One of the Best Watches Under $2,000 Just Got Even Better

It’s nice when brands listen to their fans, isn’t it?

For years, fans of Swiss independent watchmaker Formex have pleaded with the brand to launch a ‘tweener size for its flagship steel sports watch, the Essence, which had only been available in two case sizes: 39mm and 43mm.

Back in August, Formex obliged, releasing the first-ever 41mm steel Essence — but there was a catch. Dubbed the Space Ghost, the watch makes several updates to the Essence and features a meteorite dial.

While not a limited edition, the Space Ghost’s production is limited to just 150 pieces a year due to the difficulty involved in manufacturing the delicate dials. The fancy dial material also drove the cost of the watch well above the $2,000 mark, which the Essence typically sits comfortably below.

But Formex was up front from the beginning that there would be more standard versions of the steel Essence 41 eventually, and that day has already arrived, as Formex has officially added the model to its permanent catalog in several new colors.

Formex

Here by popular demand

In addition to carrying over all of the cool tech found on the 39 and 43mm Essence models — the patented Suspension Case that flexes with your wrist and absorbs shocks, the quick-release bracelet exchange system, the patented micro-adjustment mechanism on the deployant clasp if you opt for a strap — it also includes the new tech introduced on the Space Ghost.

First up is the introduction of a screw-down crown, which is absent on the 39 and 43mm models due to the complexity of integrating it into the case suspension system, which requires a good deal of vertical travel. But after years of toiling away, Formex cracked the code and figured out how to add a screw-down crown. Water resistance remains the same at 100m, but I know I always feel a lot more secure taking my watch swimming when the crown screws down.

Formex

Next are updates to the bracelet. The links are secured with new screws that utilize a clever rotating pin system that keeps them from coming loose on their own. They also require no Loctite. But the most exciting update comes to the bracelet clasp, which now firmly ranks as the best micro-adjustable butterfly clasp on the market.

It boasts three steps of incremental adjustment at 0mm, 3mm and 6mm, and it’s designed to be adjusted while you’re wearing the watch. It’s easy to do so, and it’s also engineered to require more force when closing it than when opening it. What’s more, the clasp doesn’t show your skin even when fully extended — the bracelet always maintains the same, sleek look.

Formex

Formex is able to churn out so much cool, innovative tech because the brand effectively produces its cases, bracelets and clasps in-house through its sister brand, Swiss-based manufacture Dexel. Another company under the Formex corporate umbrella is Swiss dial manufacture Cadranor, and that brings me to the sole difference between the new Essence 41 and the Space Ghost: the dial (hands and indices included).

There are no meteorite dials to be found in these new, more accessible models. Instead, we have the same garage door-textured dials seen on the other Essence sizes in four colors, all of which are also available in the other sizes: Arctic White, Blue, Gamaret (Red) and Dégradé, a smoked brown. As always, the dials feature diamond-polished indices and hands filled with Super-LumiNova.

Formex

Also, as with the other Essence sizes, the 41 is a chronometer powered by a COSC-certified Sellita SW200 automatic movement. The movement is visible behind a sapphire caseback, while an AR-coated sapphire crystal protects the dial.

Pricing and availability

The new Essence 41 is considerably less expensive than the Space Ghost, coming in at $1,690 when paired with a leather, rubber or fabric strap and topping out at $1,890 on the superb bracelet.

Uniquely, Formex also includes all tariffs, taxes, duties and shipping in the sticker price, so there are no surprises at checkout. That means this truly is a sub-$2,000 watch, all in, even if it doesn’t look, feel or perform like one.

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