ABOUT THIS WATCH
At first glance, the Black Pearl reveals little more than a deep black surface. Quiet, understated and elegant. The rose gold-plated hands and hand-applied indices provide a warm contrast against the dark surface.
As the light shifts, so does the dial.
Subtle flashes of rose, soft green and silvery blue begin to emerge beneath the dark surface. They never dominate the dial or distract from it. Instead, they quietly appear and disappear as the watch moves with you, giving each glance a different character. No two dials ever behave quite the same, because no two pieces of natural mother-of-pearl are alike.
This effect begins with a natural mother-of-pearl dial. A black lacquer is applied to its back side, allowing light to continue passing through the shell's translucent layers before reflecting back to the eye. As it travels through the mother-of-pearl's natural aragonite structure, the dial reveals the subtle iridescence hidden beneath its dark surface.
The signature horizontal lines of the Essence collection are then machined into the mother-of-pearl itself, adding depth and structure while preserving the shell's natural character. It is a dial that rewards a closer look and continues to reveal something new over time.
Inside, the Black Pearl introduces the next generation of the Essence. It is the first model to feature the updated Swiss Made Sellita SW200-2 Power+ movement, extending the power reserve from 41 to 65 hours while improving winding efficiency and shock resistance. Like every Essence, each movement is individually COSC-certified for chronometer-grade precision.
The case also incorporates the latest evolution of the Essence platform. A screw-down crown delivers water resistance to 100 metres, while the re-engineered butterfly clasp features an integrated micro-adjustment system, allowing the bracelet to expand by 3 or 6 millimetres instantly, without opening the clasp or removing the watch from the wrist.
Like every Essence, comfort is engineered into the watch itself. The patented Case Suspension System allows the case to flex gently on the wrist, adapting to natural movement throughout the day. Together with the micro-adjustable clasps on both steel bracelet and all rubber, nylon and leather straps, it creates a wearing experience that is as refined as the watch itself. The result is an Essence that feels familiar, yet more refined in every detail. A watch that appears understated at first, but reveals its character the longer you wear it.
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FEATURES
An Automatic, also called self-winding watch, is a mechanical watch in which the mainspring is wound automatically as a result of the natural motion of the wearer's arm, to provide energy to run the watch, making manual winding unnecessary. All our Automatic movements are manufactured in Switzerland.
A chronometer is a watch that has been tested and certified to meet the most strict precision and accuracy standards. “Chronometer” isn’t just a name that any watch brand can print on the dial of its watches. It is an official nomenclature, defined by precise rules, which lay down the definition of the term “chronometer”, describing the categories, the test programme and the acceptable minimum requirements for wrist chronometers. In Switzerland, the COSC, or Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres, is the only official organisation allowed to certify chronometers.
Modeled with high-performance bikes and racing cars in mind, Formex’s patented Case Suspension System works by integrating four springs between the upper and lower watch case. The result is the ultimate shock absorption system designed to protect the watch movement and deliver unparalleled comfort to the wearer.
This watch features an ultra-strong and light-weight folding clasp, made of carbon fiber composite and a stainless steel or titanium buckle. The gradual fine adjustment system allows you to tighten or loosen the strap length when the wrist size varies due to temperature and activity.
All straps and bracelets can be interchanged by hand without the use of any tools and in a few mere seconds. This allows you to easily swap straps on the go and wear your personal style for any occasion.
A sapphire crystal or “glass” is a very hard, transparent material made of crystallizing pure aluminium oxide at extremely high temperatures. Sapphire is one of the hardest substances on earth. It measures 9 on the Mohs scale (diamond measures 10, the highest rating), which is a system for rating the relative hardness of various materials, making it virtually scratch proof.
Applying AR coating will limit the reflection on a sapphire or mineral glass to a very low level.
The transparent case back, made of sapphire crystal, makes it possible to see the movement inside the watch.
Water resistance measures how much water pressure a watch can handle before it breaks. This measurement is important to know for the proper care and keeping of your watch. Water resistance of 100 m / 330 ft means that it can be used for swimming, snorkeling, and similar activities.
We back our watches with a 3-Year international warranty. In the rare case of a malfunction or a movement defect, you can contact us and send your watch back free of charge and we’ll repair it for you within 2 weeks.
Formex is dedicated to online payment security. We do not store any of your payment information. We offer payment solutions tailored to your shipping destination. Please proceed to checkout to view your local payment options.
All watch prices already include free shipping worldwide. As soon as we have processed your order, you will receive a tracking number to follow your package. Expect your watch within 2 business days within Europe, or within 3 business days for overseas orders. If for any reason you think it’s not the right fit, you can return your watch free of charge. If you contact us before returning or exchanging your watch, we’ll even have your shipping expenses covered.
All our watches are designed, developed and assembled in-house at our headquarters in Biel-Bienne, Switzerland and meet the current, more strict Swiss Made requirement, which entered into force on January 2017. Every single piece undergoes a variety of quality and functionality controls, before making it to your wrist.
39 mm Stainless Steel Case
Modeled with high-performance bikes and racing cars in mind, Formex’s bestselling Essence ThirtyNine model features the brand’s patented case suspension system, which works by integrating four springs between the upper and lower watch case. The result is the ultimate shock absorption system designed to protect the mechanical movement and deliver unparalleled comfort to the wearer. The slim case design of just 10 mm and curved lugs allow a perfect fit on your wrist. The vertical brush finish on the case and bezel are perfectly rounded off with hand-finished mirror polished bevels. The identical finishing extends to the solid-link stainless steel bracelet as well as the deployant buckle when worn on a leather or rubber strap. The interplay between brushed surfaces and mirror-polished chamfers is echoed in each component, from the stainless-steel bracelet links to the deployant buckle, from the hands and machined indices to the applied Formex logo on the dial. For enhanced legibility, the latter components have undergone a gun-metal finish, heightening the contrast against the dial. Deep-filled with luminous Super- LumiNova® BGW9, the hour and minute hands, along with the indices, ensure clear timekeeping even in low-light conditions.
officially certified movement
This watch is powered by the Swiss Made Sellita SW200-2 Power+ self-winding movement with a power reserve of 65 hours. Selected in its highest-quality grade, "Chronometer", the movement features premium components such as a Glucydur balance wheel, renowned for its exceptional hardness, dimensional stability, resistance to deformation, non-magnetic properties, and corrosion resistance. The movement is fully decorated and fitted with Formex's in-house developed and custom-built skeletonized rotor. Its finishing combines a contemporary brushed surface treatment with blued screws, reflecting the same attention to detail found throughout the watch. Each movement is individually certified by the COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute) and undergoes the rigorous 15-day testing protocol to verify exceptional levels of mechanical accuracy and precision. Every certified chronometer is uniquely identified by both an engraved movement number and a corresponding COSC certificate number. While fewer than 3% of Swiss watch movements receive official chronometer certification, Formex goes a step further by conducting additional rate testing after assembly according to the same criteria, ensuring that the performance achieved during certification is maintained once the movement is installed in the completed watch.
FINE ADJUSTMENT CLASP
Besides contributing to visual appeal, the details on the Essence ThirtyNine also serve a purpose. For a timepiece to be a watch for all occasions, it needs to feel exceptionally comfortable on the wrist. For even more wrist comfort, Formex added their patented Carbon Fiber Composite Folding Clasp that allows for fine-adjustment of the strap length on the go, allowing for a perfect fit on the wrist in all conditions and temperatures. The strap can be changed without the use of any tools with Formex's patented quick release system. The stainless steel bracelet with screwed links has the same quick release system and also features a unique micro-extension system.
A METEORITE ON THE WRIST
From most angles, the dial appears almost black. As the light shifts, however, subtle flashes of rose, soft green and silvery blue begin to emerge from within the shell, creating a depth that changes throughout the day. Rather than reflecting light from its surface, the dial seems to come alive from within. Every piece of mother-of-pearl responds differently, making each Black Pearl dial one of a kind. Combined with the signature horizontal lines of the Essence collection and warm gold-plated hands and hand-applied indices, the result is a dial that remains understated at first glance, yet continues to reveal something new the longer you spend with it.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
SUSPENSION SYSTEM
Since the beginning of Formex in 1999, the patented Case Suspension System has been an integral part of Formex timepieces. Its two main functions are:
- absorbs shocks to protect the mechanical movement from heavy impacts
- adds to the comfort on the wrist by adapting to the wearer’s movements
Modeled with high-performance bikes and racing cars in mind, the Formex patented case suspension system works by integrating four springs between the upper and lower watch case. The result is the ultimate shock absorption system designed to protect the mechanical movement and deliver unparalleled comfort to the wearer.
This patented case suspension system brings form and function together for Formex Swiss watches. It’s functional, it’s state of the art engineering and it’s unquestionably unique - all in one watch.
FINE-ADJUSTMENT DEPLOYANT CARBON CLASP
Your strap comes on our new deployant clasp with a patented fine-adjustment. More intuitive to operate, the new version is fully made out of our proprietary carbon fiber composite. The micro-adjustment is now even easier to use and can be operated while the watch is on your wrist. Lightweight, smooth to the touch, ultra-durable and highly functional, this clasp is a real piece of engineering, making your Watch even more comfortable to wear.
