Top 5 Formex Models

Founded in 1999 by two Swiss brothers with a family history in high-end watchmaking, Formex is all about pushing boundaries and smart engineering. Inspired by the dynamic shapes found in extreme sports on land and sea, the brand’s name, Forme Extrème (or, extreme shape), says it all.

Formex’s passion for watches shines through in their impressive range, which caters to all kinds of watch lovers. Whether you need a sleek, modern chronometer for a fancy event or a tough dive watch for your next big adventure, Formex has you covered. Join us as we dive into the best Formex watches and see what makes them stand out in the world of Swiss watchmaking.

As it’s August and things are (finally) warming up a little, we’ve been having a good think about the best watches to bring with us into the summer months and it seems the team at Formex have too, as they recently announced the re-release of a bright new batch of limited-edition summer models.

The revived Formex Splash models were rolled out in four fresh new colours in honour of a long-awaited summer and will be sold exclusively, whilst stocks last, for the remainder of the season. Available in a 41mm Leggera edition or the more classic 39mm Essence, the Splash models are priced from £1,325 for the Essence or £1,500 if you’re after one of the tougher Leggera models, which are crafted from ultra-light carbon fiber and scratch resistant high-tech ceramics.

Equipped with the COSC-certified Swiss Made Sellita SW200-1 Automatic movement, the Splash models have a date window, reliable 100m water resistance rating as well as a 41-hour power reserve, making them an ideal summer companion.

Boldly declared by my colleague as the “Omega Aqua Terra” killer just a couple of years ago when Formex first released their Essence ThirtyNine and FortyThree models, the range has since expanded to include even more sophisticated yet capable references.

Yet another example of Formex’s seemingly never-ending supply of affordable yet technically impressive models, the Essence FortyThree Automatic Chronometer arrives onto the scene with a newly made over Gamaret dial. The dials deep reddish-brown hue is named after the Gamaret wine grape and is presented with a hand-applied dégradé, vertical brush finish as well as a colour matched date at 6 o’clock.

Onto the Formex Field Automatic now, a breath of fresh air amongst the Formex line-up presented with no-nonsense matte dials in an extensive array of six different colours. The 41mm case embodies the classic design of a modern field watch, enhanced with visually appealing details.

The dial is designed for easy readability in low light, true to field watch specifications and a date display at 6 o'clock integrates seamlessly into the dial, all protected by a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating. The Field Automatic is powered by a Sellita SW200-1 movement. While not COSC-certified like some other Formex watches, the Sellita movement is reliable and robust, offering a 38-hour power reserve and easy servicing. The watch also features a tactile screw-down crown and provides a water resistance of up to 150 meters.

Teetering ever so close to the top spot is Formex’s very recently released collaboration with Scottish Watches, the Essence ThirtyNine “Skye” model. Presented with a stunning aventurine glass dial that perfectly captures the essence of the Auroroa Borealis (or, Northern Lights) and is somewhat reminiscent of Christopher Ward’s C1 Moonphase, the Formex x Scottish Watches Essence model is inspired by the night sky over the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Brought to life when the luminous drops are subject to UV light, the luminous display is completed by green lume from 10 to 2 o’clock and blue lume from 3 to 9 o’clock.

Taking the top spot is one last summer watch, the “Baby” Reef in Bahama Blue. The ultimate summer dive watch boasts interchangeable ceramic bezels and a patented fine adjustment system to ensure uninterrupted comfort whilst battling heat and humidity. Presented with coloured lacquer dial on a mirror-polished surface, the summer vibes are completed by a colour-matched ceramic bezel which has been artfully polished with diamond paste and appears with numerals and hour markers that have been hand-filled with black resin for enhanced readability. Its 120-click unidirectional bezel is easily removable by hand and can be swapped out for one of four existing options from the Reef collection. Once again powered by the Sellita SW-2001 the “Baby” Reef promises a summer-holiday ready 56-hour power reserve as well as a 300m water-resistance rating.