Iron & Bronze

Description:

Iron & Bronze

Five part case, iron, rusted and PVD coated, Bronze bezel and back. 46.00 mm Diameter.

Historical hand-winding movement Fontainemelon, Caliber FHF 96, 17 Jewels, 18'000A/h, 48 hours power reserve. Natural rubber strap with special Angular Momentum locking system.

It is the first time in modern horology that iron is used for the watch case.

Japanese craftsmen used rusting on iron objects to create a beautiful stone-like surface but also to preserve the iron. A mixture of vinegar, salt and hydrogen peroxide is used to produce a layer of rust on the iron surface. The slower the rusting process, the nicer the rust surface develops. After several days the rust layer has reached its final quality and is brushed to remove loose rust particles. After cleaning the iron piece is boiled in a thick green tea soup for a while. The tannin from the green tea is stopping the rusting process and changes the brown rust color into a dark brownish black which is highly appreciated by iron art collectors.

For the Iron & Bronze timepieces another appropriate finish was chosen by dipped in Hydrochloric acid until all rust particles have disappeared. A dark PVD coating preserves the surface structure and prevents the iron from further rusting. The color is identical with that of a traditionally sealed rust surface