Hands-On – Formex AS1100, a Powerful and Bold Chronograph with Accessible Price

Recently, we have reported how Formex had shifted their business model from wholesale distribution to direct-to-customer, adopting an online sales strategy. Today, we are going hands-on with one of their best-selling watches, the rugged, macho AS1100. Let’s take a closer look at the 999-piece limited edition of this chronograph with a bold, powerful and masculine look.

Formex has always produced rugged functional watches with a robust, technical feel. As one of the high-adrenaline collections of the brand, the automotive-inspired AS1100 is no exception.

Despite its large 46.5 mm, the AS1100 wears surprisingly well, thanks to its short lugs but mostly due to the brand’s unique active suspension system. This patented construction is designed to protect the case and its movement from shocks and vibrations. It also enhances wearing comfort, allowing the case to adapt perfectly to the motion of the wrist. It is fashioned out of steel, titanium and black-PVD coated bezel and it is rated 100m water resistant.

The AS1100 features a carbon fibre dial with the familiar Valjoux layout (12, 9 and 6 o’clock subdials) and day-date indication. The red part of the double-ended central chronograph hand is used to read the speed on the tachymeter scale printed on the flange.

The Formex AS1100 is powered by the tried and tested Valjoux 7750. The legendary cam-and-lever chronograph is an extremely tough, accurate and reliable workhorse. Operating at 28,000 vibrations per hour, it features day-date indication and a hacking second. Turning the watch over, the exhibition case-back allows discovering the chronograph mechanism. The movement decoration is clean and simple; the rotor features a sunray pattern and the brand logo. The piece we had for review has a checkered flag transfer on the case back sapphire glass.

The Formex AS1100 is available with several strap/bracelet options. The model we had was worn on a sporty fabric strap with white stitching, secured with a pin buckle. It is also proposed with a black silicon strap or black bracelet.

Priced at 1,255 Swiss Francs, the AS1100 represents excellent value for money for a Valjoux-powered chronograph. It is indeed a worthy pick if you a looking for an aggressive sporty/technical design, and if you’re not the type to need a famous brand name to impress your friends. One of the reasons that Formex is able to offer such affordable prices is because they sell their watches directly to clients (no distributor, no retailers or other middlemen).

Read our article on how the brand switched their model from wholesale distribution to direct-to-customer. For more information about Formex watches, please visit www.formexwatch.com

Technical specifications Formex AS1100 – reference 8199

• Case: 46.5 mm x 14 mm – black PVD coated stainless steel/titanium – sapphire crystal and see-through case back with anti-reflective coating – water resistant to 100m.
• Movement: mechanical with automatic winding, Valjoux 7750 – 48h power reserve – 28,800 vibrations/h – 25 jewels – hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph, day and date indications.
• Strap: technical fabric strap with pin buckle.
• Limited edition of 999 pieces
• Price:  CHF 1,255 (CHF 1,385 on bracelet).