cover Story
cover Story
As seen on this issue’ s cover, the Formex TS3100 is a racing-design chrono timepiece with automatic movement( ETA Valjoux 7750), day and date display. The 46.5mm black PVD stainless steel case is brushed and polished with a carbon-fiber bezel and sapphire-crystal glass, patented case suspension. The watch can be ordered with a leather or rubber strap or with the black titanium / steel bracelet as seen above. Price starts at $ 1,580.
side the four bolt sleeves at the case corners. These springs cushion the upper and lower case halves, retaining the same‘ give’ seen in those earlier models. And while many early Formex cases featured a bullhead-style layout, whereby the crown and pushers were placed at the 12 o’ clock position, most new Formex designs place the crown at the standard 3 o’ clock position. One collection however, the Formex TS3100( seen on the cover of this About Time issue), features its crown at the 9 o’ clock position.
“ The suspension function is engineered in a way that complements the design and gives our watches their signature Formex character. If you take a very close look, you will also see that the quality of the materials and the finishing resembles something you will find in a $ 5,000 watch while only paying a fraction of that price,” explains Granito. He adds that Formex has been working with the same manufacturing partners for many years and has carefully honed its characteristic cushion case designs.
Formex watches are designed in-house at Formex’ s offices in Biel / Bienne, Switzerland, by a designer Granito calls a“ certified genius and also really good at riding BMX bikes. From time to time we go mountain biking together when our schedules allow it.” Design and engineering meetings are held every other day to discuss the latest Formex creations in the making.
40 | AboutTime Magazine