Formex Stratos UTC Automatic 41mm Watch with Blue Dial #1101.1.6431.111

*NOTE THIS IS A PREORDER. Delivery to us is expected beginning of December.

Jumping Time Zones - The Stratos UTC Automatic 41 mm

The ultimate travelers watch with a jump-set true GMT functionality

Formex Swiss Made Watches are excited to announce the release of the Stratos UTC watch, featuring the most user-friendly true GMT functionality on the market. The Stratos represents Formex’s vision of a modern Pilot watch, powered by an ETA 2892 movement and enhanced with a custom module from Dubois-Dépraz. This traveler’s GMT watch offers effortless time zone adjustments with a simple click of a pusher, where the local hour hand jumps forward or backward by one hour. Built in a hand-finished and multi-layered stainless-steel case with brushed surfaces, mirror-polished bevels and sand-blasted cutouts, the watch incorporates specialized features designed for enhanced comfort and daily wearability.

Seamless Time Adjustment for Global Travelers

Formex continues to innovate in the realm of horology with the Stratos, a modern Pilot watch featuring an advanced true GMT complication. This timepiece is powered by the reliable ETA 2892 movement, enhanced with a custom module developed by Dubois-Dépraz - a movement component specialist with a legacy dating back to 1901 and known for their expertise in creating complex modules for high-end brands like Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Rolex. The Stratos' standout feature is its unique approach to GMT functionality, which is managed not through the crown but via pushers on the case side. The crisp mechanical feedback of these pushers is a testament to the fine engineering behind the module and provides a user experience reminiscent of a high-quality chronograph.

These pushers allow the local hour hand to jump forward or backward in one-hour increments with a simple press, all without stopping the balance or having to remove the watch from the wrist. Adjusting the local time past midnight will also adjust the date, both forward and backward. This complication is an intuitive solution for travelers, eliminating the need for the process of unscrewing, adjusting, and rescrewing the crown. Additionally, the Stratos includes a quick-set date function, decoupled from the main crown, and features a day/night indicator to maintain clarity on time-related context. This combination of advanced functionality and user-centric design underscores Formex's commitment to delivering sophisticated, practical solutions for the modern traveler. The inner workings of the mechanical movement can be observed through the open case back, protected by a sapphire crystal, showcasing the fully decorated movement wound by a custom skeletonized rotor.

Building on Formex’s innovative case and clasp technology, Formex takes the Stratos to new heights by meticulously enhancing the brand's renowned finishing techniques. The multi-layered stainless-steel case combines contrasting elements, such as brushed surfaces, hand-polished bevels, and precisely machined sandblasted cutouts, simulating swept wing designs found in supersonic aircraft. The sandblasted surfaces gently diffuse light, creating a slim and elegant side profile that stands apart from the rest of the case. This design extends to the pushers, which are shaped to align seamlessly with the case’s aerodynamic profile and accented with polished bevels. The screw-down crown is embossed with a brushed logo on a sandblasted background.

The dial mirrors the case’s complexity with a multi-layered design, made by Formex’s dial atelier in the Swiss Jura mountains. A radiant sunray finish emanates from the center, flowing outward to meet the stepped-down and grainé-finished hour track and the date counter display at 6 o’clock, while the 24-hour track on the chapter ring sports a circular brush finish. The applied Formex logo at 12 o'clock and a day/night indicator at 9 o'clock further add depth. Hand-painted numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock, filled with Swiss Super-LumiNova BGW9, sit between applied indices. A set of pilot-style syringe hands, finished with Formex’s signature mix of brushed and diamond-cut edges, ensure accurate timekeeping. This intricate design is protected by a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating for optimal clarity. The bi-directional, 48-click stainless steel bezel is laser engraved and filled with colored resin, featuring a circular brushed finish. This process creates a sleek surface where the numerals remain level with the bezel while maintaining the strength of stainless steel. If not used to track a third time zone, the bezel’s 24-hour scale allows for easy tracking of your home time at a glance.

As a true pilot's watch, the Stratos is anchored in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), the aviation industry's global standard for timekeeping. UTC ensures a stable and unchanging reference for international aviation operations, including flight planning and weather forecasting, making it an essential tool for frequent travelers and aviation professionals alike.

Built to wear everyday

Beyond enhancing its visual appeal, the details on the Stratos UTC 41 mm are designed with functionality in mind. To ensure it remains a versatile timepiece for any occasion, Formex has prioritized exceptional wrist comfort. The curved lugs perfectly fall with the natural wrist curvature of its wearer and create an integrated look for the stainless-steel bracelet with its short and highly articulated links. Tested and proven in Formex’s bestselling collection, the Essence, the bracelet features a seamless buckle with a butterfly clasp, and a hidden micro-extension of 4 mm that allows for some more space when needed.