For those on a real budget and who like neo-vintage watches, there are Oris pusher-operated GMTs from the 90s which you can pick up for under $1k if you're patient.
@@peakrider4886 yes "world timer" was the Oris marketing name though it wasn't a world timer by the currently understood definition - no cities around the world featured.
Very cool watch and unique, too. I have a travelers GMT, and I keep it on a watch winder to keep the date current, so this quick set date function is great also.
I am the 0.1% as I travel, weekly flights, for work. This is fantastic if I wanted an automatic. But quartz w/ radio sync makes it to easy. Seiko Astrons have a jumping hour and takes two seconds to set. Casio Oceanus makes it even easier w/ phone sync. Just can’t justify the cost of the Formex no matter how cool it is.
Hey Mark believe it or not I own the blue Stratos. I use the UTC hand different than the way you described it but that's okay. For me this watch is all about three time zones. I think it's an awesome watch and I am glad that I own this one.
Marc, very nice watch. The bezel reminds me of the art deco styling of Rockefeller Center. It's also a nice touch to put odd #'s on the right side of the date wheel and even #'s on the left. Thanks!
I own the Essence and Baby Reef, and the level of engineering and quality is exceptional, especially at their price points. The Stratos seems to share a similar focus on craftsmanship and is reasonably priced for what it offers. However, I feel it lacks the visual refinement of other models in the Formex lineup. This is one of the rare occasions where I’d need to see the watch in person before making a purchase.
Not related to the watch in the video but I need some help. My wife bought me a Squale 1521 ocean leather for Christmas that I have wanted for years. In the manual it says to pull the crown out to the first position and wind the crown counter clockwise to adjust the date, but I have always understood to wind clockwise for the Sellita 200 movement. I appreciate any help as I do not want to damage it.
I like Formex’s DNA (hey, I own a 39 mm Essence) and there is definitely serious build quality in the range. This pusher activated local time adjustment is brilliant, but as with the Reef and the field watch, Formex struggles to build a good looking watch.
I love this type of complication. Reminds me of the older Oris Worldtimer before they changed to using the bezel for changing the time (another really cool feature of engineering). I proudly can say I am in that 0.1% 😊 Thanks for showing this one! Buuuuut I’m still holding out for Mark to release an Islander with a Worldtimer disk based on the Miyota 9075 🤞
I think if I were a pilot in flight and really needed to use a watch, I'd be wearing a quartz! It would be interesting to know what watches airline pilots actually wear.
Thanks for sharing Marc! I feel Formex has great designs and use great movements containing great engineering. Ok, you’re right, it’s on the lower end of the typical price points for this type of watch but … still too rich for my wallet 😅 Happy Holidays! 🎉
I have an Oris Centennial World Timer that is a travellers GMT with am pm indicator and date that works the same way by using push buttons to advance or retard the hour hand
I mean couldn't you make the arguement that every travelers GMT is only actually useful to 0.1% of the population. An office GMT is far more useful for the great majority of people, but like no watch enthusiasts wants an office GMT, they want the version that has less utility because the internet said it was cooler.
Almost the perfect watch if you travel. A black one would make it perfect. Regardless the country imo, no one looks at a black watch. You can wear a black richard mille in the streets of some countries, no one will notice. You can wear a gold ali express and people will go to your wrist.
Why the heck would I want to use pushers when I could just use the crown!? This seems strictly worse than an ordinary (crown-operated) true GMT. It's bad enough that I have to use pushers to operate a chronograph.
It's a nice "toy" watch.........but the trillion dollar question: why would I buy this vs a Tudor or a Sinn????? yes it's different, so was the Citroen car years ago.
I'm a huge Formex fan. I own an Essence 39 and a Leggera. But this one? Frankly, I think the design is a disaster and the price is maybe overly ambitious.
The one or two people calling this a “tool watch.” 😂😂😂 People will refer to any timepiece as a tool watch & that’s just not the case here, unless that term is applied so loosely as to encompass arbitrary functions. This watch is for telling time only; just happens to be GMT to cover multiple zones. It’s not a true navigational source nor calibration design, so it’s NOT a tool watch.
Isn't the proper way to use a GMT watch to always have the GMT hand set to GMT and turn the bezel to show another time zone? Then the 12 hour hand is for local time.
There is no proper way. You use it however you want. W/ a travelers GMT most set the hour hand for local and GMT to home time. It’s why the quick set hour hand is preferred.
That’s only the proper way if you live in the Uk or France (GMT; Greenwich Meridian Time zone). Traditionally you set the GMT hand to home time zone. Bezel time is for connecting flights.
Probably one of the coolest designs i've seen as far as tool watches go.
It's certainly cool
Ok. That is one of the coolest damn watches I’ve ever seen. That AM/PM window is unreal! Thanks for showing it us!
I think it’s my favorite from Formex. Great piece IMO
thanks!
I'm safely on the 99.0% side.
How about the remaining 0.9%? How safe are you from that?
LOL
You're not mathing right
@@drfathertime”Mathing” is not a verb, or even a word, except for a 0.1% (there are 1000 0.1%s) 😂
@@borassictime918It is if you have a lisp
For those on a real budget and who like neo-vintage watches, there are Oris pusher-operated GMTs from the 90s which you can pick up for under $1k if you're patient.
Cool, I'll check it out.
@@islandwatchI think it was called the Oris Worldtimer. Quite a stylish vintage looking watch which also had the push button function.
@@peakrider4886 yes "world timer" was the Oris marketing name though it wasn't a world timer by the currently understood definition - no cities around the world featured.
Thanks Mark, always love your content, Happy Holidays and may 2025 be the BEST ever !
Thanks so much, same to you!
Wow. I really like hat. Still patiently waiting for my lume shop collab GMT to arrive. Nice to see it feature again.
Very cool watch and unique, too. I have a travelers GMT, and I keep it on a watch winder to keep the date current, so this quick set date function is great also.
That is one helluva fine watch!
Very cool watch, thanks Marc.
Unfortunately, I live at GMT 0, and my travel never takes me beyond GMT +1... a GMT watch would feel a lil ridiculous.
Wow, this is outstanding. Formex continues to stand apart from the crowd… it is almost as good-looking as my Islander Republic GMT!
A Formex model I didn't know. Very interesting. Good-looking, too.
thanks!
I am the 0.1% as I travel, weekly flights, for work. This is fantastic if I wanted an automatic. But quartz w/ radio sync makes it to easy. Seiko Astrons have a jumping hour and takes two seconds to set. Casio Oceanus makes it even easier w/ phone sync. Just can’t justify the cost of the Formex no matter how cool it is.
I get it, fully.
If I needed a gmt I would definitely own mechanical
I am also a 0.1%’er and use a Casio Oceanus T200….such a cool watch…this is a very cool mechanical for sure…
Great watch ! Top level entry level luxury watch.
Once you put one in your hands you'll see the different level.
For sure!
Great video Marc. Formex and Fortis are probably the best Swiss tool watch manufacturers IMO! 😎
"Real travelers not like going from Long Island to New Jersey" 😆 Very Funny! What can I say, I'm easily amused. Really cool watch!
Beautiful!! Makes me want to be a pilot just to have an excuse to own one of those beauties! 👍🏼👍🏼
LOL, good idea.
Desk pilot.
Such cool complications, and a sharp looking watch!
Hey Mark believe it or not I own the blue Stratos. I use the UTC hand different than the way you described it but that's okay. For me this watch is all about three time zones. I think it's an awesome watch and I am glad that I own this one.
It’s a handsome and interesting watch. Great review as always Mark!👍🏼
That lackluster charcoal version is awesome!
Marc, very nice watch. The bezel reminds me of the art deco styling of Rockefeller Center. It's also a nice touch to put odd #'s on the right side of the date wheel and even #'s on the left. Thanks!
thank you Marc!What an amazing watch! My only GMT’s are caller GMT’s. I would love to add this one to my collection!
Maybe one day!
I own the Essence and Baby Reef, and the level of engineering and quality is exceptional, especially at their price points. The Stratos seems to share a similar focus on craftsmanship and is reasonably priced for what it offers. However, I feel it lacks the visual refinement of other models in the Formex lineup. This is one of the rare occasions where I’d need to see the watch in person before making a purchase.
This is really nice, im unlucky enough to live in a 1/2 time zone, so very few gmts are any good for me.
I bet the service price on that bad boy is astronomical!
Really interesting! The ultimate GMT watch. For a while, I was trying to find the date window 😁😁👍👍.
Not related to the watch in the video but I need some help. My wife bought me a Squale 1521 ocean leather for Christmas that I have wanted for years. In the manual it says to pull the crown out to the first position and wind the crown counter clockwise to adjust the date, but I have always understood to wind clockwise for the Sellita 200 movement. I appreciate any help as I do not want to damage it.
That's a very nice design.
Thanks!
Cool watch! Any danger zones where adjustments should be avoided?
I may need to get a Formex on my wrist to see the fit. I love their designs…didn’t love the ones with the hex screws on the bezel
this watch is amazing, but spending this much on a formex would be so hard.
The GMT complication is not only for ppl that travel. It is very beneficial for talking to friends and family in different time zones. 🔥
Gorgeous design
Agree, very striking!
I'm definitely going to be pulling the trigger on a Formex next year. Will it be this one? 🤔
Lovely looking watch in my opinion, regrettably outside my price range though. Time to start saving.
I like Formex’s DNA (hey, I own a 39 mm Essence) and there is definitely serious build quality in the range.
This pusher activated local time adjustment is brilliant, but as with the Reef and the field watch, Formex struggles to build a good looking watch.
That is SO cool!
I love this type of complication. Reminds me of the older Oris Worldtimer before they changed to using the bezel for changing the time (another really cool feature of engineering). I proudly can say I am in that 0.1% 😊 Thanks for showing this one!
Buuuuut I’m still holding out for Mark to release an Islander with a Worldtimer disk based on the Miyota 9075 🤞
nice! Thanks for sharing.
Happy Holidays!
I think if I were a pilot in flight and really needed to use a watch, I'd be wearing a quartz! It would be interesting to know what watches airline pilots actually wear.
Love the idea although I've never needed a GMT
Yeah, I get that.
Very interesting!
Marc, I’ve always wondered if the 9 to 3 rule for adjusting the date applies to this style of watch? Thanks!
No, it doesn't.
Thanks for sharing Marc!
I feel Formex has great designs and use great movements containing great engineering.
Ok, you’re right, it’s on the lower end of the typical price points for this type of watch but … still too rich for my wallet 😅
Happy Holidays! 🎉
Thanks Francois. Same to you!
This is a sweet watch.
Oris had a watch like this some years ago
Ball Watch has these as well. (plus tritium)
Ball Roadmaster Pilot GMT has the pusher complication for $3200 retail.
The module does offer some great functionality to a very good eta movement but the design is not great from where I'm looking.
Fair enough!
This watch has such a tool vibe, I love it. Definitely agree with the 0.1% lol.
I like the formex garnet, but I want it in a 41. 43 is too big and 39 is a tad too small for my daily
Great looking dial. You should also check out the Mother of Sky.
That is a cool watch👍🏻
sure is.
Wow love that watch!!! Design and function. Sadly a bit pricey for me - or else I would already have one of your Squales too.
thanks, no worries.
Seiko has made watches with that type movement for decades.
For a split second I thought this was a 6139 re issue. And yes, I am sad that it’s not
Love Formex. I own 3. This one is amazing. I’d buy if I could afford, but alas………no
Oops! You've misspelled Dubois-Depraz on your web store!
That wrist shot....In the intro...
Would you be able to make an affordable islander version of this watch mark ? 🙏 😂
They could’ve easily gotten sub 12mm by using a solid caseback but no, they went the extra mile and let you see that pearlage
It makes up for being ugly by being too expensive. The pushbutton hour change is not a great idea; it's far too easy to change the hour by mistake.
I have an Oris Centennial World Timer that is a travellers GMT with am pm indicator and date that works the same way by using push buttons to advance or retard the hour hand
Its a cool GMT but it's no Rangemaster II
Very cool Formex. I'm the 99%, and don't need a GMT; but that didn't stop me from buying my ssk033. 😊
Good choice!
Ball does this with the buttons on the other side on their Roadmaster Pilot. It’s a little gimmicky imo. That doesn’t count for much though. lol.
Yeah, I found that afterwards.
Nice, but 4K?
Yup. This was filmed in 4K.
@@islandwatch LMAO
Lovely jubbly
Astonishing
thanks!
Daring design, over engineered functionality, top notch build and materials. It is a Formex.
Four large for a watch with a convenient button: Mark, you jest!
the best toy for you!
Nicest Formex ever
If they eliminated the 3,6 and 9 indices it would be 100% for me.
Noted!
Sweet watch. Would you take a necklace & matching earrings in trade? I gave the missus the jewelry yesterday & I don’t think she’ll notice the loss.
LOL. I'll consider it!
Ball have something similar.
0.0% of me has dived with your ISL-24 still love it.
LOL. That's awesome, glad to hear it.
ETA movement for over 4k😳
I mean couldn't you make the arguement that every travelers GMT is only actually useful to 0.1% of the population. An office GMT is far more useful for the great majority of people, but like no watch enthusiasts wants an office GMT, they want the version that has less utility because the internet said it was cooler.
So beautiful! One day...
Almost the perfect watch if you travel. A black one would make it perfect. Regardless the country imo, no one looks at a black watch. You can wear a black richard mille in the streets of some countries, no one will notice. You can wear a gold ali express and people will go to your wrist.
That's true.
It's not even COSC chronometer
Maybe next year 😁... Unless the wife finds out 🤣🤣🤣
LOL, I get it.
1:53 ehh … duringt the Chris Christie days, people were probably stuck at that bridge overnight during the Daylight Savings time change.
The watch functionality is great and it does look nice apart from that hideous bezel. Yep it’s only for the 0.1%
Nice
Thanks
@islandwatch plus a news junkie would put it on Israel time.like me
Why the heck would I want to use pushers when I could just use the crown!? This seems strictly worse than an ordinary (crown-operated) true GMT. It's bad enough that I have to use pushers to operate a chronograph.
It's a nice "toy" watch.........but the trillion dollar question: why would I buy this vs a Tudor or a Sinn????? yes it's different, so was the Citroen car years ago.
Does Tudor or Sinn offer this functiontality?
@@islandwatch My head went straight to Ball GMTs when saw the pusher functions. Formex seems slimmer I think.
My excuse, er, reason for GMT watch is amateur radio (ham radio). For comms, timekeeping is GMT. Never UTC for this Englishman 😅.
Ι'm impressed,really but I wouldn't pay more than 1.000$ for it.
It's amazing
And expensive 😁
double true!
"Utilitarian"
Yeah, don't like how it looks... Love Formex though
No worries, thank you.
I'm a huge Formex fan. I own an Essence 39 and a Leggera. But this one? Frankly, I think the design is a disaster and the price is maybe overly ambitious.
No worries, thanks for checking it out.
0.1%... So 330,000 to 350,000 of these watches just to supply America alone. Formex had better get to work!
The one or two people calling this a “tool watch.” 😂😂😂 People will refer to any timepiece as a tool watch & that’s just not the case here, unless that term is applied so loosely as to encompass arbitrary functions.
This watch is for telling time only; just happens to be GMT to cover multiple zones. It’s not a true navigational source nor calibration design, so it’s NOT a tool watch.
No tools here.
Waiting for all of the complaints about the brand name. Nice watch, boring biases.
LOL
Isn't the proper way to use a GMT watch to always have the GMT hand set to GMT and turn the bezel to show another time zone? Then the 12 hour hand is for local time.
There is no proper way. You use it however you want. W/ a travelers GMT most set the hour hand for local and GMT to home time. It’s why the quick set hour hand is preferred.
@@Bob_Smith19 But then there isn't really a point in having a rotating bezel.
That’s only the proper way if you live in the Uk or France (GMT; Greenwich Meridian Time zone). Traditionally you set the GMT hand to home time zone. Bezel time is for connecting flights.
Rotating bezel, for me, just means you can have a third time zone.
Yeah, Formex are great but £4gs is just too much for some random off brand, sorry.
Na stuck sieko