Formex Launch Essence 39mm and 41mm Leggera Space Rock Limited Editions

Meteorite was once a material restricted to the most luxurious of watch brands and for the most part it still is. Watches like the Rolex Daytona Meteorite show that there’s still an appetite for the substance at the higher echelons of watchmaking. However, 2022 has seen a large number of smaller brands branching out into meteorite watches. Tidlös and Tool Watch Co. have both released watches with meteor dials and now, joining their ranks, is Formex with the Essence 39mm and 41mm Leggera Space Rock Limited Editions.

As a material, meteorite has some incredibly intriguing properties, having been heated to extreme temperatures and subjected to incomprehensible forces as it falls through Earth’s atmosphere. The result is the Widmanstätten pattern, a series of random geometric lines that form a complex overlapping structure made predominantly from iron and nickel. The material used in the 176 watches being produced (88 each at 39mm and 41mm) comes from a meteorite named Muonionalusta.

The 39mm version is presented in a stainless steel case while the 41mm edition is far higher tech with a carbon fibre case and ceramic bezel. The combination of multiple advanced and complex materials makes for a high contrast design that draws the eye.

Inside, both versions contain the Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement with COSC chronometer certification. The movement features a custom skeleton rotor that helps to provide the 41-hour power reserve. It’s a solid workhorse calibre and fits the watch’s tool watch vibe.

As mentioned previously, both the 39mm and 41mm Essence Leggera Space Rock are limited to 88 pieces. The 39mm is priced at £1,460 on rubber strap and £1,560 on steel bracelet and then the 41mm is £1,600 on Nato and £1,750 on leather.