The Formex Reef Radiant Bronze for Collective Horology

As we’re about to speak about a collaboration, it feels natural to start by presenting the parties involved. On one side, we have Formex, a contemporary Swiss watchmaker known for crafting rugged tool watches full of innovative features, and yet fairly priced. On the other side is Collective Horology, a place for watch enthusiasts specialising in collaborative watches, mostly from indie watchmakers. And today, the two meet to create a special version of Formex’s dive watch. What’s unique about it? Well, it’s all about the brilliant dial and its material. Here’s the Formex Reef 42mm Radiant Bronze COSC 300M Automatic. 

The whole idea of this new collab piece was to use the solid and feature-packed Formex Reef dive watch as a base, and to add the extra unique touch for Collective. As explained by Raphael Granito, CEO of Formex, “Creating an exclusive watch for Collective, I wanted to work with a unique dial material to make this a true collector’s piece. Bronze is usually used for cases, but we wanted to use it to create the face of this special edition.”

As you’ve now understood, this new edition is all about the dial, its colour and its material. Bronze is nothing new, specifically in the field of dive watches. However, instead of using it for the case, as it is often done, Formex and Collective have opted for a bronze dial instead. According to the brand, making this dial has not been easy. Given its unique nature, it required new tooling to machine the blank dials, as well as multiple prototypes. The result is a dial made in-house, from solid bronze, with a vertical brushing, in order to bring all the tones and reflections offered by this material. Finally, the dial is treated with a proprietary lacquer to prevent oxidation, ensuring it retains its original colouration.

The rest of the watch is identical to the classic edition of the Formex Reef 42mm COSC 300M Automatic. This means a solid, bold dive watch of 42mm in diameter, yet a thin profile of 11.4mm despite the 300m water-resistance. Complex in its shape, this case is also fully-equipped, with a screw-down crown, a screwed back, a sapphire crystal and a 120-click unidirectional bezel made of ceramic, with a raised 60-minute scale. Note that this Formex x Collective edition retains the brand’s tool-free system to change the bezel. So instead of a black ceramic bezel, you could also opt later for a blue ceramic or a solid steel insert.

This is only the start, as there are more unique and practical features. For instance, the automatic movement, a Sellita SW300-1 (clone of the 2892) is chronometer-certified by COSC and comes with an extended power reserve of 56 hours. Available on a black rubber strap or a stainless steel bracelet, both are equipped with a quick-release, tool-free system to change the bracelet/strap, as well as a deployant clasp with a gradual micro-adjustment device.

The Formex Reef 42mm Radiant Bronze COSC 300M Automatic for Collective Horology will be produced in limited quantities exclusively for Collective Shop. The first 50 will be available this year, with a limited number available for purchase now from Collective Shop online
at shop.collectivehorology.com as well as in-person at the Windup Watch Fair in San Francisco (April 28-30). Customers based in Europe can consult formexwatch.com to purchase. Prices will be USD 1,935 or EUR 1,950 on rubber strap and USD 2,065 or EUR 2,080 on steel bracelet.