COSC Automatic Chronometer – Under $700 By FORMEX

Formex unveils the Essence, an affordable COSC-certified Automatic Chronometer

When something sounds too good to be true it very often is, but there are those occasions when it’s worth taking a closer look. Formex, known for their rugged watches, is about to launch a mechanical timepiece, rich in details and features, with a decorated Automatic Swiss Made movement that is officially COSC-certified. With the Essence, Formex brings a highly precise and top quality mechanical everyday Chronometer with a very affordable price tag. Early Bird Specials are available now.

A highly precise and officially COSC-certified movement

The Essence is powered by Sellita’s highest quality grade SW200-1 Swiss made mechanical automatic movement, beautifully decorated and wound by Formex’s in-house developed and custom built skeletonized rotor. Each one of these movements is certified by the COSC (the official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute) and undergoes the meticulous 15-day rate test to ensure extraordinary levels of mechanical accuracy and precision. Each certified chronometer is unique, identified by a number engraved on its movement and a certificate number issued by the COSC. While less than 3% of Swiss watch movements are officially certified, Formex further rate test them according to the same criteria after assembly, to measure if there is any deviation from the certification rates.

COSC-certified and fully decorated Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement with custom built skeletonized rotor

Created from finest raw materials and finished with a wealth of details

Understated at first glance, but beneath the apparent simplicity lies exceptional craftsmanship in every respect. Take the symmetrical 43mm stainless steel and titanium case with its incredibly detailed brush finish on both base and bezel, perfectly rounded off with hand-finished mirror-polished bevels. The machined indexes and hands, filled with strong BGW9 Super-LumiNova, ensure maximum legibility, day or night. They harmonize with the case’s finishing and provide a perfect balance between elegance and the brand’s high-octane spirit. The dial with its vertical brush and horizontal lines is one of the watch’s most defining features. To achieve the crisp lines and sharp angles, each line has been CNC machined into the dial individually. Scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass protects the dial in the front and allows an unobstructed view of the movement’s intricate decoration together with thermally blued screws and custom built skeletonized rotor on the back.

Hand-finished 43mm stainless steel case with an extraordinary attention to detail

Unique features contribute to function and comfort

Besides contributing to visual appeal, the details on the Essence also serve a purpose. For a timepiece to be a watch for all occasions, it needs to feel exceptionally comfortable on the wrist. Formex decided to integrate their tested and proven patented Case Suspension System. This unique mechanism provides shock absorption to protect the movement as well as adapting to the wearer’s wrist motion, not unlike the suspension on a car or a mountain bike. For even more wrist comfort, Formex added their patented Carbon Fiber Composite Folding Clasp that allows for fine-adjustment of the strap length on the go, allowing for a perfect fit on the wrist in all conditions and temperatures. The Essence will be available on a rubber strap and a metal bracelet, both with their own fine-adjustment system. All the straps and bracelets can be changed without tools.

Patented Case Suspension System provides shock absorption

Formex comes to Kickstarter

In keeping with the brands reputation for doing things a little differently, Formex have chosen to unveil the Essence via Kickstarter, making it the first ever officially COSC-certified Automatic Chronometer launched on a crowdfunding platform. Utilizing the benefits afforded by a Kickstarter campaign, together with the advantages of their direct-to-consumer approach, Formex are offering the Essence watch with its impressive specification at an equally impressive price. Early-Bird prices start as low as US$ 680, with an automatic version (without COSC certificate and with sunray dial) available from US$ 385. After Kickstarter, the models will later be offered on Formex’s Online Shop at about US$ 1’100 and US$ 650 respectively.

Formex Essence Automatic Chronometer Silver

Formex CEO, Raphael Granito, said of the launch, “I’ve spent the past 10 years developing and producing watch parts for the most famous brands out there. Now here at Formex I can use that knowledge and experience to create the best possible watches with the quality attributes and design features that are usually only found in high end timepieces at a much higher price tag. Launching the Essence on a crowdfunding platform enabled us to really max out the price-performance ratio of this highly accurate mechanical everyday watch. Early backers probably land the best deal currently available on the Swiss made watch market”.

Early backers can now secure the Early Bird Special with a small deposit. Both Essence models launch on Kickstarter on September 25^th, 2018. Save the date by adding it to your calendar and get a timely reminder here.

Formex Essence Automatic Chronometer Black

Technical Specifications:

Formex Essence Automatic Chronometer Brown

Formex Essence Automatic Chronometer Blue