Formex sets new standard with the first-ever micro-adjustable ceramic watch

This innovative Swiss brand just solved ceramic's biggest problem

By Andrew McGrotty Published March 27, 2025

Formex essence cermaica skeleton held in hand — Formex watches / Formex watches

Swiss watchmaker Formex, founded in 1999 and known for its focus on technical innovation, celebrates its 25th year. The company marks this milestone with a notable accomplishment: the first ceramic bracelet equipped with a micro-adjustment feature is available on its new Essence Ceramica Skeleton COSC watch.

This new version demonstrates Formex’s skill in design by use of a full-ceramic build. It delivers several noteworthy functional traits. The ceramic has seven times the hardness of steel but it has 30% less weight. Because of this the watch resists scratches at an unmatched level and feels light during wear.

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Most ceramic watches use metal clasps. However, Formex has designed a unique, patented adjustment system made entirely of ceramic. This novel method permits the user to alter the band size. Adjustments occur in small steps of one plus a half millimeters, with a full range of five millimeters. The process needs no tools. Such precision was once considered unachievable using fragile ceramic parts.

Creating a functioning micro-adjustment system in ceramic presented significant engineering challenges, as the material’s hardness makes it extremely difficult to machine with the precision needed for small, interacting components. As noted by a representative, where traditional ceramic watches rely on metal clasps, Formex has innovated with a patented micro-adjustable ceramic clasp.

The 41mm case has vertical brushed surfaces, which are different from the diamond-polished elements. This showcases a refined build quality usually only found on more costly timepieces. Four limited-edition types exist: GT, Stradale, Stradale Viola, and Stradale Blue.

Beyond the ceramic development, the watch uses an open dial. Cadranor makes this component on-site. It shows a COSC-certified, skeletonized, automatic mechanism. The dial has multiple layers. It unites components that are brushed and polished with Super-LumiNova details. These improve how easily one reads the watch.

Formex added its unique Case Suspension System, too. It adjusts as the wrist moves, and it decreases impacts, which is helpful to defend the ceramic structure from damage. Listed features encompass 100-meter water resistance, a crown that screws down and an increased defense against magnetism.

The Stradale models of Essence Ceramica Skeleton COSC cost CHF 3,970, around $4,450. But the GT edition has a price of CHF 4,150 or $4,650. For the money the watch provides remarkable worth when one considers its novel engineering and production level.

July 2025 is the expected launch of shipments. Because the creation of ceramic parts to these precise demands involves intricate steps, the total number produced will be restricted.

Andrew McGrotty

Andrew is a full-time freelance writer with expertise in the luxury sector. His content is informative and always on trend.

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Fashion & Style

Zenith unveils stealth defy shadow dive watches in micro-blasted titanium

Dark depths: Zenith's micro-blasted titanium defy shadow editions honor 1969 heritage

Zenith defy extreme shadow diver blue background

Zenith redefines its DEFY dive watch legacy with two striking "Shadow" editions, giving both new and classic designs a fresh look in micro-blasted titanium. The DEFY Extreme Diver Shadow and the DEFY Revival Diver Shadow blend the collection's 1969 origins with modern stealth aesthetics, creating professional-grade dive tools for underwater exploration.
Since 1969, the DEFY collection has earned the nickname "time safe" for its robust construction, which protected movements like a vault. The original DEFY Diver A3648, known as the DEFY Plongeur, showcased serious diving credentials with 600-meter water resistance and a rotating bezel—qualities these Shadow editions pay tribute to, while also introducing contemporary materials and bold visual statements.
The DEFY Extreme Diver Shadow features a 42.5mm micro-blasted titanium case, emphasizing the collection's angular profile. Its matte finish highlights geometric lines and enhances the stealthy look, while yellow accents boost visibility. The black ceramic bezel is unidirectional and filled with Super-LumiNova for clear readability, with fluted edges for easy operation with gloves.
Robust engineering is evident in the 600-meter water resistance, helium escape valve, and screw-down crown with guards, making the watch suitable for saturation diving. The black dial, adorned with a star pattern, features C1 Super-LumiNova markers and yellow accents for visibility in low light.
Both models, despite their depth ratings, have display case backs to showcase their movements. The Extreme Diver houses the El Primero 3620 automatic caliber in a black finish, beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour. It includes a paramagnetic escapement and silicon components, delivering a 60-hour power reserve.
The DEFY Revival Diver Shadow faithfully echoes the original A3648, with a 37mm micro-blasted titanium case and the signature fourteen-sided bezel. The unidirectional bezel features a yellow-tinted sapphire insert, and the screw-down crown is positioned at 4:30, just like the first model. Water resistance remains at 600 meters, or 1,969 feet—a nod to the DEFY collection’s founding year.
The Elite 670 automatic caliber powers the Revival Diver, operating at 4Hz with a 60-hour power reserve. Its display case back reveals a Geneva-striped oscillating weight shaped like the Zenith star.
Both models offer a variety of strap options, including micro-blasted titanium bracelets, black rubber with a Cordura-effect texture, and fabric straps made from recycled fishing nets. Quick-change mechanisms make swapping straps easy.
These Shadow editions highlight Zenith’s ongoing innovation in professional dive watch design, seamlessly combining technical excellence with bold, contemporary styling.

Fashion & Style

IWC expands top gun collection with mojave desert ceramic pilot watch

Desert inspiration: IWC's sand-colored ceramic pilot watch honors naval aviation heritage

IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert

IWC Schaffhausen is expanding its military aviation collection with the Pilot's Watch Automatic 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert, the latest addition to the brand’s "Colors of TOP GUN" series. This watch features ceramic construction that pairs desert-inspired aesthetics with Swiss precision, drawing inspiration from navy flight suits and the rugged terrain surrounding the China Lake air base in California’s Western Mojave Desert.
The 41mm case showcases IWC’s forty years of ceramic expertise, rendered in their proprietary "Mojave Desert" color—a muted earth tone blending beige and khaki. This distinctive shade does more than look good; it directly references the flight suits worn by navy pilots and the arid landscape where US Navy aviators train at China Lake.
IWC’s ceramic process highlights how complex achieving this subtle color actually is. Artisans form ceramic from powdered raw materials into "green body" shapes, machine them closer to their final form, and then fire them in a kiln. This high-temperature process makes the ceramic exceptionally hard and scratch-resistant. The Mojave Desert color is achieved by carefully mixing zirconium oxide with metallic oxides.
The challenge increases because the color changes during firing, requiring extensive testing to achieve the exact tone. This meticulous approach reflects IWC’s long-standing dedication to advanced materials—a legacy dating back over 150 years, making them pioneers in both titanium and ceramic watchmaking.
The watch’s design maintains a unified color scheme. The brown dial features understated minute scales and numerals that glow with Super-LumiNova for legibility in low light, matching the ceramic case. A beige rubber strap with a fabric inlay and a titanium pin buckle completes the look, adding both durability and comfort.
Technical excellence is evident in the IWC-manufactured 32112 caliber. This automatic movement uses a pawl winding system to deliver a 120-hour power reserve. Its 4Hz frequency ensures precise timekeeping, and the bi-directional rotor efficiently stores energy from even the smallest wrist movements.
The titanium case back is engraved with the TOP GUN logo, underscoring the watch’s connection to naval aviation while also reducing weight. The choice of titanium further demonstrates IWC’s expertise in working with advanced metals, complementing their mastery of ceramics.
This watch joins a growing Mojave Desert collection, which includes the Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar TOP GUN Edition, the Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41, and the Big Pilot's Watch TOP GUN Edition. All feature the signature sand-colored ceramic, but offer different functionalities and case sizes.
IWC’s commitment to sustainable luxury is evident in their careful sourcing of materials and efforts to minimize environmental impact, ensuring these watches embody both technical mastery and responsible craftsmanship. The brand’s focus on transparency, reuse, and care results in timepieces built to last for generations.
The Pilot's Watch Automatic 41 TOP GUN Mojave Desert demonstrates how military inspiration can be transformed into civilian luxury, blending professional tool heritage with contemporary design through advanced materials and renowned Swiss watchmaking expertise.

Fashion & Style

The most underrated dress watches for men in 2025

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Longines dress watch

The best modern dress watches aren’t discovered in packed showrooms – they’re found by collectors who delve to look beyond the hype. We all know the perennial favorites, but there are a slew of seriously underrated men's dress watches that are true horological gems worthy of mentioning and possibly adding to your collection. A great dress watch goes beyond being a mere statement piece; it tells a story built on your personal style. Men's watches that are often overlooked but offer exceptional value and craftsmanship include the following:

IWC Aquatimer Automatic