Here’s your digest of all the new watches released this week. Instead of boring you with spec-by-spec descriptions of every release and trying to dazzle you with deep thoughts and insights, this simple digest gives you the basics plus our two cents—sometimes so brief it’ll seem like just one cent. You’re welcome.
Formex Reef GMT 300
Formex has just released another banger. Building on its exceptional Reef diver (which I’ve described as a “Nautilus that went to the gym”), the new Reef GMT 300 fits a chronometer-certified SW330-2 in the same 42mm x 11.4mm case to deliver a GMT option that’s ready to blow your socks off. The movement is on display through a sapphire caseback, yet the watch still maintains 300m. There are six dial options, six bezel options, and seven strap options. The bezels, of course, are interchangeable: pry it off with your fingertips then press the new one on, and you’ve got a new watch! That’s on top of the available microadjust butterfly clasp steel bracelet…or you could get the new mesh bracelet…or the awesome leather with a microadjust deployant clasp. There’s a lot to love here, unless you don’t like the overall Reef design, in which case you’re out of luck, but I still love you. $1,800+ from Formex.
Defakto Inkognito
Defakto, the German make of minimal design with watches taht look like they belong at MoMA, has pared things down further with the Inkognito. Not a new model so much as a cleaning up of an old one, the Inkognito simply removes the brand’s name from the dial of the current Kinetik, with a 39mm case and the signature red seconds hand, powered by an ETA 2824-2 movement. My biggest surprise is that this is limited to just 12 pieces, while I imagine fans of the Defakto look would love a sterile dial as a non-limited offering. Limited to 12 pieces priced at €726.89 via email to info@defakto-uhren.de only, with information on the original Kinetik at Defakto.
ochs un junior Settimana Brass
The Settimana is back in a new colorway, with a solid brass dial! One of the simpler dials from a brand that is defined by minimalism, the Settimana has a refined circular weekday display, with a black indicator dot on the brass wheel under the dial. The Settimana has perviously available with a silver dial, though I think this warm brass is a much better look, and the black contrast of the hands will provide the best legibility. Cool enough, the hands and date indicator are coated with black Super-LumiNova. The Settimana brass is available in 36mm or 40mm, both of with come on a Cordura strap and is powered by a Sellita SW200 with an in-house weekday module designed by Ludwig Oechslin. CHF 2,215 from ochs und junior.
Yema Superman FAF Search and Rescue LE
Yema continues its expansion of the Superman line and its partnership with the French Air & Space Force with this new FAF Search and Rescue LE. The new model is a reissue of the first Superman model which equipped the French Air Force Aviation Rescue Swimmers in the early 1970s, complete with a matte blue dial, blocky u-shaped hour markers, the classic Yema hands, and, of course, the locking bezel mechanism (my thoughts on that can be read here). To further commemorate this limited reissue, the caseback is embossed with the FAF logo. The watch is available in 39mm or 41mm on a bracelet, FKM rubber, or NATO, and is powered by the Sellita SW200. Limited to 1000 pieces starting at $1,149 and available on July 20 from Yema.
Coblor Nürburgring Asphalt 1
There’s a new brand in town (which is true almost every week, but I’m writing about this one). Coblor is introducing its debut piece, the Nürburgring Asphalt 1, which it describes as “The World’s First Asphalt Watch.” Finally, what we’ve all been waiting for. The watch is 44mm in titanium, available in black PVD as well. It features a dial with an actual piece of the road from Nürburgring racetrack, and a rendering of the track as part of its rotor. It’s features a Concept-built automatic chronograph COB.01 caliber (likely a version of the Concepto 2000 ). This is a cool watch but will alienate plenty of people with its design, size, and gimmicky dial. I can see this appealing to race fans, though. For my part, I don’t understand why they used two different pusher styles. Limited to 500 pieces of each model priced at $6,100 available for preorder from Coblor.