F. P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu, Tantalum

Named after the mythological figure, Tantalus, the name of this metal also has roots in the word "tantalising", as the story goes that Tantalus was forced to stand knee-deep in water, while delicious-looking fruit grew above his head. Both would recede out of his reach when he attempted to drink the water or eat the fruit. A dark greyish blue in colour, tantalum is a rare, lustrous metal that is highly resistant to corrosion. Rarely used in watchmaking due to its difficulty to work with, tantalum is highly resistant to both corrosion and wear. It's also non-allergenic, and so perfectly suited to be worn on the wrist.

The polished dial of this Chronomètre Bleu is an uncommon feature, displaying a shade of sky-blue that complements the restrained colour of tantalum. Combined, these blue overtones give the watch its name. Meanwhile, the signature Journe-style hands are rendered in off-white and contrast with the polished dial, to improve legibility.

The outer railroad track that circles the dial holds embossed decorative Arabic numerals, also off-white in colour, which vary in size dependent on their location on the dial. Between 7 and 8 o’clock is an engine-turned subsidiary seconds, as seen in the Chronomètre Souverain, though the Chronomètre Bleu goes without a power-reserve indication. Overall, the dial layout is cleanly designed and highly legible.

The calibre 1304 is made in-house, and entirely of 18-carat rose-gold, seen through the sapphire caseback. The movement has two mainspring barrels in parallel, which work together, powering the movement. Most impressively, is the chronometric balance fitted into the movement, which helps to provide the accuracy that F.P. Journe has based his watchmaking around. The hand finishing is expertly conducted, mixing Côte de Genève, circular graining and barleycorn guilloché. All screw heads are polished and all edges neatly chamfered.

Closer look

This F.P. Journe is in very good condition overall. Few superficial marks can be seen on the case and lugs consistent with minimal wear. The mirrored blue dial and off-white numerals and hands are in excellent condition showing no signs of age. The caseback engravings are crisp and well defined.

The watch comes with F.P. Journe’s servicing documentation and Certificate of Authenticity, as well as a two-year warranty and lifetime guarantee of authenticity from A Collected Man.