Brass Pocket Watches

Brass Pocket Watches and the Aged Metal Look

Brass sits between gold and copper: warmer and softer than a polished gold tone, with the slightly worn, lived-in colour that vintage-style dressing calls for. It is the finish people reach for when the watch is part of an outfit rather than a formal accessory, which is why this range turns up in costume builds, period weddings, photography props and collections. It also does something practical, because a brass-toned dial with dark numerals is one of the easiest combinations to read in low light.

Brass, bronze or gold?

People search for a bronze pocket watch and usually mean this look. Bronze and brass read almost identically at arm's length: both are warm and slightly muted, and neither has the bright reflective quality of gold. If you want something showier for a wedding or a milestone gift, compare Gold Pocket Watches, and if you want the opposite, a cool and neutral tone that matches most jewellery, see Silver Pocket Watches. These are new vintage-style watches with a brass finish over a base metal case, so the colour is consistent from the start rather than something you have to age yourself.

Half hunters and skeleton dials

Half hunters are the strongest part of this range: the lid stays shut, but a window cut into it lets you read the hands without opening the case, and the dagger-point and numeral patterns cut into those lids are what the best sellers here have in common. Skeleton dials are just as common, showing the movement turning behind the hands, and the two are often combined in one watch. There are fewer full hunters and only a couple of open-face designs. To see the window-lid style across every finish, browse our Half Hunter Pocket Watches.

Hand-wound movements and looking after the finish

Every brass watch we carry is hand-wound mechanical, with no quartz alternative in this finish. Wind the crown about twenty to thirty turns each morning and stop as soon as you feel firm resistance rather than forcing it. Because the case is a brass finish rather than raw metal, it does not need polishing to stay the colour you bought; a dry, soft cloth and a box or pouch between wears is enough. The movement is covered by a 12-month warranty, and unworn pieces can be returned within 60 days in their original packaging. For other finishes, start from the full Vintage Style Pocket Watches collection.