Tantalum is seldom seen in watchmaking, and for good reason. Not only is it rarer than gold, it is also incredibly difficult to work with. However, harness its properties well and it can make for a robust, resilient and handsome timepiece. This is thanks to the unusual properties of the material, which is harder than steel and has a characteristic, intriguing blue-grey tone.

Omega first introduced tantalum into its collections in 1993, and this year it makes its comeback in the iconic Seamaster. A true showcase of the watchmaker’s innovative use of materials, here it has been paired with titanium and Sedna gold to create both a striking and hardwearing timepiece.

The latter is used to craft the bezel ring, which features a laser-ablated diving scale. This alloy is particularly well-suited to underwater pursuits as it is more resistant to discolouration compared to standard red gold, yet retains a beautiful, warm red tone. It provides a striking contrast to the blue ceramic dial, decorated with a wave pattern and finished with further touches of Sedna gold.

The case is made from lightweight and scratch-resistant grade-2 titanium, while the tantalum can be found on the base of the bezel and the middle links of the bracelet. Turn the watch over to watch the COSC-certified Omega Co-Axial Maser Chronometer Calibre 9900 in action through the sapphire-crystal caseback, which has been adorned with the Omega Seahorse.

Further speaking to the seaworthy nature of the watch, it is water-resistant to 300m and comes with a bracelet featuring Omega’s patented extendable foldover rack-and-pusher with extra diver extension to enable it to be easily and comfortably worn over a suit. It even comes presented in a special box inspired by the look of a water-resistant chamber.

omegawatches.com