Collection: Formex

Formex is an independent, family-owned Swiss watch manufacturer founded in 1999 by brothers Hans-Peter and Ferdinand Grädel, based in Biel/Bienne — the historic heart of Swiss watchmaking. Every Formex watch is designed, developed, and assembled in-house, and features the brand's patented Case Suspension System, inspired by racing car engineering, which allows the watch case to flex on the wrist while protecting the movement from shock. Formex sells directly to consumers rather than through traditional retail markups, allowing it to offer genuinely Swiss Made, chronometer-grade watches at prices well below what comparable heritage brands charge. King Jewelers is proud to carry Formex for collectors who want real Swiss engineering and innovation without the traditional luxury price tag.

Formex was founded in 1999 by Swiss brothers Hans-Peter and Ferdinand Grädel, who combined their backgrounds in watchmaking with a shared passion for motorsports. Inspired by the suspension systems used in high-performance racing cars, the brothers developed Formex's signature innovation: a patented Case Suspension System that suspends the watch case on four small springs, absorbing shock and improving comfort on the wrist. Over its first fifteen years, Formex released more than 40 collections built around this technology, earning a following among enthusiasts of bold, technical sports watches. Like many independent watchmakers, Formex struggled through the 2008 financial crisis, and in 2016 the company brought on Raphael Granito as CEO, who shifted the brand away from traditional retail and toward a direct-to-consumer model — cutting out retail markups to make genuinely Swiss Made watches more accessible. In 2018, Formex relaunched its modern identity with a Kickstarter campaign for the Essence Chronometer, which reached its funding goal within 30 minutes and set the direction for the brand's current lineup, including the Essence and Reef collections. Still independent and headquartered in Biel/Bienne, Formex continues to build Swiss Made watches around its original engineering philosophy: precision, comfort, and genuine value.