Discover Beyond the Conventional: Watches Crafted with Unusual Materials

Stainless steel reigns as the go-to material for modern watch components, conquering the field owing to its robustness, corrosion resistance, affordability, and ease of machining. Though gold and platinum stand as the luxury choice for the discerning watch collector, catering to those who yearn exclusiveness, the domain of watch-making is not confined to these materials alone. From time to time, watchmakers experiment with unique materials to craft extraordinary timepieces, taking the ordinariness out of a watch and turning it into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

Such is the adaptability and allure of bronze; brands such as Panerai and Oris have incorporated it into their design portfolios. The popularity of bronze was solidified by Panerai’s Bronzo series launched in the early 2010s, and it continues to hold firm even though the brand had begun exploring the material in the 1980s. The disruptive pioneer, Gérald Genta, ventured into using bronze in the late 1980s, further establishing the niche appeal of this humble alloy.

Today, there’s a growing portfolio of bronze cases and even bracelets, which are uncommon finds. Despite bronze’s acclaimed resistance to saltwater corrosion, stainless steel still holds a competitive edge owing to its nonreactive nature and ability to maintain its sheen over time. However, bronze’s formation of a unique patina due to oxidation, which forms a protective layer, renders each bronze-crafted watch an individual artwork, with no two pieces ageing the same. Such a unique feature entwines the past with the present, placing these unusual materials at the forefront of modern horology.