Formex has been making some pretty substantial moves in the latter half of 2020. A few months ago we brought you a hands on look at their new Reef diver, which is the first watch from the brand following an overhaul of their operation, logo included. Last week saw the unveiling of a new version of what is perhaps their signature watch, the Essence, in an easy to wear 39mm case size. This is certainly part of a trend in the watch community – smaller cases are coming back into vogue after a prolonged period of big cases taking center stage – but it seems like a pretty major shift for Formex, which is so closely associated with maximalist sports watches with a lot of wrist presence. A 39mm watch is naturally going to be more refined, and it?s a compelling watch if you?ve been Formex-curious in the past but have been nervous about case size and wearability. 
The distinguishing feature of the Essence and other watches in the Formex lineup is their Case Suspension System, which mounts the case on a series of springs, allowing it to better absorb shocks. Unlike the new Reef linked above, the new Essence makes use of this feature, which is certainly an impressive party trick, and the calling card of the Essence in particular. The very idea of it goes hand in hand with the modern, angular styling of the Essence case, which has been largely ported to the 39mm version from the significantly larger 43mm Essence that the brand still offers. Formex points out that ...