Formex

Raphael Granito Sr. founded Formex in 1999 in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, the industrial heart of Swiss mass watch production. Granito's founding innovation was the case-suspension system: the watch movement is mounted inside a spring-loaded chassis within the outer case, so shock forces to the case are absorbed before reaching the movement. The patent was issued in 1999 and has remained Formex's core technical differentiator.

Through the 2000s and 2010s Formex produced serious tool-and-sports watches with the suspension system: chronographs, divers, and GMT variants at mid-market prices (CHF 2,000-4,000). The brand was commercially modest but built a technical reputation among enthusiasts; Formex pieces were widely cited for their genuine anti-shock performance (verified in independent drop tests) and for the distinctive visual design of the exposed suspension springs through the dial or caseback.

In 2019, Raphael Granito Jr. (son of the founder) took over and relaunched the brand with a new commercial model: direct-to-consumer online sales through the Formex website, bypassing retailers. This allowed the brand to offer COSC-certified Swiss Made references with the suspension system at CHF 2,500-4,500 retail, meaningfully below competitive positioning. The flagship Essence (2020), an integrated-bracelet automatic sports watch, became the brand's commercial breakthrough; positioned directly against watches like the Tudor Black Bay and Oris Big Crown at similar pricing but with the case-suspension advantage.

The modern collection includes the Essence 39 and Essence 41 (integrated-bracelet sports watch), the Reef (dive watch, 300m), the Element (field-watch variant), and various limited editions. All references use COSC-certified automatic movements (ETA or Sellita base with Formex modifications) and the patented case-suspension architecture. Retail: approximately CHF 2,500 (Essence 39 base) to CHF 4,500 (Reef Blue Forged Carbon) and CHF 6,000+ for specific limited-edition configurations. Annual production is in the low tens of thousands, substantial for a direct-to-consumer Swiss independent.