I can’t recall if I’ve put it down in a review before, but here it is (for the first time or not): Formex is one of the best values in watches right now. That’s not to say that they are “value” watches, which I feel suggests affordability and to an extent, cheapness. Rather, with Formex—all of the brand’s watches—what you get for what you pay is simply astonishing. The brand does things no one else is doing, at a level that punches far above its weight. Since I first reviewed the Essence 39 a year or so ago, I’ve been a huge fan of Formex, and I’ve been telling anyone who will listen to buy one.
The brand’s newest model is the Formex Reef GMT, which builds off the very awesome Reef diver, trading the unidirectional dive bezel for a bidirectional 24-hour bezel. Impressively, the case dimensions remain the same, as does the tech that Formex has integrated into the watch. The Formex Reef GMT is arguably the most functional model the brand has offered, and it fully represents what the brand is capable of.
The immediate standout for this model, as with many Formexes, is the angular case. Further, the gilt on both the dial and the bezel create excellent contrast with the beautiful green.
Formex Reef GMT Specs | |
Case Diameter 42mm | Crystal Sapphire |
Case Thickness 11.4mm | Lume Super-LumiNova |
Lug-to-Lug 47mm | Strap/Bracelet Steel bracelet or nylon, rubber, or leather strap |
Lug Width 22mm | Movement Sellita SW330-2 |
Water Resistance 300m | Price $1,800+ |
The Case
If you’ve handled the Reef diver, you’ll be in familiar territory with the Formex Reef GMT case. The brushed finishing has great definition and contrasts well with the somewhat wide polished chamfers. The thin, wide case sits rather flat on the wrist. The sloping case—the bevels and the lugs, in particular—make the watch almost melt into your wrist. The shorter bracelet links also help the watch to conform to the wrist for a wearing experience that will surprise and delight.
Take a look at the crown guards, which envelop the crown. At the bottom, you’ll notice they come to a point—that will catch your fingertip. It won’t hurt, but you’ll notice it. I’d like to see those pulled back or softened a bit to avoid that. Other than that, the crown is perfectly functional and helps to achieve the watch’s 300m water resistance (quite the spec given the thinness).
The Dial
Under the flat sapphire crystal is the radiant green and rose gold gilt dial. The Reef GMT is also available in black and rose gold gilt, black, grey, white, green. While each dial is shown on the site with a bezel the brand has chosen, you’re free to choose form any of the bezels with your watch—and not just one. Why buy more than one? Because the Formex Reef GMT (and the Reef diver) have interchangable bezels. Not some complex system for removing and refastening, either. Just pop it off with your thumb, then pop the new one on, no need to bother with alignment or worry about tension, as the bezel works perfectly no matter how many times it comes off and on. I really like the idea of using a dive bezel on the GMT model.
The dial itself features a sunburst finish (the white dial is the only one without this finish), and the finish continues through the ceramic bezel insert. Further, the tops of both the hands and the applied markers are brushed, with polished bevels. The handset and markers are all lumed with Super-LumiNova BGW9. The rose gold on green provides great contrast for excellent legibility. I do wish the GMT arrow was a bit larger. With all the other metal accents on the dial, it gets a bit lost, and the tiny red tip isn’t enough to make it stand out. I do love the sloped date window, though, and the color-matched date wheel shows great attention to detail.
Lume on the Formex Reef GMT is adequate though not superb. It charges quickly, shines brightly enough, though I found myself wanting it to be brighter than it was.
The Rest
On display here is the movement. See it? Good. It’s a chronometer-certified Sellita and it’s a great movement. Now look at the endlinks, and the push-tab quick-release system that Formex developed for their bracelets (and provided to some other very big brands). Any time I get a new mechanism for attaching a bracelet, I’m always suspicious, but the Formex bracelet was easy to take off and put on, and never felt loose.
Let’s talk bracelets and straps. In addition to the steel bracelet, the Formex Reef GMT is available on leather (why?), rubber, NATO, and a mesh bracelet. The non-NATO straps come with Formex’s innovative carbon fiber deployant clasp, which features a microadjustment mechanism. The bracelets both feature the above quick adjustment feature, with the same tab seen on the endlinks. It allows you to get that perfect fit without the fuss and it’s just fantastic.
I’m sure Formex has more coming, more innovation, more models, more excitement. For now, though, the Reef GMT is its flagship, the model that shows off all the amazing things the brand can do, from its impressive tech to its striking design language, and everything in between. There’s a solid argument that if you want a Formex and don’t care or know which one, then the Reef GMT is the one to get.
You can find out more and purchase the Formex Reef GMT directly from the brand’s website.