Bénédikt Aïchelé Joaillier

Bénédikt Aïchelé Joaillier

Uzès – Paris – Bruxelles

Bénédikt Aïchelé Joaillier

Bénédikt Aïchelé Joaillier

Uzès – Paris – Bruxelles

A new metal: tantalum.

The hiatus in every-day life that lockdown imposed on us did not interrupt my work. On the contrary, all the extra time enabled me to make discoveries, and in particular allowed me to experiment with tantalum,

a rare metal that is seldom used in jewellery-making.

I was able to familiarise myself with this new material which behaves in a very different way from my usual favourites. The basic techniques stay the same, but in order to forge a unique creation out of tantalum, I have to proceed quite differently from when I work with precious metals.

I had been looking for an unusual material to work with for a while, and tantalum was the perfect discovery, being very different from precious metals whilst retaining some of the same characteristics.

Tantalum ore

Tantalum has a noble and sensual feel to it,

as well as a similar density to gold, which gives a pleasant perception of its weight. It combines metallic strength with a silky, almost velvety aspect.

Its ability to instantaneously match the body temperature of whoever is wearing it makes it comfortable and easy to wear.

My creations are a way of conveying ideas, which I aim to do all the while making sure that the stones take centre stage. This material has a unique, deep black hue to it, which fabulously brings out precious stones such as opals and diamonds.