How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

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How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

For those of us who like a 'Patinated' Bronze case watch and perhaps don't want to go to the trouble of taking a Raw (new/shiny) watch and letting the patina grow on it, CW has recently, quietly re-introduced a 'ready made' Patinated finish to their Bronze Case watches e.g. the C60 Pro 300 Bronze

Screenshot 2024-10-07 at 22-39-23 C60 Pro 300 Bronze Patinated Christopher Ward.png
Screenshot 2024-10-07 at 22-29-56 C60 Pro 300 Bronze Patinated Christopher Ward.png

The Patinated finish is also available on the C65 Sandhurst and Dune models, and probably others.


CW originally offered a Raw or Patinated finish to the Bronze C60 Trident Pro 600 43mm models; details in the CWArchive over the period 2017 - 2019 but then opted to only offer a Raw (new/shiny) finish on their bronze watches since.

I had a patinated C60 Trident Pro 600 GMT LE from this time for a while;-

Image

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.. . but more recently, about 18 months ago, got a C65 Sandhurst Series 2 and let the patina grow naturally;-

Image


It's good to see the Patinated versions back.

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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by timepieces_and_bags »

Guy, I had seen this and was going to ask a (probably very stupid) question, now your post gives me an excuse to. Also since I was recently eyeing up the C60 Pro 300 Bronze.

I’m a complete novice when it comes to bronze watches, and I’m wondering the reasons you would or wouldn’t choose the patinated version?

Is it just a question of wanting the patinated look right now rather than going through the process both from a time and maybe skin/clothes transfer perspective?

On the flip side (and maybe I’m overly romanticizing it), I quite like the idea of instead going through the ‘journey’ oneself since then the watch is very individual to you.

As someone who’s done both, I’d be keen to know your thoughts.

Best,
TB
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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by iain »

I suspect the pre patinated watches are ones that have been returned unber 60/60 but if they were steel would be sold as new.

However as the patina has started so they can’t sell them as new but don’t want to lose on profit by selling as nearly new for a discount.

Hence the cunning reintroduction of pre patinated watches.

To answer your original question though. Pre patinated or raw?
My answer would be steel……..
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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by tikkathree »

Raw or Patinated?
How much patination is enough? I once did the warm salt solution immersion experiment to bring about the whole "marine environment green" effect. Don't worry it wasn't a CW watch just a cheap Aliexpress oyster style case watch.

The desired patina was achieved in just a couple of weeks: from memory it was a couple of days in a strong saline solution which started out as tepid or warmer and then left outside in all weathers.

Outcome? to be honest it might have fitted in at the seaside but thirty miles inland it just looked plain silly. So my choice would be raw but not "still got the factory finish" raw.
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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by RichM »

To add to the debate here, Ken Kessler in this edition of Loupe argues the case (no pun intended) for stainless steel watches. I like that Christopher Ward allows this when there's another article in the same edition promoting bronze cases.

https://issuu.com/christopher-ward/docs ... e_24_issuu
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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by exHowfener »

I have one bronze watch which has patina. It's interesting to watch it develop naturally. I've no interest in "forced" patina as it seems a bit fake to me. Nor would I buy a pre-patinated watch for the same reason.
I think the patina effect works best if the watch is being worn reasonably frequently (you also get brighter bits where rubbing occurs) and in a range of environments/activities, but if not it just looks a bit drab.
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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

timepieces_and_bags wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2024 1:53 am Guy, I had seen this and was going to ask a (probably very stupid) question, now your post gives me an excuse to. Also since I was recently eyeing up the C60 Pro 300 Bronze.

I’m a complete novice when it comes to bronze watches, and I’m wondering the reasons you would or wouldn’t choose the patinated version?

Is it just a question of wanting the patinated look right now rather than going through the process both from a time and maybe skin/clothes transfer perspective?

On the flip side (and maybe I’m overly romanticizing it), I quite like the idea of instead going through the ‘journey’ oneself since then the watch is very individual to you.

As someone who’s done both, I’d be keen to know your thoughts.

Best,
TB
Good question/s TB. :-k :-k

I've come across a myriad of answers over recent years to preferences on Bronze case watches, some quite vehement, but for me I'm not really fussed either way and happy to take what comes. To be more specific . . . ..

As a general principal I feel that a Bronze watch should be patinated one way or another, albeit not forced to extreme. How this is achieved, I don't mind.

The C60 Trident Pro 600 GMT LE was a nearly new Sale purchase and in Patinated condition (as done by CW). Hobson's choice. As best as I aware, CW's method of patination is by exposing it to suitable vapour in an enclosed space. The patina produced is varied and fairly robust.

I had a Steinhart Ocean One, that had been patinated in a similar fashion by a previous owner. It looked good and I left it alone.

Image

Image


On the contrary I acquired an Audaz Bronzematic in 2020 and wrote at the time;-

"Been reading up on the different types of Bronze as, this watch being some months old already, I was curious as to why it doesn't really have any noticeable patina yet.

Seems that the CuSn8 bronze that Audaz uses develops patina slower than CuSn6 bronze, as used by CW and others."



Image



In a similar vein, my Baltic Aquaschape is quite slow in gaining patina, but has a much softer look compared to a CW bronze as the bronze used by Baltic has a strong aluminium content to it.

Pic when new in December '23

Image

and fairly recently in August '24

Image


As to the "going through the process both from a time and maybe skin/clothes transfer perspective?" I've done that too, big time, with my C65 Sandhurst Series 2 and bronze bracelet. CW's bronze bracelet is that, BRONZE. No namby pamby steel layer next to the skin and it's a true 'you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs' watch.

I bought it new in April last year and have worn it fairly often (for me) with the desired result of it picking up some great patina, at the expense of a green wrist! As pointed out by @exHowfener there are points on the case, underside of the lugs especially, which have a polished sheen to them.

Also the patina on the bracelet has a different hue to it on the underside where it has been more exposed to perspiration but has been rubbed, compared to the top side.

A few pics in reverse chronological order;-

May '24

Image

Image

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April '24

Image


February '24

Image

Image

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August '23

Image

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April 19th, '23

My C65 Sandhurst Bronze early evening yesterday (Monday) after a day out and about, with my wrist getting a bit hot and sweaty.

Patina on the bracelet is coming along nicely. :wink: :wink:

Image

Image


April 16th, '23 - as new

Image



Hopefully, this has given you a good flavour of my thoughts but, at the end of the day (as my partner often says to me) "It's up to you" :D :D


Guy
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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

PS> One can always go the half way route with a lightly patinated bronze watch from Elliot Brown, in this case a Holton Professional Automatic, with bracelet but absolutely no green wrist.

Image

Image

How come? Simple really; the bronze patina is a PVD finish on a steel case.

Best of both worlds @iain :wink: :wink:

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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by timepieces_and_bags »

Thanks Guy for the extensive and interesting write-up. The ‘before’ and ‘after’ on the Baltic is probably my favorite progression.

Now to decide whether the bronze is for me…
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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by JAFO »

Out of interest , is there a protective coating available that might be used to seal a given shade of patination.

Even if not 100% effective it might be an appealing treatment to have available.
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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by PGR101 »

I spotted that CW were now offering the patinated versions and had a similar thought to others that they might be returned or NOS. Given they are offered across all bronze options I'm wondering if it is more than that and they have a process to oxidise (for some chimney breast vents I soaked them in vinegar for a couple of days and went from shiny to patinated - wouldn't recommend with a watch though :lol: ).

I only have one bronze watch and wearing it today but it was second hand (C65 SH21) so had already developed a patina. Not sure which way I'd go with a new one. I like the idea of going through the process of developing my own patina from blood, sweat, and toil but I certainly prefer the look of the watch once it is patinated. Dilemma of having to wear a shiny bronze watch in order to get the patina, but then might wear it less so it would take longer..!
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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by tikkathree »

Rather like this...
20241009_092436.jpg
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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by JAFO »

PGR101 wrote: Wed Oct 09, 2024 10:51 am I spotted that CW were now offering the patinated versions and had a similar thought to others that they might be returned or NOS. Given they are offered across all bronze options I'm wondering if it is more than that and they have a process to oxidise (for some chimney breast vents I soaked them in vinegar for a couple of days and went from shiny to patinated - wouldn't recommend with a watch though :lol: ).

I only have one bronze watch and wearing it today but it was second hand (C65 SH21) so had already developed a patina. Not sure which way I'd go with a new one. I like the idea of going through the process of developing my own patina from blood, sweat, and toil but I certainly prefer the look of the watch once it is patinated. Dilemma of having to wear a shiny bronze watch in order to get the patina, but then might wear it less so it would take longer..!
Just say it's 14 carat gold until it develops bronze rust and you know it's not gold.:D
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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by Stuart1 »

I have the C60 600 40in in bronze, which has patinated over time. Buying it would not bother me either way then result is the same. I would not clean it either way.
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Re: How do you like your Bronze case watches? Raw or Patinated?

Post by jimbo »

I love my CW Bronze, took it to Australia recently for a couple of months enjoying the warmer "outdoors".

The watch was cleaned before we went much to my son's disgust as he likes it looking "Old". Anyway with being dunked in the sea for many hours, and a sweaty wrist it soon went dark.... until the day we stopped for a rest on the road and the campsite had some hot tubs that had mineral water pumped up from a fair few feet below the dry river bed.

Funny thing was that my wife had sun screen on, and it turned her skin orange (almost Trump like) and my watch cleaned it's self!!

The watch then started to darken again over the next few weeks, but my wife was not happy having to use her fly net to try and scrub her skin.

I love the way the watch changes colour, and enjoy watching it fizz when I can be bothered to clean it.... probably my favourite watch
They are well worth having
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