77 articles · 2 videos found · page 2 of 3
The post Out of Office: Sun, Sand, and Serenity in the Dominican Republic with the Formex Reef appeared first on Worn & Wound.
Worn & Wound
Ever since its introduction, the Formex Field Automatic has been a favorite of enthusiasts in search of a modern twist on the tried and true field watch. At the same time, it also felt a little like an outlier in the Formex collection. For a brand that has built a reputation on clever manufacturing innovations, the Field was remarkably simple and, for Formex, pretty subdued. That’s the nature, though, of a field watch, and at the end of the day, Formex’s version of it has always been a well made, if rudimentary, take on the genre. For the Field Automatic Gen 2, Formex has mostly stuck with what worked with the first Field, but upped the complexity of the dial and, as you’d expect, added some new colors to the collection. Available in three colors (Ice Blue, Coho Salmon, and Basalt Grey), the new dial design adds considerable depth and texture to the experience of the Formex Field. Each dial is constructed from two parts, a center section with a sunburst finish and a sloped minute track that gives the dial what the brand refers to as a “saucer-like” profile. Adding to the perception of depth on the new dials is an hour track positioned between the minute track and central section with a contrasting smooth texture and recessed, stenciled, lume filled numerals. Formex’s stated goal here is to create a three dimensional effect, something that we don’t normally associate with the typically “flat” dials of most field watches. The case is unchanged from the ...
Monochrome
In 2022, following the launch of the Reef dive watch and the casual-sporty Essence, Formex expanded into the field watch segment with the release of the Field Automatic. Housed in a 41mm titanium case with 150m of water resistance, the first iteration featured a range of dial colours, including Charcoal, Petrol Blue, Ash Grey, Mahogany […]
Fratello
Formex is known for packing a ton of punch in relatively affordable watches. The brand’s offerings are rich with features and well made at very competitive prices. None exemplifies this more than the brand’s entry-level model, the Formex Field Automatic. Today, I am delighted to introduce the second generation of the watch. Now, the cynical […] Visit Hands-On With The New 2nd-Generation Formex Field Automatic to read the full article.
Fratello
The 39.5mm Formex “Baby” Reef represents, to me, the sort of value for money we were once accustomed to with Tudor’s Black Bay series in the COVID era. Although that was just a few short years ago, Tudor is moving upmarket, allowing brands like Formex, Longines, and Sinn to sweep in and fill its former […] Visit Do Tudor’s Price Increases Create More Space For Players Like Formex, Longines, And Sinn? to read the full article.
Time+Tide
Candy-like sapphire cases, tasty Avocad0 and Guacam0le, and a tribute to Babar the Elephant are among this week's releases.The post New releases from Awake, Formex, Richard Mille and more appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Monochrome
Formex introduced the Essence line in 2018, and two years later, the go-anywhere-do-anything, sporty casual model was fitted with a Muonionalusta meteorite dial, marking the beginning of the Space Rock series that recently saw the addition of the Essence Space Gold reference with a meteorite dial in salmon, achieved via a rose gold deposition through […]
A Week in Watches Episode 101 takes us inside Windup Watch Fair Dallas. We look at several new releases first on display at the show, including the Fortis Novonaut titanium, Christopher Ward Sapphire Edge, Formex Ceramica, Paulin Modul Zapat, and Horage Deca Flux. We also check out a few fabulous booth displays. The next Windup Watch Fair is in San Francisco from May 2nd to 4th. For more info, visit Windupwatchfair.com. We hope to see you there. The post A Week in Watches Ep. 101 – Windup Watch Fair appeared first on Worn & Wound.
Hodinkee
A fully-ceramic challenger enters the arena with a watch to celebrate the brand's 25th anniversary.
Time+Tide
The new Formex Essence Ceramica Skeleton debut's the world's first ceramic bracelet that includes on-the-fly micro-adjustment.The post Formex’s new Essence Ceramica Skeleton boasts the world’s first micro-adjustable ceramic bracelet – and it’s under $5,000! appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Worn & Wound
We talk a lot about Formex here, and for good reason. Now celebrating its 25th year, Formex has built a well-earned reputation for pushing the limits of what we can expect from small, technical brands, and they’ve done it all while cultivating a pretty dedicated audience. Head to a Windup Watch Fair anywhere in the country and you’re sure to find a thick mass of enthusiasts trying to squeeze their way up to the Formex table in the hopes of checking out whatever wild watch the brand has most recently introduced. Formex’s latest and greatest is a new take on their fan-favorite Essence, only this time, it’s ceramic. The Essence Ceramica Skeleton COSC is a serious statement of technical capacity for a brand that has, up until now, never produced a fully ceramic watch (or, at least to my knowledge, a skeletonized one). With the Essence Ceramica Skeleton COSC, they’ve managed to do it while not only maintaining all the complexities of the Essence case - like the suspended mid-case the brand is known for - but also while introducing what they purport to be the world’s first micro-adjustable ceramic bracelet. On some level, it’s not remotely surprising that, with their first-ever ceramic watch, Formex would look to blow the competition out of the water, or that, in that attempt, they would largely succeed. I’ve yet to see these new watches in person (hopefully soon), but at first glance, these seem to be finished to a level far beyond what we normally see from ...
Fratello
Formex is well known for bringing the heat to much more expensive brands in terms of features and pricing. Today, as the opening salvo of the company’s 25th-anniversary celebrations, the heat gets dialed up a little more. Say “hello” to the new Formex Essence Ceramica Skeleton COSC Automatic 41mm. Yes, that’s a mouthful, but it […] Visit A Hands-On Introduction To The Formex Essence Ceramica Skeleton COSC Automatic 41mm to read the full article.
Hodinkee
A cool complication, but a design that could use some refinement.
Time+Tide
This travel timepiece offers a more complex take on a GMT.The post Rethinking the travel watch with the Formex Stratos UTC appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
Formex is arguably one of the most underrated watch brands out there. If you have had the chance to handle any of Formex’s watches, you know they are very well-made spec monsters at sharp prices. Today, the brand releases its take on a pilot’s watch with the Formex Stratos UTC. The big news? The Formex […] Visit Introducing: The Formex Stratos UTC - Formex’s Clever Take On A Pilot’s Watch to read the full article.
On episode 90 of A Week in Watches, Zach Weiss covers three exciting and fun new releases, two of which have uncommon complications. First up is the new Formex Stratos UTC, which while being a GMT, operates unexpectedly. Next, is the new Fears Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour, a non-limited version of the watch they released with Christopher Ward a few years back. Lastly, we have the Bell & Ross BR-03 Horizon, which continues the brand’s playful take on pilot instrumentation. Check it out below, and please like and subscribe. This episode was sponsored by Sternglas and their new Naos Pro Automatik Watch. As a special feature with this release, early buyers can secure a gold-toned Miyota 9015 movement. Head to sternglas.com to learn more. The post A Week in Watches Ep. 90: Formex and Fears Focus on Fun (Complications) appeared first on Worn & Wound.
Worn & Wound
If you’ve chatted with the Formex team at a Windup event over the course of the last year or so, they have subtly teased their latest release, the Stratos UTC. It’s a watch that’s been in the works for some time, and a pretty big move for the brand. Formex has built a large following and an impeccable reputation in the enthusiast community through their ingenious solutions to all manner of issues pertaining to the physical case and bracelet. Their case suspension system designed to reduce the effect of shock is of course a prime example, but they’ve also developed a fantastic carbon fiber folding clasp that fits most straps and can easily adjusted on the fly, plus they make watches with interchangeable bezels, and they have a great bracelet with a simple and effective micro-adjustment capability of its own. But in terms of their movements, they’ve always been off the shelf (though chronometer certified). The Stratos changes that, introducing a clever travel complication similar to what you mind on watches well over twice the cost. What we’re dealing with here at a high level is a watch that’s still easily recognizable as a Formex. It’s a modern, somewhat burly sports watch with an angular case that recalls the Essence design that many will be familiar with while cranking it up a notch or two in complexity. Like the Essence, we can expect the Stratos to wear small thanks to short, integrated lugs – the lug-to-lug measurement is just 46.5mm against a 41mm...
Monochrome
Over the past few years, Swiss watchmaker Formex has managed to build quite a solid reputation by delivering impressive horological content for a fair price. While some focus on complications, Formex decided to create watches that are solid, resistant and mostly, packed with practicality. A very pragmatic approach centred around the user. This idea is […]
Worn & Wound
Don’t look now, but it really does feel like stone dials are having a moment in the enthusiast watch space. This, I have to admit, is one of the most unlikely trends in our hobby recently, but I’m very much here for it. For a long time, stone dials were thought of by many as something rather cheesy, a bit of 1980s kitsch that time had passed by. But it only takes seeing one really nice stone dial to change your mind. Brands like Formex, Fears, and Nivada have all recently released stone dials in watches that would traditionally be defined as more sport oriented, and this mixing of formality with something more casual is also the basis for much of the appeal. The latest watches to pop up in this category come from Heinrich, a brand we’ve covered several times before, who have just unveiled a pair of stone dialed sports watches that fit right into the recent resurgence in this niche category. The new watches are part of the Helicoprion line, which Brad Homes recently reviewed here. This platform, it seems, works well as a canvas for experimentation, as the watch that Brad looked at featured an unusual “Buzzsaw” pattern dial. The Helicoprion is a capable and well made sports watch that comes in at 40mm in diameter and measures a little over 47mm from lug to lug. Besides the dial, its defining feature is the brushed bezel with visible screws, evoking a very specific style of sports watch from the 1970s. Heinrich has built much of its reputation on the quality of th...
Worn & Wound
The Scottish Watches Podcast has been disrupting the airwaves for over half a decade with their often sarcastic, frequently biting, but always fun brand of humor, honesty, and fairness. They present unfiltered opinions and conversations with various guests, from Metropolitan Police officers to the wife and daughter of arguably the most famous watch designer of our time. Likewise, Formex has been setting its own course since 1999, but it wasn’t until 2018, with the launch of its Essence line, that they truly disrupted the market. Their offerings showcase a level of quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail that is rarely seen at this price point. If a collaboration between these two entities sounds like a match made in heaven, they have a special treat for you. In fact, you will feel as if the dial has been pulled directly from the sky. The Scottish Watches x Formex “Skye” limited edition, based on their bestselling Essence 39, brings an aventurine dial to the sports watch line. This unique dial was inspired by the misty Isle of Skye in the Scottish Highlands, where they say you can witness the Aurora Borealis on a clear night, and follows other limited edition Formex pieces featuring exotic dials made from meteorite, malachite, and more. Formex didn’t just stop at replacing a standard dial with aventurine glass. They went further by infusing it with tiny luminous dots that glow when exposed to ultraviolet light, setting themselves apart from other brands us...
Teddy Baldassarre
In recent years there has been a flurry of small watch brands that have succeeded in making a big impact on the watch-collector community and in the overall watch industry. With new watchmakers coming on the scene from almost every corner of the world, with styles ranging from vintage to traditional to avant-garde, which of these brands are worth paying attention to, and why? We asked two veteran watch-industry watchers and commentators (and regular fixtures on TeddyBaldassarre.com) - contributing writer Blake Buettner (former managing editor of Worn & Wound and founder of The Deep Track); and our Director of Editorial Content, Mark Bernardo (former senior editor of WatchTime magazine) - to name five small watch brands that are on their radar in 2025. Formex (Switzerland) Formex is, in many ways, an interesting brand and manufacturer. Its design DNA is quite bold and won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it’s matured quite nicely in recent years, though the true story of this brand goes deeper still. Formex designs and manufactures many of the components used in the case and bracelet, from a quick-adjustment system to a full case suspension (explained in this article), so there’s plenty to appreciate when it comes to mechanical ingenuities. On top of that, Formex is aggressively experimental when it comes to working with novel materials, offering rarities like forged carbon cases and stone dials across its lineup. What I love about Formex is the company...
Deployant
We spent a couple of weeks with the Formex Essence 39 Automatic Chronometer "Space Gold", and we pen down our thoughts on this timepiece.
Fratello
Another Friday, another Top 5! This week, we’re looking at some affordable dive watches. It’s been a while since we made a list of divers that don’t break the bank. Knowing that it’s the most popular watch category, it only makes sense to look at some of the latest releases, especially since we see new […] Visit Fratello’s Top 5 Recently Released Affordable Dive Watches - Featuring Seiko, Formex, Oris, And More to read the full article.
Monochrome
The “Baby Reef” series of Formex 39.5mm dive watches, comprised of four watches distinguished by dial colour, was presented at the end of 2023. Now, in time for summer, it gets a new and very fresh-looking reference. It’s everything the brand enthusiasts appreciate about the collection, only brighter. Here’s the Reef 39.5mm Bahama Blue 300m […]
WatchAdvice
In the early 2020s, everything was shut down, and the watch industry was beginning to stagnate. However, one man decided to make the most of it and designed a watch – inadvertently helping facilitate the ‘Rise of the Microbrand.’ But do we believe the hype? Let’s find out! What We Like: A non-serious yet refined design Remarkable build quality for the price point Comfortable and well-made strap with plenty of adjustment What We Don’t: Insufficient lume Crown and pushers are extremely fiddly to use Low power reserve Overall Rating: 8.5/10 Value for Money: 9/10 Wearability: 8/10 Design: 10/10 Build Quality: 7/10 The 2020s post-pandemic watch industry has been coined by some to be the ‘Rise of the Microbrand.’ for those unfamiliar with the term, a microbrand is a watch brand, usually independently owned and run by a small team – Essentially a small business or a start-up, in normal terms. What the ‘Rise of the Microbrand’ indicates is the massive resurgence of interest in said start-ups, which in turn has been a contributing factor to saving modern horology as we know it. That might sound like hyperbole to you, but I don’t say it lightly – Microbrands like Christopher Ward, Baltic, Formex and Farer have grown to the point where they now challenge household names. Every day, promising young microbrands such as HZ Watches also come out of the woodwork, transforming the industry in small but significant ways. We even got the chance to look at a HZ wat...
Fratello
Picking the best watches under €2,500 is tough. There are so many different options. Next to the world of microbrands, the world of bigger brands also opens up nicely with €2,500 to spend. This made the search for possible options quite extensive. You could even call it a mission because the goal of this list […] Visit Fratello Favorites: The Best Watches Under €2,500 - Jorg’s Picks From Formex, Christopher Ward, Unimatic, And More to read the full article.
Monochrome
Within Formex’s catalogue lie various collections, among which the Essence reigns supreme in versatility. Ranging from 39mm to 43mm in case diameter, the Essence collection offers timepieces of great quality, consistently delivering excellent value for money. With technical ingenuity, aesthetic appeal, and practical solutions, it caters to both seasoned enthusiasts and novice buyers alike. The […]
Worn & Wound
This week we throw the spotlight on some special and limited editions, including partnerships between Formex, Worn & Wound, VERO, G-Shock, and even Warner Brothers! The watches range from hardcore mechanical sport watches to playful digital timepieces. We haven’t forgotten about gear either: the RIV from Giant Mouse is a huge EDC upgrade. This is this week’s Roundup; enjoy! This week we throw the spotlight on some special and limited editions, including partnerships between Formex, Worn & Wound, VERO, G-Shock, and even Warner Brothers! The watches range from hardcore mechanical sport watches to playful digital timepieces. We haven’t forgotten about gear either: the RIV from Giant Mouse is a huge EDC upgrade. This is this week’s Roundup; enjoy! The post The Roundup: Limited Editions Galore and Much, Much More appeared first on Worn & Wound.
Worn & Wound
The Roundup is the Windup Watch Shop’s weekly rundown of the latest and greatest watches, accessories, EDC, and more. Top billing belongs to the Treat Yourself category, which spotlights special watches worth their price tag, while the Value-Packed Pick celebrates a timepiece that provides great bang for buck. Upgrade Your Kit highlights indispensable everyday carry gadgets. When You Have Too Many Watches is all about accessories and peripherals for your watch collection. Last but not least, the Deal of the Week is a limited time bargain that you will not want to miss. Don’t forget to join the Windup Watch Shop Rewards Program to save and earn points with every purchase. The Windup Team is also available to schedule a consultation or demo with you to answer any questions you may have. This week we go heavy on the watches by highlighting the hot Formex Essence Sector made in partnership with Worn & Wound. For the retro-inclined, we appreciate the timelessness of a mid-century Rolex Oyster Perpetual date and the whimsy of the new Timex Ironman collab with The James Brand. Pioneer Carry and Seiko round things out with special gear and new stopwatches. Let’s get right into it! The Roundup is the Windup Watch Shop’s weekly rundown of the latest and greatest watches, accessories, EDC, and more. Top billing belongs to the Treat Yourself category, which spotlights special watches worth their price tag, while the Value-Packed Pick celebrates a timepiece that provides great ...
Worn & Wound
District Time may need a new home. The Washington, DC watch fair was held for the sixth time at the start of March, and its record attendance made the District Architecture Center feel more cramped than it has in the past. Every bit of wall was lined with a booth showcasing an independent watch brand. Some are big enough or popular enough you might recognize the name–Christopher Ward, Formex, Rado–while others are true microbrands. “It’s grown a bit every year, minus the COVID years,” said Nate DeNicola, a contributor to one of the event’s organizers, the Time Bum. “One of the cool things about this year is there are a few established microbrands that are here for the first time. Bourbon out of New Orleans; Foliot out of New York; Dufrane from Austin, Texas. So it’s really become kind of the east coast watch show for a lot of these micro and independent brands.” DeNicola was there not just representing the Time Bum, but running the booth for another one of those microbrands: Bremoir, an Art Deco-inspired watch brand that takes design cues from 1920s American architecture. Watch fans are familiar with the major brands and their offerings, but events like District Time allow enthusiasts the chance to discover watchmakers they’d never heard of who are still providing high-quality products but have the flexibility to experiment more with their watches. Bremoir’s vintage design is unlike anything on the market right now, and it was difficult to even get th...
Question, suggestion, or just want to say hi? Drop a note.