The Formex Essence 39 is the brand’s bestseller for a reason: it balances size, style, versatility, comfort and affordability. But Formex is never a brand to sit still and rest on their laurels, and as such, they’re updating their core model. Don’t worry though, it’s strictly an upgrade and everything you already love about the collection is staying the same. So, let’s learn all about the new Formex Essence 39.
Starting with the case, this is one of the elements that remains mercifully untouched. It measures 39mm in diameter with a 10.5mm thickness making it well proportioned on the wrist while maintaining a bold, sporty personality thanks to its chunky steel bezel and visible screws. With 100m water resistance it’s ready to tackle the spills and challenges of daily life without being a dedicated aquatic watch. However, it does introduce a screw down crown for an added layer of protection from water and dirt ingress.
Moving to the dial, the primary update here is the colours on offer. Those being Alpine White, Radiant Bronze and Blue. The white edition features blue hands and hour markers giving it a colder, icy feel, meanwhile the Radiant Bronze is a light copper tone. The blue is the most similar to a previous reference. The overall structure with its horizontal line engraved display and facetted bar indexes has been preserved.
The single biggest update to the Formex Essence 39 is the movement housed inside. It’s the latest calibre update from Sellita, the SW200-2 Power+ that increases the power reserve from the 41-hours of the SW200-1 to 65-hours. A significant improvement. It also retains its COSC-chronometer status. The updated movement is visible through the exhibition caseback with its vertically brushed rotor.
For pricing, the new references are £1,470 on nylon, leather or rubber strap and £1,570 on steel bracelet. That’s an increase of £145 for the various strap options and £130 on bracelet compared to the previous collection. For the updated specs, that seems like a reasonable increase. An improved movement and fresh colours are exactly what the Essence 39 needed from an update.
Price and Specs:
£1,570 (approx. $1,980) (bracelet)
More details at Formex.
