Tantalum, which has a very limited and exclusive use in the world of luxury watchmaking, is under the spotlight...
Have you ever seen a watch with a Tantalum case? For those who have nıt, let me try to describe; imagine a watch, almost as heavy as its 18K gold version, with a unique blue/gray tone and doesn’t show any signs of aging over the years. That takes the cake!
Unfortunately, the number of brands that provide this chance to customers is quite a few. Before we start talking about those special timepieces, let’s talk about Tantalum first. Tantalum, named 73 on the periodic table, is named after the Greek Mythology. According to the legend, Tantalus pays the price of annoying the gods with the withdrawal of the water when he bends to drink water in the pond, where he was punished, and the rising of the branch when he wants to take the fruit of the tree standing next to him. Even the verb “tantalize” in English comes from the Tantalus. Therefore, Tantalus, son of Zeus and Pluto, is also the eponym of the Tantalum metal.
Tantalum with a core mass value of 16.7 g/cm3 offers a similar weight feel to 18K gold. On the other hand, unlike the melting temperature of gold at 1064 degrees Celsius, the value of Tantalum at 3017 degrees Celsius is only one of the factors that make it difficult to process the metal. Tantalum’s surface hardness is way more than other metals used in the watchmaking industry such as stainless steel, gold, and titanium. Shortly, what we have here is an exclusive metal that is highly resistant to corrosion and acid but very difficult to work on. In addition to all these features, the unique blue/gray color of Tantalum is more than enough to keep the eyes on the watch at all times.
Tantalum is a metal that has been able to enter only a few manufacturers’ collections so far. These include Panerai 172 and 192, Hublot Big Bang Tantalum, Omega Seamaster Titanium Tantalum, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tantalum-Gold, Helson Shark Diver Tantalum, Vacheron Constantin Quai de Ille Tantalum, and Montblanc Tantalum.
There is another model with a Tantalum case that is currently available in the market, which I think is among the most successful watches ever. F. P. Journe Chronometer Bleu. Of course, this model’s case, its dial, movement, and even its strap is very special. Unfortunately, in today’s conditions, it is not possible to reach another watch with Tantalum through dealers. We hope that Tantalum will be available through more brands.
