While most acceleration techniques are benign, chemical treatments are well outside the normal definition of wear and tear. Maranez was less than excited about the vinegar fuming, saying, “If you torture the material to force a patina, you can’t complain when it gets scars.” I can’t disagree. Moreover, if there was a bad batch of bronze or brass at a factory, it would affect entire production runs across several watch companies, not just a single case here and there. Baffled, I reached out to Maranez and Makara for their responses. These are two different cases made from two different metals. My first thought was that it might be a problem with the metal itself, but this made no sense. I did not think that vinegar or seawater could have such a dramatic effect. The same reader also sent pictures of a bronze Makara, owned by another person (fourth picture) that showed the same kind of surface damage after similar treatment.ĭetail of the same brass Maranez Layan after patina removed The second and third show what was revealed underneath. The first picture shows the watch before he removed the patina. Later, when he cleaned off the patina, he discovered the problem. He reported that he had purchased the watch new a year ago, accelerated the patina with two or three cider vinegar fuming sessions and took it on some trips to the beach. I have never seen any evidence of damage from the oxidation, which is why I so surprised when a reader sent me pictures of a brass Maranez Layan that showed significant etching. I allow my watches to patina in their own time, letting the air and the occasional dip in the ocean work their magic. On most watches, stainless steel casebacks and thick straps ensure the bronze does not touch my skin at all. I have learned to be careful on hot days and to be aware of whether the metal makes contact with me. I have only had a problem with bronze when I sweat, which can cause a reaction where bronze buckles touch my skin, ranging from a harmless greenish stain to an itchy red rash. Nickel and cheap gold plating will eat my skin. I have a number of bronze and brass watches in my collection so I have had plenty of opportunity for field tests. Usually, the weirdness is fairly predictable. The vast majority of the time, that is about all there is to report, but every now and then, things get weird.īrass Maranez Layan with vinegar and seawater patina Some adventurous Patina Scientists have treated their watches with liver of sulfur, vinegar, ammonia, or just plain hard boiled eggs to accelerate the process and tailor the results. As bronze and brass cased watches have become more common, we are learning more about how they behave over time, By and large, they have aged exactly as we consumers expected, picking up nicks and scratches with normal wear, and developing a mottled brown patina as the metal oxidizes.
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