ve been beaten up a little. So naturally, the brand’s rugged Odyssey diver is the perfect vessel for fast-aging bronze. The angular case and relief bezel look excellent in the material, and the ultra-bright Lumicast 3D lume, 500m water resistance with helium escape valve, and in-house Druber fluoroelastomer rubber strap all add to the overall package.

Baltic Aquascaphe Bronze

French microbrand Baltic’s Aquascaphe can seemingly do no wrong for the brand. It’s a hit in its original vintage-style stainless steel form, the GMT version is one of the best sub-$1,000 travel watches on the market, and wouldn’t you know it, the bronze version is an absolute killer mash-up of vintage dive watch styling with turn-of-the-century aquatic themes. A blue sunray dial, maxi hands, and distinct crown guards all help to further distinguish this bronze beauty from its stainless steel brethren.

Case Size: 39mm
Water Resistance: 200m
Movement: Automatic

Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical Bronze

Hamilton’s Khaki Field Mechanical is the definitive field watch, with its rugged build and utilitarian design tracing their roots to the watches worn by American soldiers back in The Big One. Recently, the now-Swiss-owned watchmaker released a variant of their most classic watch in the brand’s first-ever bronze case, and it’s a match made in heaven. The unique aging of bronze should mix perfectly with the Khaki Field’s timeless architecture, creating a modern watch that will look like a proper WWII relic in as little time as a few months.

Christopher Ward C60 Trident Bronze

As you’ve probably guessed by the early goings of this list, it was microbrands who paved the way for bronze to become a mainstream watch case material. And microbrands, as they exist today, probably wouldn’t exist at all were it not for Christopher Ward, the original direct-to-consumer watch brand that debuted in 2004. CW has come a long way since then, but they’re still a microbrand at heart, as evidenced by the stylish bronze treatment they’ve given their blockbuster C60 Trident diver. Not only will the case patinate in a unique way, but every hand-distressed blue dial is different, adding even more individuality to the piece.

YEMA Superman Heritage GMT Bronze

Bronze has a centuries-old history of continuous nautical use thanks to its outstanding resistance to saltwater corrosion, which is what makes the material such a natural fit for aquatic-themed watches. A dive watch is the most obvious fit for bronze, but Yema goes even further by evoking vintage diving equipment with this Superman Heritage GMT. Water resistant to 300m despite the 39mm case size, this beautiful timepiece features a brushed bronze case, a striking green dial, and a 24-hour bezel with a unique bezel lock at the 3 o’clock position. Likewise, the bezel and GMT hand allow for keeping track of three time zones individually. Few divers are as elegant as this.

Rado Captain Cook Automatic Bronze

First debuting in 1962 amidst the dive watch craze, Rado’s Captain Cook diver never made it out of the ’60s, with production stopping later that decade. However, in 2017, the Swiss brand revived the watch, which has become one of its most popular models since. Unlike most of the other pieces on this list, this 42mm version is given more subtle bronze cues, with a green ceramic bezel overshadowing the bronze case. Matching the bezel is a green leather strap and green dial with bronze accents. Performance-wise, this is a diver through and through, with the 60-minute rotating bezel and 300m of water resistance.

Longines Legend Diver Bronze

For even more retro nautical bronze goodness, we turn to Longines. The Swiss heritage brand has a megahit on their hands with their Legend Diver, a dual-crowned reissue of a mid-century supercompressor from the brand. Numerous variations of the Legend Diver now exist, but one of the most interesting has to be the bronze version. Combining a green fumé dial with a rose gold-hued bronze case and a gentle-on-skin titanium caseback, this is one of the more elegant bronze watches you’re likely to come across.

Bremont Broadsword Bronze

Not all bronze watches are designed to be worn in water, you know. The material is plenty attractive for land use too, as Bremont proves with the Broadsword Bronze. In addition to its killer name, this watch also has some legitimate field cred behind it. It was developed in partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence and was created to be a modern version of the legendary “Dirty Dozen” field watches that were commissioned for the British Army during WWII. Bronze save the Queen.

Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Bronze

For many watch collectors, it just doesn’t get any better than the Black Bay 58. A 39mm case, a handsome mix of modern and vintage looks, and typical diver robustness and versatility all add up to a winner. But Tudor hasn’t rested on its laurels with the watch, as they are constantly tinkering with the formula. Exhibit A of this phenomenon is the BB58 Bronze, which not only features a bronze case but Tudor’s first-ever bronze bracelet. And the bracelet is more than just a pretty face, it also features the debut of a new quick-adjust clasp that’s the spitting image of sister brand Rolex’s acclaimed Glidelock system.

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary Edition

Out of the big Swiss brands, it’s Oris who has embraced bronze cases the most. The independent Swiss watchmaker makes a number of bronze watches, from divers to chronographs, but our favorite has to be this special edition Big Crown Pointer Date pilot’s watch to celebrate the timepiece’s 80th anniversary. The watch first debuted in 1938 and instantly became a favorite of fighter pilots for how easy it was to adjust the time with gloves on. Not to mention, the unique pointer hand which points to the date is still an unusual complication all these decades later. This edition showcases the legendar watch’s best features with a bronze case, a green dial, and a brown leather strap. Everything about this watch seems special, which isn’t always the case when it comes to limited-edition watches.

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition

Thanks in part to their partnership with Swiss movement manufacturer Minerva, Montblanc is able to craft some wildly inventive and impressive luxury watches. Their best effort to date has to be the Geosphere, a unique spin (literally) on a worldtimer that features dual rotating globes that show the current time in both the northern and southern hemispheres. And the best Geosphere yet has to be this desert-themed edition that combines a bronze case and brown ceramic compass bezel with a gorgeous full color lasered relief of the Gobi Desert on the caseback.

IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire

First debuting in 1936, the IWC Pilot’s Watch is an icon in its own right, and this Spitfire version is the first time the model has gotten a chronograph movement. Here, the German watchmaker gives the reference the bronze treatment with a patina-developing case, a vintage military-style green dial, and a beautiful brown calfskin leather strap with beige stitching. The dial features a day-date display and a left-oriented tricompax chronograph setup. Striking at first glance, this is certainly a statement piece that will only get better with age.

Omega Seamaster 300 Bronze Gold

Even though they are already one of the most storied Swiss watchmakers by far, Omega is always searching for new ways to innovate. Sometimes it’s with their movements, such as with the invention of the METAS-Certified Master Chronometer, and other times it’s with their materials. On this revamped Seamaster 300, it’s both, as the Master Chronometer diver marks the debut of Bronze Gold — a brand new alloy invented by Omega that features a unique soft pink hue, a slower and more even aging process, and a high concentration of gold that makes it safe to wear directly against the skin.

Panerai Submersible Bronzo Blu Abisso

Panerai’s dive watch already looked like something out of a Jules Verne novel, but this bronze version appears to have been designed by Captain Nemo himself. The brand’s distinct porthole-shaped dial, cushion case, and oversized crown protector all look absolutely otherworldly in bronze, and the striking matte blue dial and rounded markers (including those funky miniature ones on the bezel) only add to this striking luxury watch’s head-turning personality.

The Best Gold Watches to Buy

Not a fan of bronze? Maybe you’ll like some of the timepieces from our guide to the best gold watches.