The Formex Field is a watch that Oracle Time members should be familiar with, after all we recently gave one away as part of the quarterly membership prize draw. It’s a versatile and accessible field watch that combines a titanium case with a sandwich dial and retro stencil display. Now the collection is receiving a revamp with the launch of the Formex Field Automatic Gen 2.
At its core this is an aesthetic update as the Formex Field Automatic Gen 2 features the same 40mm Grade 2 titanium case with super hard coating. But honestly, it’s a really nice case so why change it? It has a 150m water resistance rating and with that coating adding an extra layer of durability, it really is well built to tackle a range of conditions without having the specialised (and often bulky) elements of a niche tool watch such as a diver.
Where the Field Automatic Gen 2 differs from the original is the dial. Instead of the single matte block of colour, it’s now presented in a sector style with sunray brushed discs in the centre and around the periphery while the hour scale is presented on a matte ring. It makes for a much more refined display thanks to the contrasting finishes, not to mention a brighter one with the integration of sunray elements that reflect much more light.
As for colour, it’s presented with three options, all different from the Gen 1. There’s Ice Blue, Coho Salmon and Basalt Grey. The blue and salmon in particular feel very fresh and bright in comparison to the sage green, petrol blue and charcoal of the previous version. It’s amazing how thoroughly a simple change such as colour and finish can transform the look of a watch. It makes you inspect every aspect of the dial in a new light, including the stencil numerals and sandwich construction.
Powering the Formex Field Automatic Gen 2 is the Sellita SW200-1 with 41-hour power reserve. A staple of the watch industry that’s also found in the Gen 1, so no surprises here. It also helps to keep the watch nice and accessible: £780 on nylon or Velcro strap and £890 on leather strap with deployant clasp. With its more refined, slightly dressier dial, I think it really suits the leather.
Price and Specs:
Model:
Formex
Field Automatic Gen 2
Case:
40mm
diameter x 10.5mm thickness, grade 2 titanium
Dial:
Ice
blue, coho salmon or basalt grey, dual-component with sunburst center, sloped minute track, sandwich-style recessed numerals, colour-adjusted Super-LumiNova®, beveled date window with colour-matched date disc
Water resistance:
150m
(15 bar)
Movement:
Sellita
calibre SW200-1, automatic, 26 jewels
Frequency:
28,800
vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve:
41h
Functions:
Hours,
minutes, seconds, date
Strap:
black,
blue or khaki green nylon velcro or Bolgheri leather with carbon deployant clasp
Price:
$870
(approx. £685)
More details at Formex.
Oracle Time