Formex Reef 39.5mm Dive Watch with Forged Carbon Dial and Bezel #2201.1.6399.100

PREORDER ONLY. EXPECTED IN STOCK DATE IS MID-MAY 2026.

The Reef, Recast in Forged Carbon
With a dial and an interchangeable bezel executed in forged carbon, Formex adds a new aesthetic dimension to its versatile Reef dive watch collection.This release also marks the brand’s debut at Chronopolis—a curated gathering of independent watchmakers in the heart of Geneva, taking place from April 14 to 18, 2026, during Watches and Wonders week.

Key Takeaways:

• Carbon, without the usual story: Forged carbon is not used here to chase performance metrics, but to explore material character—bringing depth, variation, and a new visual language to the Reef. As light moves across the dial, it echoes the surface of water: subtle, fluid, and always intriguing.
• Engineering, with finesse: From the beveled date aperture to the lume-filled bezel, the Reef expresses Formex’s approach to material mastery—challenges are resolved, never worked around.
• A Reef, through and through: 300 m water resistance, a screw-down crown, and a COSC-certified Sellita SW300-1 with a 56-hour power reserve—built in a compact 45.5 mm lug-to-lug case, engineered to just 11 mm in height for exceptional comfort and everyday wear.
• Versatile, as ever: This new addition to the line-up opens new possibilities for configuring interchangeable bezels and quick-release straps with Formex’s signature clasp systems, extending the watch’s character yet preserving its identity.
• Chronopolis debut: The Reef 39.5 Forged Carbon launch also marks Formex’s debut at Chronopolis—an open, curated gathering of independent watch brands in the heart of Geneva, focused on direct and accessible engagement.

BIEL/BIENNE, SWITZERLAND – Carbon is not a new material. It is the oldest one—the foundation of organic life, and, in its engineered form, one of the most advanced materials used today.With the Reef 39.5 Forged Carbon, Formex brings these two realities together. Not as a claim of performance, but as an exploration of material: how forged carbon introduces a new visual and tactile dimension that finds a natural place within the language of a modern dive watch.

Not Woven. Not Layered. Forged.
Though both express high-performance material science in different domains, forged carbon differs fundamentally from woven carbon fiber in its visual signature.

Instead of ordered strands that are layered and cured, short carbon fibers are distributed in a form and compressed under heat and pressure into a dense composite. The result is a surface without repetition—each dial and bezel develops its own structure.

Look closely, and the light shifts subtly over the surface. Movement emerges through variations in tone, filaments, and transitions. The scale of the pattern and the overall visual rhythm are defined before pressing the block of carbon from which the dial and bezel are made. For the Reef, Formex worked toward a pattern that feels closer in spirit to the watch it inhabits. The result is not designed in the conventional sense, but neither is it accidental. It sits between the two: guided, but never fully dictated –a controlled randomness.

Depth of Perception
There is more engineering to the aesthetics. Integrating forged carbon into the Reef requires adapting the watch to the material—not the other way around. The dial is constructed on a brass base plate, necessary for structural stability and for the attachment of dial feet. To ensure visual consistency, the base is treated with a black galvanic finish, preventing any interference with the carbon’s depth.

Retaining the beveled date window at 6 o’clock—a Formex hallmark and one of the Reef’s defining details—requires precise control of thickness and layering, ensuring a crisp and consistent geometry.

On the bezel, the process is equally exacting. Numerals are engraved using a femtosecond laser that removes material without generating heat that could damage or alter the composite—the carbon is not excavated, but effectively vaporized. The engraved cavities are then filled by hand with BGW9 Grade A Super-LumiNova, applied under a microscope using a pneumatic syringe, before being cured to secure the material in place.

Raphaël Granito, CEO of Formex Watch SA: “Carbon is usually associated with performance —racing, aerospace, high-stress environments. At Formex, we’re very familiar with the material and its applications, both through our motorsports heritage and across our collections. With the Reef, the approach was different. It’s not about optimizing weight, but about exploring the material’s visual and structural qualities—and integrating it properly. That’s where the real challenge is. And if you look at how the light plays across the forged carbon pattern, on both the dial and the bezel, you see why it makes so much sense here.”

Still the Reef
Beneath the surface, the fundamentals remain unchanged. The 39.5 mm case balances presence and wearability; with a 45.5 mm lug-to-lug span and a slim 11 mm profile that sits comfortably on a wide range of wrists. The Reef’s signature crown guard combines protection with comfort and ease of wear.

Water resistance is rated to 300 meters, supported by a screw-down crown and a fully functional dive bezel. The COSC-certified SellitaSW300-1 –selected for its longer power reserve of 56 hours and a slimmer profile –contributes to a more compact case and improved wrist feel. Details remain consistent with the Reef’s design language: faceted indices angled toward the center, brushed surfaces paired with polished bevels, and finishing that reveals itself fully under magnification.

Versatility as a System
The Reef’s interchangeable bezel system remains central to the watch’s architecture. The forged carbon insert becomes one expression—ceramic, steel, and other options allow the watch to move across configurations without breaking its coherence.

Strap options include steel bracelet, rubber, leather, and nylon—all equipped with quick-release systems and, depending on the version, Formex’s fine adjustment mechanisms for quick, tool-free adaptability.