To Formex Reef, or not to Formex Reef……

🔥

I was going to say Seiko Prospex GMT or Zelo Spearfish GMT but both are out of stock.

It wears a little large, but not too bad. 47mm L2L is quite doable for the average wrist. If you are in SF, Toppers has one in stock at a great price. Why not stop by and try it on (hopefully before someone buys it).

https://topperjewelers.com/products/pre-owned-formex-13603?_pos=2&_sid=1584b7427&_ss=r

Without having seen a Glycine in person, my reservation is the dial seems like it may be a little cluttered and hard to read at a glance. But it is no doubt a beautiful piece. I’ve considered it before for sure. I’ll take another look. Thanks for the suggestion.

I’m definitely looking for a gmt over a dive watch, but a functional bezel would be nice. The reef is kind of cool because it’s both.

Zelos is a cool brand. I definitely want to own one. The one I was looking at was the blacktop gmt. But sold out, and maybe a little thicker than I like. I’m gonna have to find one in person to try on.

Thanks for the heads up on this, I’ll definitely have to go check this out. Too bad it isn’t a white dial otherwise I’d definitely have to buy it 🤣

In just browsing their site, this quartz model is actually very appealing to me. I like the 12 hour markers over the 24 in terms of legibility. And it has 100m water resist vs 30m. If only they made it in white. Maybe I’ll have to make an exception 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

I think if you are looking for gmt watches with a rotating external bezel you will struggle to get much smaller. Christopher Ward have the aquitaine which is 41 and a 39 with a fixed bezel but the good thing about the reef is that you can change the bezel. You could have a dive bezel and a 24h gmt bezel, check with the dealer but I've been told that they are interchangeable between the reef gmt and the standard reef.

I believe the bezels are interchangeable between the 2. The Reef seems hard to beat. So many prime features that many other watch companies aren’t offering. This watch can be a gmt, a dive, both at the same time. Has tool less micro adjust bracelet and is cosc. I think at this point I’m just selling myself on it. Maybe I’ll just gain some weight so my wrist fits the 42mm diameter better 🤣

What size is your wrist? Also I believe they do free returns if you don't like it. I was very close to getting one myself but being from the UK I could get much better deals on a CW than on brands like Formex and Monta.

It fluctuates between 6.25”-6.4”

I purchased a Cw c63 sealander awhile back but sent it back. Something about the white dial and indices on it wasn’t appealing. I think it was too shiny where as I prefer a matte white. Great prices for what they offer tho.

I Can't get over the strange lump on the lh side of the case to be honest

Seiko Gmt 3 days is definitely on my radar a d would be where my money was going

They do a white gmt airman if this helps

Its hard without putting it on but it visually looks larger but wears smaller. I tried it on at Windup Chicago and the unique case design makes it look bigger horizontally but its got shorter lugs so it wears similar to a 40-41. My bb58 isn’t that much different in overall lug to lug. It does sit incredibly low on the wrist. And the only diver that I feel is thinner is a Sinn U50. Which is incredible in its own right.

I met the owner of Formex 3 days ago at a watch fair in Paris. Awesomely cool and friendly guy, made my perception of the brand go even top than before.

First, even the 42mm Reef sits quite well on a small wrist (mine is 16,5 cm), the lug to lug is ultra short.

Second, If it's really the watch you like but the only matter is the size, wait for few weeks more, there is something that will give you joy coming...

Fortis Flieger GMT hits almost all the marks. Its 43 mm though.

https://www.fortis-swiss.com/watches/sky/flieger/flieger-f-43-triple-gmt-titanium-orange-on-block-bracelet/

If you don’t mind pre owned, you can find an Omega Semaster GMT out there for around $2,500 USD. I had one and loved it.

It is a little strange, or unique you could say? I don’t mind it. Makes the watch more symmetrical. And gives it a look not a lot of other watches have. I understand your reservations about it tho.

I’ve tried a few Seikos and I just can’t get over the thickness of so many of their watches. They seem to always sit high on the wrist and be a little bulbous. But that’s just my personal take. I prefer slimmer more streamlined pieces.

Hmm I didn’t see this on their official website. Looks pretty good and super affordable. Might have to try it just to try it. Thanks!

Thanks for your input. Yes the thinness is the saving grace considering the wider diameter. I love a low streamlined wrist watch as I currently daily wear a IWC mark XV.

The Tudor BB pro is a looker, but too thick for my personal picky tastes unfortunately.

Hmmm, you can’t tease us like that haha. Tell us more? Or send a dm? 😬

Dont have reservations, its not a watch that interests me,

If the bulge served a purpose I could understand, even the formex website shows the watch partially hidden under a cuff to hide it 🤣

If your wanting a slim dive watch there are plenty under budget that are slimmer

Dimensions on paper don't always relate to real life. The seiko sumo case is the perfect example on paper it's big in the real world its one of the comfiest cases out there

If your just looking for thin,

glycine combat sub 10.8mm! Very underrated brand.

Spinnaker spence

Longines hydroconquest

Mido oceanstar

All under 12mm

Seiko spb313 is 12mm with the 62mas case which wears incredibly well and amazing quality, definitely would be on my shortlist

Does this bother you too? To each their own, I’m not necessarily a fan of the nautilus either, but the symmetry doesn’t bother me tho.

the nautilus does nothing for me, It's not something I would buy with my hard earned, I appreciate symmetry when it's done well, a pointless bulging protrusion isn't my idea of it being done well. 🤮

I have the same issue. I love the Formex design but my wrists are a bit scared of the size. I think with this case shape and reasonable lug to lug it may still work. Personally, I'll probably want to try one on or wait for a smaller one.

Thanks for the list, I’ll have to check them all out later tonight when I have some time. Appreciate it!

Hey mate ! Don't know if you saw but it's offical Formex release the Reef in 39.5mm !

Cheers

Awesome! Thanks for the heads up!