Independents
ChristianDK brings attention to a defining characteristic of the F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu: its tantalum case. While the watch is often celebrated for its captivating blue dial and exquisite Calibre 1304 movement, ChristianDK's post highlights the unique properties and aesthetic appeal of tantalum, a material that sets this timepiece apart.
As I am wearing the Chronometre Bleu this weekend, I thought it would be nice to shoot a few pictures of it.
When we talk about the Chronometre Bleu, we are most often focussing on the dial. To me it is like a little piece of art.
And the Calibre 1304
I thought, as I was taking the pictures, I wanted to bring your attention to the third and very nice element of the watch. Namely the Tantalum case.
I shot this picture at the Paris boutique in 2011. At that time Tantalum was even more unusual than it is today. Actually, at that time, I was not familiar with the metal.
Here are some pictures, together with a platinum case for comparison sake.
The Tantalum case with an antrcite calf skin strap.
The F.P. Journe Chronomètre Souverain represents the foundational timepiece within the brand's Souveraine collection. This reference demonstrates the manufacture's approach to precision timekeeping through manual winding mechanics, positioned as a core offering in F.P. Journe's lineup.
The 40mm case is executed in 18k rose gold with a fixed bezel configuration. A sapphire crystal protects the silver dial, while the manual-winding caliber 1304 movement provides an 80-hour power reserve. The timepiece features 30-meter water resistance and is paired with a leather strap. Production commenced in 2000.
This reference appeals to collectors seeking F.P. Journe's mechanical execution in a fundamental three-hand configuration. The substantial power reserve and manual winding caliber position this model for enthusiasts who appreciate traditional watchmaking approaches within the Souveraine series framework.
I love your second & third pics very much....
I like the anthracite strap 👍
A strap I have had made for an other watch. But it works well, I Think ;-) The CB works Well with a lot of combinations. So it is a fun watch to play the strap game with. Thank you for your words
really like this watch and wasn t aware its case material however i know that AP utilized tantalum used to be , checked its properties and seems to be great as jewelry however found an interesting remark “People can be exposed to tantalum in the workplace by breathing it in, skin contact, or eye contact. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set the legal limit (permissible exposure limit) for tantalum exposure in the workplace as 5 mg/m3 over an 8-hour workday. The Nation
"Since it resists attack by body fluids and is nonirritating, tantalum is widely used in making surgical instruments and implants. For example, porous tantalum coatings are used in the construction of orthopedic implants due to tantalum's ability to form a direct bond to hard tissue. It is also occasionally used in precious watches e.g. from Audemars Piguet, F.P. Journe, Hublot, Montblanc, Omega, and Panerai. Tantalum is also highly bioinert and is used as an orthopedic implant material. The hig
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