Apple knows watch style better than Google and Samsung. This Watch Series 12 finish proves it

Published Sep 10, 2026, 9:11 AM EDT Andy is a seasoned technology journalist with more than 15 years experience in the mobile industry, writing for Digital Trends, Wired, and more. Andy has reviewed hundreds of smartphones and tablets, dozens of smartwatches, and a host of smart rings, smart glasses, and fitness trackers, giving him a unique ability to assess and evaluate the latest products. His daily mobile tech life includes Android and iOS devices, smart rings, and a smartwatch, unless it's a special occasion, when a traditional watch takes its place on his wrist. Andy always has a strong opinion on the state of the mobile industry, and writes in-depth analysis features to put the latest news and products into context. He has attended multiple CES, MWC, and IFA tradeshows, has a passion for photography and cars, listens to far too much K-pop, and follows F1. You can find Andy's portfolio of work on his Authory page. I want to explain something. While I appreciate the Google Pixel Watch 5, Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and even the Pebble Time 2 as smartwatches, they don’t appeal to me as someone who also likes non-smart watches. The Apple Watch has always been different. From the very beginning, it used traditional watches as design influences. Whether it was the digital crown, the Hermès double-tour band, or the more recent Peanuts watch faces, it was clear Apple liked regular watches too. For the Apple Watch Series 12, it’s one of the new finishes that continues the trend. You may think I’m going to say the gorgeous ceramic, but no, it’s the new Dark Bronze finish that really caught my eye. A completely new look Match it with fabric Credit: Apple There are four new finishes for the aluminum Apple Watch Series 12: Black, Space Grey, Light Grey, and Dark Bronze. Apple has chosen a rich, almost chocolaty bronze with minimal shine, that appears to have more of an orangey tint than a gold tint. It’s when you compare Dark Bronze to the new Light Gold you notice just how different to gold the new finish is. The warm tone means it’ll suit everyone, and I expect the small 42mm Apple Watch Series 12 will look fantastic in Dark Bronze. Credit: Apple It adds vintage appeal to a very modern product, and is crying out to be matched with a fabric band. It really suits the Magnetic Link band in Camel, or the Braided Sport Loop in Burgundy, for example. If you choose the 42mm version, the Modern Buckle band is an option, but it’s a shame the hardware is gold and not bronze, creating a bit of a mismatch. Otherwise, the Modern Buckle is the perfect design for the Dark Bronze smartwatch. Bronze watches look amazing All about the patina Oris Carl Brashear Chronograph Limited Edition I’m sure some will be reading and thinking, ‘Calm down, it’s just a new finish.’ I do agree, but bronze has such a strong history in traditional watch making, I appreciate Apple’s decision to add Dark Bronze to the lineup more. After all, it could have just added a safe navy or trendy-but-opinion-splitting green finish and been done with it. Bronze is a relatively new watchmaking trend, having only been widely used as a case material since the 80s, but has been gaining popularity over the past decade. Yes, things move slowly in traditional watchmaking. Many big names have adopted it. Panerai has been there since the beginning, and Tudor, Longines, IWC, and Christopher Ward all have bronze watches in the catalogs today. Bronze is durable, doesn’t rust, and can take on a unique patina over time as it reacts with air and water. I remember wearing an Oris Carl Brashear Chronograph Limited Edition at the 2018 Baselworld watch show in Switzerland, and being struck by the contrast between the bronze case, deep blue dial, and brown leather strap. It was vintage yet modern, and the fact I still remember it eight years later proves the impression it left on me. Obviously, the Apple Watch Series 12 isn’t made of actual bronze, so no patina will form, but the finish shows that, like these watch brands, Apple understands the appeal of one that’s not gold, stainless steel, or a DLC-coated black. Not just the same old finishes Others don’t put the same thought into it Apple isn’t the only one embracing bronze this year. Oura introduced a new finish for the Oura Ring 5 called Deep Rose, and although it sounds like it’s going to be gold, in reality it’s far more bronze or copper-like. Other smartwatch makers just don’t commit like Apple. Google made an admirable attempt to give buyers choice this year, with the Satin Pyrite Pixel Watch 5 being the standout alongside the usual black, silver, and gold. It looks good, but the case is less prominent in the smartwatch’s design, minimizing the finish’s impact, and putting it with an Olive band as standard shows how much of a greenish gold the finish has. Samsung didn’t try at all. It makes the Galaxy Watch 9 in Graphite or Cream, which looks far more silver than it sounds, playing it entirely safe. The thing is, although I like the Pixel Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 9, I don’t ever feel like I want to wear them. Wearable tech should be personal, and while many will be happy with a silver or black finish, others want something different. Something that says the company understands trends and heritage, whether it’s a ring, watch, or jewelry. That’s the Apple Watch, and the introduction of the Dark Bronze shows once again it gets wearable tech design in a way other tech brands do not.