The watch had a slight milky film on it as well. This surprised me a bit as from what I read, green patina comes more from exposure to chlorine than sulfur. Overall, the watch had lost its luster, the color darkened though only a bit and there were many areas of green build up. I put a freshly polished Ancon Tank in with the egg for an hour, and the results were different than I expected. If you’re forcing patina, in all likelihood, waiting isn’t your strong suit… so you can leave it for anywhere from an hour to…well, much longer. Seal the bag and crush the egg… this is critical as the sulfur compounds are located in the yolk. Place your watch (remove the strap and make sure the watch is clean first) near the egg, but some distance away. So, take one freshly hard boiled egg, place it in a sealable bag. (should you not know how to make a hard boiled egg, here is a tutorial) The idea here is to use sulfur present in eggs (why they smell) to patina the metal. What I immediately like about this method is that it uses things you almost definitely have at home already, and if not, can get quickly: So, if your watch has lots of nooks and crannies, this might not be a great idea either. Patina can be polished off with out much trouble, unless it is in a textured area, in which case, it’s hard to get out. And if you don’t have good ventilation, also don’t even think about it. If you are even the tiniest bit doubtful about the water-tightness of your watch, don’t do this. There is potential to damage a watch due to a bad seal, as well as some health risks. I’ve never done this before attempting for this article, and you should proceed at your own risk.

I will start by saying, this is an experiment. Today, we’re going to explore 2 methods, both of which involve exposing to sulfur compounds: the egg method and liver-of-sulfur method. So, there are ways to “force” or rapidly create patina by exposing the metal to chemicals. How long is hard to say, days, weeks, months… it likely depends a lot on the specific climate you are in, proximity to salt water, exposure to acid rain (really) etc. So, as long as the watch is not in a vacuum chamber, it should patina over time. Now… patina happens naturally as moisture and air come in contact with a watch case.

The patina itself is actually protecting the metal, preventing corrosion, which is why bronze is often associated with marine equipment. The darkening color and random nature of the patina adds to the rugged look of the metal, and the slow change and distinct wear speaks to the owner’s life and style.

The metal oxidizes, creating a layer of brown, green and black marks that give each watch a distinct look. Part of what makes the metal so unique, and popular, is that it patinas over time. For a few great examples of bronze watches, check out our reviews of the Archimede Pilot, Halios Tropik B, Ancon Tank, Maranez Layan and our look at the Makara Octopus Prototype. Usually of the tool watch variety, the warm metal hints at gold, but has a toughness to it that is altogether unique. Bronze watches (sometimes brass, and of varying alloys) integrate really well into a watch collection. Bronze watches are increasing in popularity by the day a trend we are wholeheartedly supporters of.

Patina solution for metal