Bronze has been widely adopted in recent years in the watchmaking industry, even by brands that had never used it before. This resulted in a kind of novelty effect, whereas this material had already been employed in the manufacture of watches for a long time.
Bronze is easy to work but has a serious drawback in oxidation; despite this, it is often chosen because of the diverse and fascinating chromatic effects that can be created with it. In fact, apart precious metals such as gold, all other metals used in the industry have, if not treated, a greyish hue resembling that of steel. Bronze is the only one distancing and differentiating neatly from steel; in addition, the different possible alloys allow for different hues and details.
The problem of oxidation makes it harder to correctly manage the material, especially for finished parts which are still not ready to be shipped to the customer. Bronze requires greater care compared to other metals, and a deep knowledge of the material itself, of its characteristics and of its reactions. Bronze has to be protected and kept in specific conditions, always taking into account the different factors that may alter the surface of the finished parts, like humidity and temperature.
We manufacture “cap” systems by combining bronze with other materials, such as gold and steel, in order to greatly reduce the weight and the production costs. The two parts made of different materials can be secured to one another in several ways: as an example, some adhesive can be used, or they can be secured mechanically through the use of screws.
Discover how to use bronze to make your brand more unique; contact us for more information.