Automatic Chronometer Space Gold
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Automatic Chronometer Space Gold

CHF1,950.00

Customize your Watch Add another bracelet , strap, or clasp

The entire 2024 production run has sold out. We're already crafting more dials, and the 2025 batch is on track to ship by mid-January. Place your Pre-Order now to reserve your spot, or subscribe below for a back-in-stock notification. Did you want to know about Formex novelties before they are publicly announced? Sign up to our Newsletter and you will receive 24 hours early access to our new releases.

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SKU:
0330.1.6395.100

ABOUT THIS WATCH

The Space Gold is a special edition meteorite dial that has been plated with 18k rose gold, a groundbreaking feat in dial manufacturing. This infusion of precious metal not only enhances the inherent beauty of the meteorite's Widmanstätten pattern, imbuing it with mesmerizing depth, but also lends an unmistakable character of elegance. With textures as unique as they are organic, each dial becomes a singular work of art, promising an ownership experience that is truly one-of-a-kind.

Breaking away from conventional methods like PVD coating seen in other colored meteorite dials, our approach utilizes the meteorite's high iron content to facilitate depositing real gold via electroplating. Soldering the dial feet onto the meteorite directly instead of adhering it to a brass base plate further enabled us to intricately machine a beveled date window directly into the dial, a signature design element across all Formex timepieces. This development is a product of intense prototyping carried out in our dial manufacture located in the Swiss Jura mountains.

The Space Gold is powered by a highly precise COSC-certified Swiss Automatic movement and come with the tested and proven patented features our customers already love about their Essence. These include the Case Suspension System and a folding clasp made of carbon fiber, with a unique fine-adjustment system that perfectly adapts to the wrist’s ever changing size due to heat and humidity.

Originally created for the Essence 39, the gold meteorite is now also available for the Essence 43, allowing more watch enthusiasts to experience this exceptional blend of artistry and innovation.

Movement

The Essence is powered by Sellita's highest quality grade SW200-1 Swiss Made Automatic movement, beautifully decorated and wound by Formex's custom skeletonized rotor. Each one of these movements is certified by the COSC and undergoes the meticulous 15-day rate test to ensure extraordinary levels of mechanical accuracy and precision.

Dial

After being cut and plated, the final product is a perfectly flat disc that measures just 0.65mm thick and showcases the natural pattern of the Muonionalusta meteorite. Since the textures are organic and cannot be artificially reproduced, each individual dial will appear slightly different, making every single watch a completely unique piece. Applied indices and hands are gun-metal finished, deep-filled with Super-LumiNova® BGW9 and mirror-polished on the bevels to provide legibility day and night.

Straps and Clasps

For a perfect fit and more comfort on the wrist at all times, we're using the new Formex Deployant clasp with a gradual fine-adjustment system for the leather and rubber straps. The stainless steel bracelet, which reflects the same flawless finishing of the Essence's case, has a hidden Micro-Extension. All straps and the steel bracelet can be changed without the use of any tools and in just a few seconds.

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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.

43 mm Stainless Steel Case

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. The slim case design (10.6mm) and curved lugs allow a perfect fit on your wrist. The brush finish on the case and bezel are perfectly rounded off with hand-finished mirror polished bevels.

officially certified movement

The Essence FortyThree is powered by a Swiss Made Sellita SW200-1 self-winding movement with a power reserve of 41 hours. We've chosen its highest quality grade "Chronometer" because it comes with premium components such as a Glucydur balance wheel which is exceptionally hard and stable, very resistant to deformation, non-magnetic, and non-corrosive. The movement is completely decorated and wound by Formex’s in-house developed and custom built skeletonized rotor. Each one of these movements is certified by the COSC (the official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute) and undergoes the meticulous 15-day rate test to ensure extraordinary levels of mechanical accuracy and precision. Each certified chronometer is unique, identified by a number engraved on its movement and a certificate number issued by the COSC. While less than 3% of Swiss watch movements are officially certified, Formex further rate test them per the same criteria after assembly, to measure if there is any deviation from the certification rates.

FINE ADJUSTMENT CLASP

Besides contributing to visual appeal, the details on the Essence FortyThree 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

Some four ice ages ago, an iron meteorite blasted into the Earth’s atmosphere and slammed into a 25 x 15 kilometer area that sits north of the Arctic circle, centered at 67°49’ N, 23°9’ E in what is now northern Scandinavia. Besides their remote location, finding these meteorite fragments is extremely difficult as the ground is completely frozen solid most of the year, and the area is also covered in 24 hours of darkness for several months at a time. To make a dial from this unique extraterrestrial material, special machining and treatments are required to reveal the distinct characteristics of this ancient iron-based meteorite. The beautiful equilateral triangles that create the naturally-occurring Widmanstätten pattern are the result of a very slow cooling process that takes place over the course of millions of years, during which the crystalline structure of the minerals within the core of the asteroid changes. After being cut, the untreated stone is being electroplated with 18k rose gold, a groundbreaking feat in dial manufacturing. This infusion of precious metal not only enhances the inherent beauty of the meteorite's natural pattern, imbuing it with mesmerizing depth, but also lends an unmistakable character of elegance. Since the textures are organic and cannot be artificially reproduced, each individual dial will appear slightly different, making every single watch a completely unique piece. Soldering the dial feet onto the meteorite directly instead of adhering it to a brass base plate further enabled us to intricately machine a beveled date window directly into the dial, a signature design element across all Formex timepieces. This development is a product of intense prototyping carried out in our dial manufacture located in the Swiss Jura mountains.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

MOVEMENT

Swiss Made Sellita SW200-1 (self-winding) Automatic (Chronometer grade), officially certified by COSC. 26 jewels and glucydur balance wheel. Date display. Custom-built skeleton rotor with thermally blued screws. 41 hours power reserve.

CASE

Diameter: 43mm
Height: 10.6mm
Lug width: 22mm
Lug-to-lug: 49mm
Water resistance: 10 bar (100 metres / 330 feet)

Weight: 80g (case only) 

MATERIAL

Bezel: Stainless steel 316L

Case: Stainless steel 316L

Glass: Sapphire crystal (front and back) with anti-reflection treatment


STRAP

Italian calf leather straps with curved spring bars, Quick Release function and carbon fiber composite folding clasp with patented Micro-Adjustment System.
Stainless steel bracelet with Quick Release and Micro-extension function

 

All Essence straps and the bracelet can be changed by hand without the use of tools. The carbon fiber composite folding clasp with patented fine adjustment system can be changed without tools and can be used for all Essence ThirtyNine leather straps. 

DIAL

Muonionalusta meteorite dial, plated with 18k rose gold. The equilateral triangles that create the Widmanstätten pattern is a result of very slow cooling over millions of years, whereas the crystalline structure of the minerals within the core of the asteroid changes. Since the textures are organic and cannot be artificially reproduced, each single dial is a completely unique piece. BGW9 Super-LumiNova on hands and indexes.

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.