The New Formex Stratos UTC, The Brand’s Ambitious, Intuitive Traveller’s Watch

Over the past few years, Swiss watchmaker Formex has managed to build quite a solid reputation by delivering impressive horological content for a fair price. While some focus on complications, Formex decided to create watches that are solid, resistant and mostly, packed with practicality. A very pragmatic approach centred around the user. This idea is once again taking centre stage for the brand’s latest creation, which focuses on travelling. Partnering with famous module constructor Dubois-Depraz, the brand presents its vision of a user-friendly true GMT watch, the new Formex Stratos UTC. 

Formex made a name for itself with its clasp systems and case constructions, adding superior practicality to watches designed for daily wear – think about the brand’s case suspension system for better shock absorption, easily interchangeable bezels on dive watches, and multiple patented systems for quick-adjustment clasps on straps or micro-extension on bracelets. Now, with its latest creation, Formex applies this idea to complications, and brings a watch that’s designed to make the life of frequent travellers easier.

The Formex Stratos UTC is centred around its timezone complication and is made to be user-friendly. The whole travelling complication was designed together with Dubois-Depraz, one of the top module constructors in the industry. This explains why the overall concept is close to what we’ve discovered with the Porsche Design Globetimer, also conceived with the same partner. And what we said about this watch, for it to be brilliantly practical, is also true for the Stratos UTC… If not even a bit more complete. But we’ll get on the functionalities in a bit.

Let’s talk about the design and case of this new Formex Stratos UTC. Compared to previous watches of the brand, specifically the Essence collection, the Stratos comes with an evolution of the brand’s design language. We’re looking at a watch that feels rather bulky at first sight, with its almost barrel-shaped case and a wide bezel on top. Dimensions are more reasonable, however, with a 41mm diameter, a fairly acceptable thickness of 12mm and a length of only 46.5mm. The Stratos isn’t a small piece, but in its category of sports traveller’s watches, it feels reasonable. The case is designed with a multi-layer concept, combining brushed surfaces, polished bevels and sandblasted recessed flanks.

As you’d expect from the brand, the Formex Stratos UTC is rather impressive regarding the fit and finish. The crown is flanked by two pushers, which act on the timezone complication, and both are well integrated within the design. The bezel, which is made of brushed steel filled with coloured resin, adds a third timezone and rotates bidirectionally on 48 clicks. Sapphire crystals frame the watch and the screwed back and crown offer a comfortable 100m water-resistance.

As for the dial, Formex went for a multi-texture finish that helps differentiate the indications. The base of the dial, which is offered in grey, blue or green (with a matching bezel), is sunray-brushed with a grained chapter ring and date sub-dial. The dial is framed by an angled inner flange with an orange 24-hour scale, working with the colour-matched arrow-shaped GMT hand. The main hours and minutes hands are faceted and paired with applier hour markers – all being filled with white Super-Luminova. Finally, a small circular window at 9 o’clock acts as a day/night indicator for local time.

Let’s talk about the traveller’s complication, as the Formex Stratos UTC comes with a highly practical mechanism. Instead of an office GMT watch with the crown adjusting the GMT hand, or a classic flyer GMT watch with the crown adjusting the time, Formex went for a solution that doesn’t require pulling out the crown. Two pushers on the right side allow to adjust the local hour hand by one-hour increments forward and backward – a system known at Ulysse Nardin, Porsche Design or even Patek Philippe. These +/- pushers allow on-the-fly adjustments of the local time, while the UTC hand remains steady. The date, displayed as a small second at 6 o’clock, adjusts even if the hour hand moves past midnight. A separate pusher in the left flank allows for quick date setting independently from the screw-down crown.

Powering the Stratos UTC is a solid base movement, the ETA 2892, an automatic calibre that beats at 4Hz and stores up to 42 hours of power reserve. Presented in a top-grade version and regulated to +/- 5 seconds/day, it powers the additional Dubois-Depraz module on top.

Staying true to its motto of practicality, Formex offers its new traveller’s watch with user-friendly straps and bracelets. All are equipped with quick-release systems. The leather straps are closed by a carbon folding clasp with a patented gradual fine adjustment system. The steel bracelet found in the Essence collection is also available, with its articulated, screwed links and a patented, fully concealed micro-extension system.

Available from the brand as part of the permanent collection, the new Formex Stratos UTC Automatic 41mm collection will retail at EUR 3,800 or CHF 3,500 on leather strap, and EUR 3,950 or CHF 3,650 on steel bracelet. This is a step up compared to the rest of the collection, often priced under 2K euros, but at the same time, this watch offers a lot for the price and remains fairly competitive compared to other identical propositions. For more details, please visit formexwatch.com.