The New Formex Essence Space Glacier, With Ice Blue Meteorite Dial

Formex introduced the Essence line in 2018, and two years later, the go-anywhere-do-anything, sporty casual model was fitted with a Muonionalusta meteorite dial, marking the beginning of the Space Rock series that recently saw the addition of the Essence Space Gold reference with a meteorite dial in salmon, achieved via a rose gold deposition through electroplating. The Formex Essence Space Glacier has a trendy ice blue coloured dial and features subtle updates while retaining the series’ signature design elements. Let’s take a look.

The new Formex Essence Space Glacier is released in two case sizes, 39mm x 10mm and 43mm x 10.6mm, both 100m water-resistant and crafted from stainless steel and adorned with a vertical brushed finish and polishing of the chamfered edges. The four functional screws positioned along the bezel hold the inner titanium container with integrated springs, which works as a shock absorber to protect the movement. The watches feature scratch-resistant sapphire crystals with anti-reflective treatment front and back.

The Essence Space Glacier Muonionalusta meteorite dial has a thickness of 0.5mm and is not glued to the dial plate but instead sits on soldered dial feet. To better preserve the captivating Widmanstätten pattern yet to make it look different for the benefit of the watch’s aesthetic, Formex plated the surface with a layer of 98% pure silver upon discovering that “silver, not rhodium, brought out the full depth and brilliance of meteorite”. This dazzling texture is sealed under six ultra-thin coats of a blue-tinted cellulose-based lacquer (called zapon teinté), delivering a shimmering, otherworldly glow. An inclined inner flange tracks minutes and seconds, the logo is applied, and the Formex’s hallmark bevelled date aperture is precision-cut directly into the meteorite and opens a view of the date disc in grey with black-printed numerals as if to accent the function’s subtle presence.

Just like its siblings in the Essence lineup, this model features applied, faceted baton-style indices with vertically brushed faces and mirror-polished bevels, all generously filled with Super-LumiNova BGW9. The hour and minute hands get the same treatment, while the central needle-like seconds hand stays clean and lume-free.

The watches are powered by the COSC-certified Sellita SW200-1- a reliable and familiar movement in the Essence series. Beating at 28,800 vibrations/hour with a 41-hour power reserve, it’s visible through the exhibition caseback, which is secured by screws. A skeletonised, branded rotor rounds off the movement’s “sporty” finish, perfectly aligned with Formex’s rugged yet high-precision aesthetic.

The Formex Essence 39mm Space Glacier is worn on a stainless steel bracelet closed with a stainless steel buckle with a 4mm micro extension. Another option is an Italian leather or rubber strap with a carbon fibre deployant clasp. The clasp with the gradual fine-adjustment system on the straps offers up to 7mm of flexibility, and all straps feature an easy-change system with no tools required.

The Formex Essence Space Glacier Automatic Chronometer is priced at EUR 1,880 or USD 1,870 on the leather/rubber strap and EUR 1,990 or USD 1,990 on the stainless steel bracelet. Production is limited to 100 per case size. Orders are open, with deliveries expected to start at the end of April. On a special note to US customers, the brand informs us that for the time being, it will absorb the costs of newly imposed tariffs while monitoring the situation.

For further details, visit formexwatch.com.