Essence
Model History
The Essence was born around the 2016 relaunch, when new CEO Raphael Granito redesigned Formex's entire strategy around direct online sales. Giving shape to this new identity required a manifesto watch: the Essence line was presented as a synthesis — an "essence," indeed — of the brand's DNA, and its launch via a crowdfunding campaign achieved a success beyond expectations, helping redefine Formex in the public eye as one of the best value-for-money Swiss Made brands in the industry.
The Essence's distinguishing trait is the combination, rare at this price level, of a COSC-certified (chronometer) automatic movement and the Case Suspension System patented by founders the Grädel brothers, here built into a slim case with carefully executed finishing — brushing on case and bezel, mirror-polished bevels finished by hand. The 39mm ThirtyNine version, only about 10mm thick, is the line's flagship for its balance of proportions, while the 41mm FortyOne offers a more modern diameter for everyday wear.
In 2023 the line gained the Essence Leggera variant, which replaces some steel components with ultra-light carbon fibre and high-tech ceramics: a choice of materials that explicitly recalls the passion for high-performance motorsport at the brand's origin, bringing the Essence closer to Formex's founding spirit than its earlier versions, which were aimed mainly at everyday elegance.
Technical Specifications
Main Executions
The first crowdfunding campaign with which Formex launched the original Essence Chronometer is often cited by the brand's own leadership as the symbolic moment of its rebirth: a COSC-certified watch at an accessible price, sold without the traditional retail chain, allowed a brand that just a few years earlier was operating with a single watchmaker to become known to an international audience once again.