Watch Review: Formex Essence Ceramica Skeleton 41 mm

For the 25th anniversary of FormexThe Swiss company has decided to publish its first full clock clock. This watch is known as the one Formex essence ceramica 41 mm. It comes in a few styles and honestly it is very nice to wear on the wrist. As the name of the watch already says, the Ceramica is based on Formex's essence line, which has previously been produced in metal and carbon variants. The essence case is also produced in several sizes, with the Ceramica being introduced at 41 mm wide. The essence (Formexs most popular product family) also has a size of 39 mm and 43 mm, which is a wide range.

When Formex started around 1999, the Essence collection did not exist and the brand was under different leadership. With a new logo and another product focus direction, the formex of today is only loosely related to the original company. One of the things that have remained an important part of the brand's DNA is the use of shock -resistant cases in most of their products. The Essence case is designed with a medium section that is mounted on shock-absorbing springs, in which Formex calls its “suspension system” case. If you press the back of the housing, you can see that it rises a little and then crashes back. This is intended to reduce the effect of shock and vibration on the case, which can either damage or cause temporal errors in a mechanical movement. I found it very cool that Formex also retained this core element in its new ceramic essence cases.

So far, ceramics have mainly been used as a bezel insert material for formex. With its scratch -resistant properties, ceramic blossoms are a popular choice, and ceramic colors do not carry or fade. A problem with ceramics is that it can break (while metal usually only deforms), but that's actually quite rare. However, it is important to mention in the context of a watch that has shock -resistant properties. I do not say that the Essence Ceramica will break when they drop it, but I would not spend too much time to test this type of “shock resistance” in a ceramic case and in a bracelet like this.

I've been a fan of all-ceramic watches for a long time. While companies like Rado Keramik really presented as case material, it was other companies that contributed to the popularization of ceramics in modern times. Chanel really started the modern trend when he introduced the J12 (Formex just started at about the same time). The Chanel J12 was originally designed as a men's clock (see my GettoStowatch review of the 42 -mm -wide Chanel J12 Matte Black Ceramic Watch), but won most of its popularity as a product for women. Since then, ceramic has become a very popular material in watches for both men and women. Even large luxury products such as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, IWC engineer and Louis Vuitton Tambour now have complete ceramic options. What makes a ceramic clock really impressive nowadays is not only the use of ceramics, but also how it is used and how beautiful every ceramic part is cut, edited and polished.

The Essence Ceramica 41mm comes into the market as an expensive formex, but an inexpensive modern all-ceramic wristwatch with many beautiful properties. Each piece of ceramic on the housing and the bracelet receives a special polishing treatment, and the overall design of the Ceramica is intended to combine the beauty and durability of zirconium dioxide ceramics with the popular form and personality of essence. This special version of the formex essence Ceramica 41mm is known as the essence Ceramica skeleton COSC “GT” 41 mm. All four debut -Essence -Ceramica watches have skeleton dials, whereby the colors of the hands and hour markings are different for every style. They are very nice, but I also believe that the Ceramica collection of Essence should have traditional closed dial options in the future.

The Essence Ceramica housing is 41 mm wide, 11.2 mm thick and has a distance of 46.4 mm long route to Lug-to-Lug. The case is waterproof of 100 meters (decent for a ceramic housing, although the fallback is actually colored black) with a screw-down crown. There is an AR-coated flat sapphire crystal above the dial. The matching black ceramic bracelet looks excellent and also promises a little. The end connections start at 22 mm wide and taper a little to 20 mm wide. Formex uses quick publication spring rods so that you can replace the bracelet with a strap if you prefer it. Nevertheless, I think that this watch has to stay on the right bracelet, and other watches should be used for more sporting activities. The Essence Ceramica may have the heart of a sports guard, but it really wants to be a social watch. Therefore, choose a striking skeletonized dial and a ceramic bracelet, the flat polished sections of which are eagerly playing with light and bouncing light.

I enjoy the 41 mm wide housing size. The 39 mm wide essence always felt a bit too small on my wrists for daily wear (without sleeves), and the 43 mm wide model is best suited for larger wrists or in lighter carbon material. The 41 mm size has a perfect medium-sized size and works best on my 6.75-inch manner. The Formex essence is also an extremely convenient watch, and the same ergonomics is available in the essence Ceramica. My biggest compliment is how easy it is to wear, especially as a ceramic clock. Chanel, for example, had to circle the J12 links and the case to prevent them from being too sharp. Other “sharper” ceramic clocks look cool, but are uncomfortable to wear. Formex seems to combine a “sharp” case with one that does not feel sharp. This was done with many cleverly beveled edges and other manufacturing techniques.

One of the new elements is a ceramic folding provider that, according to Formex, is the first with a micro adaptation system. Formex actually generates a number of provisions and closure systems for other companies (not just their own watches), so it is a specialist in this area. The Ceramica folding-push button mountain movement also has a micro-adaptation system that you can also operate when the watch is worn. This happens over the small sliding lifter on the bottom of the provider. The system is well designed and helps to wear a convenient watch even more comfortably. For the money, this is not the cheapest ceramic clock on the market, but it feels like the cheapest ceramic housing + bracelet on the market with this level of details and functions.

In the Formex-Essence Ceramica Watch there is a Sellita Swiss that was automatically set with SW200-1 SC automatic movement. This is one of the more attractive mechanical movements with high production based on the very capable SW200 platform. The movement works at 4 Hz with 38 hours of electricity reserve. For this watch, the movement also receives a COSC chronometer certification, which we see with many of the high-end-form sex products. Thanks to the inherent open work of the movement, you can display the movement itself through the dial and the fallback.

I personally am not a big fan of skeletonized watch leaves most of the time. They are currently very trendy and I understand why Formex wanted to debut the Keramica with such a striking face. My main problem with skeletonized dials is that the short moments of “cool, take a look at the mechanism”, overshadowed by feelings “Why is it so difficult to read the time?” The good news is that Formex designed the Essence Ceramica with a very readable hour and hands despite the open dial. Not only the hourly markings and hands are as large as possible, but Formex also makes the hands and hour markings a different color than the basic choice. This “GT” part with golden hands and hour markings has traditional luminant, which offers great readability in the dark. Note that some other selection colors of the essence Ceramica (like those with purple or blue luminant) are probably not so readable (especially in the dark). Also note that in view of the design of the dial is not a brand logo on the watch face. The only text is “chronometer” and “Swiss”. While sterile dials are unusual without branding, they exist and can be fun, provided that the watch can be identified via their overall profile and their shape.

I really like what Formex did with the Essence Ceramica skeleton 41mm. Anniversary or not, the product is a good mix of sports and society – it is comfortable, comfortable and offers a lot of watch for the money. The problem for Formex is that a large part of its community cannot afford 4,000 dollars, even if you want it. I understand that Formex to change the price in view of the materials and technical requirements of a mostly ceramic model, but the consumer still has to bring together what you want, what you want to spend. In comparison, the steel costs 43 mm wide essence with a chronometer movement currently costs $ 1,650. The Essence Ceramica is more than 2.5 times the price. This means that Formex sells the essence ceramica to a largely different group of people than those who buy the steel essence model. Will buyers be people who are enough of watches with cheaper watches? Or will you be people who attack themselves from more expensive watches to get a formex? In both scenario, Formex must have a considerable marketing and communication competence to convince buyers to try something new that may come out of their comfort zone.

From the point of view of the design, technical specifications and ergonomics, the Formex -Essence -Ceramica Skeleton 41mm is a great watch. From a marketing perspective, however, it will be interesting to see the relative power of the Formex brand with those that spend more money for timepieces. It will also be interesting to learn more about the latent desirability of ceramic clocks on suitable ceramic arm bands as a whole. Most likely, Formex has to postpone the material story of Keramik watch far beyond the celebration of its 25th anniversary. I would like to see further variations of this watch, including solid selection options. I have the feeling that they will come. Price for the Formex essence ceramica skeleton COSC “GT” 41 mm WATCbe $ 4,390 USD. Find out more on the Formex website.