We shine a spotlight on bronze, that most ancient of new case materials, and showcase a selection of watch brands that are using it in their new models, in this article from the WatchTime archives.
Panerai and Archimede use the bimetallic alloy CuSn8 for their bronze watch cases.
This is an era of offbeat, heretofore-unheard-of case materials like forged carbon, tantalum, alusic, titanium ceramic and even something called ?Texalium? (aluminum-coated carbon fiber).  But one ?new? case material has been around so long it has a prehistoric age named after it: bronze. In recent years, brands including IWC, Panerai, Zenith, Squale, U-Boat, Anonimo and Bulgari have introduced bronze watches. Most are divers? watches or have a nautical theme; for them, bronze, used for centuries to make ship fittings and seafaring equipment, is a way to underline their maritime identity. In other watches, bronze is used simply for its appearance: the metal has a vintage-like matte patina, which differs from watch to watch and hence makes each watch unique. Here?s a look at this time-honored metal. Alloys that contain at least 60 percent copper can be called ?bronze,? but the term usually refers to alloys that are made from a mixture of copper and tin. Pure copper is relatively soft and dents easily while tin is brittle and breaks. But when combined, the resulting alloy resists wear, retains its shape and is antimagnetic. And its most outstanding property is its ability to resist corrosion in seaw...