The Formex Field Watch: The Full Nick Shabazz Review

[@NicholasCFranklin]

Doesn't get more thorough than a 30 minute review. Good work Nick. I like what Formex is up too. Pushing alot of brands at higher prices than them to be better.

[@MightyRedHat]

I am not a watch person, I only ever wear my running watch. But I find this watch beautiful! Something about it really sings to me. Great review Nick!

[@folksurvival]

Running watch? A Timex Ironman?

[@davidinghram2494]

I have always been partial to that style of watch, and that appears to be a good one. My EDC is a 1950 Omega stainless Seamaster. At this point, it looks like it and I are going to finish our lives together. Good review as always Nick.

[@GaryHorn]

I'm one of those guys who have not been into watches. My Timex Expeditions have been fine. But this watch...you may have pushed me over the edge toward buying this one! This watch is calling my name!

[@d2rufffalco459]

I email Formex about The hardening process and the CEO said. Hi Kevin, The coating is a physical vapor deposition that hardens the top 3 microns of the material to reach a hardness of about 900 Vickers. Best regards, Raphael Raphael Granito TEAM Formex

[@zumalot]

I've become a Formex semi-fanboy. Retirement has kept my $$$ in the pocket and with the current economic situation......well I'll just leave that one alone. Anyway I generally like what Formex has been doing. With this one I'm still trying to get use to the cut out like dial, but can appreciate a company trying something new although I believe I've noted the style on another brand. Anyway the 2 looks cut off on the left to me. I personally could not part with $800 for this watch. The case was really nice. I think the particular grade of the movement is adjusted to two positions at the factory, but could be wrong. My thoughts on the timepiece carries my usual stamp of IMHO. I was just happy to see another Nick Shabazz watch review and that's a beautiful thing.

[@jacksteaks4943]

Hey nick i hate these reviews. Because i end up thinking 'wow this watch is really cool, i would love to own something like this'. But i cannot justify spending anything approaching this much on something the just tells time. Sooooo good work as always!

[@d2rufffalco459]

I got this watch last month on the 15. It’s is a awesome watch sandwich like dial great lume my TI case has not a scratch to be seen I picked up the sage green dial. At am at +5 a day.

[@skukeness6201]

That little impression that juts out from 12 and 6 down to the lug looks like a midlink and leads me to believe they'll have a bracelet for this eventually

[@Niklas4hnd]

Just ordered this, can't wait to hold it in hand! Also you just got yourself a new subscriber.

[@Dohnjoe5940]

hey mate, did you like it?

[@bani_niba]

Mark at LIW really loved the velcro strap.

[@jackfranklin3225]

Just needs a bracelet and this would be perfect ! Any idea I’d Formex will be releasing one at a later date?

[@SteveLum]

Overall great watch though yes for me the font for the numbers is a bit weird and I agree the hands do not differentiate enough however I love the quality of Formex. Fantastic review as always

[@d2rufffalco459]

Yeah I thought that about the numbers on the dial all so but it all makes the watch different from all other and I think it works well with the total contrast of the dial alone the two and 4 I would be able to know one from the other.

[@Minniemoo2025]

Nice review Nick. I really like cyperpunk font. But you didn’t mention the sandwich dial which I also think also adds to overall quality feel of this gem.

[@d2rufffalco459]

The font Reminds me of Blade Runner font.

[@VOIDVIDS]

For nonstandard field watch case design have you tried out the BOLDR Expedition V2 line? Super rad

[@attchoum]

Hey Nick! Did you try to fit that formex on the strap of the varios you review 3 month ago? I bet it would look good...

[@VOIDVIDS]

I might not be running out to buy a Formex watch....but I am running out to get that velcro strap!

[@jolness1]

The fauxtina on these is my biggest gripe. It probably isn't my style anyways but I think its a great design outside of the lume, that is a personal preference. Love the thinness, I am sure it is almost toy like in the weight so perfect for the field watch.

[@iancastro9672]

I agree with a lot of review, I love the titanium on this watch but I’m not a fan of the font and more importantly the vintage color. I hope that they will do another titanium watch in the future preferably with a bracelet too

[@Minniemoo2025]

Great review Nick. Just purchased this gem and yes the face on mine is a little askew as well. Ever so slightly to the right and then sometimes not at all. Is the dial playing tricks with my mind? A little disappointing given I have heard so much positive stuff on their quality control. Not a deal breaker though. Another thing I’ve noticed is the movement is quite noisy. If I tap the watch the rotor “rattle” is noticeable. I have tested this against a Sinn 104 which has a similiar Sellita 220 type movement. There is a similar “rattle” but it is a lot more muted. It ticks louder too. These must be the characteristics of a titanium case which I have not owned before. All in all though this is a great looking watch and is really comfortable to wear. It’s keeping great time too at +4s.

[@Redspark77]

Hey mate, how is it holding up? I am saving for my first field watch and this formex is my first option.

[@dustingaddis2423]

Nick - dude, you've got to check out the titanium field watches from Citizen. Seriously. I have one I'll send you try if you want. They're JDM only, but they're so so so good and I know you'd love them. They have a shorter lug to lug than this Formex so they wear better on smaller wrists. They're quartz, with a good shock resistance system so they're tougher than the Selitta movements that break from winding them (I have a Christopher Ward in for repair for that issue currently...). Perpetual calendar with day and date display. Great bracelet with THE BEST quick adjust clasp on the market, at any price point. You can adjust it either direction while wearing the watch and without opening the clasp, and the clasp is still nice and thin and comfortable. And their surface treatment is better, their DuraTect treatments start at 1000 Vickers and go up to 2500 Vickers, which is actually harder than sapphire!! For reference most titanium is around 150 and stainless steel is about 200 Vickers. Here's the link to the Japanese Citizen site and their Promaster Land models, scroll down a bit to see the four variations of the classically styled field watches. I've got the PMD56-2952, and really, if you want to check it out I'll send it to you for a bit. citizen.jp/promaster/index.html#c102640

[@NickShabazz]

Could you email me some reference numbers?

[@NickShabazz]

CITIZEN PROMASTER LAND AT6085-50E , I'm assuming. Got one on the way, thanks for the tip!

[@dustingaddis2423]

@@NickShabazz Yessir, that's the new DLC one. I've got the older model, which is still available, the PMD56-2952. Citizen's DLC titanium is awesome. I'm not in love with the khaki colored hands/markers combined with the white/silver day/date wheel on the model you have incoming though. Is that being picky? Oh yeah. And FYI I use the ClockWave app to sync mine every so often.

[@shawnlavigne9069]

I like the Field a lot myself. Might pick one up.

[@void1984]

It's a titanium watch without a big TITANIUM on the side. Amazing.

[@rabadabadoo491]

If you like this, have a look at the citizen promaster "ray mears" half the price, twice the watch.

[@ionutcatalin6620]

don't ever adjust the date with the hour market at 12. omg...

[@gregbrown4261]

Good review. My wallet was fortunate that I balked at the color options. I find it difficult to decide which of them I like, I suspect because of the titanium which makes my eyes want to think that the lighting is off in product photos and reviews. I wanted to like the 'petrol blue' because I try to vary dial color in my collection and I'd like another blue dial, but I think I just don't like the tealish color. I like the green and red but those are more niche colors and I already have watches in similar colors. Grey may be the way to go. Felt the same way about the leather. The straps do look dried out. Hopefully down the line they release these on bracelets and/or rubber. I don't care much for the velcro.

[@David-js6sl]

Something about the number font.. i don’t think I dig that tbh, the overall watch is decent though Imo.

[@fredf9562]

Thanks again Nick for the advice, “Don’t get into watches!” My Casio and Seiko are good enough. I’d rather enjoy my new Rockwell in Magnacut. 🙏👍🏻

[@maxmeier532]

I dont understand why people are so hung up on the regulation of the movement. There are SW100 elaborate versions, so doesnt that mean you can take any standard SW100, take it to your watchmaker and have it regulated as well as a COSC?

[@jolness1]

Love the comparison to the Octo Finnissimo. I thought the same thing. I believe they are using a top grade sw200 but adjusting them further.

[@d2rufffalco459]

It’s a Standard grade. Unfortunately.

[@jolness1]

@@d2rufffalco459 bummer. The top grade gets all of the improvements that the chrono does buy no cosc guarantee and less regulated from the factory. It’s probably fine and will keep decent time but if it is off by 10 or 15 seconds a day and it’s a persons only watch… there is no warranty issue there per the rated accuracy of the sw200 and they’ll be off by 5 minutes a month. Not a huge deal but would probably want to adjust the time once a month to compensate. Thanks for the information on this!

[@d2rufffalco459]

Thank for the information on the sw200 but I made a mistake the correct eta in the Field is the sw200-1

[@jolness1]

@@d2rufffalco459 the -1 is is still an sw200, I believe it is a revision number like eta does the 2892-A2. Sw200 is just a clone of the eta 2824, Selita used to make movements under contract for eta so they didn’t have a hard time cloning it and the movement has long since lost patent protection. I can’t remember if it is the sw200 or sw300 (2894 clone) that has a longer power reserve on the most recent revision, even besting ETA although being owned by swatch, it’s tough to get the eta movements except in small quantities. To the point where La Joux-Perret now makes the G100 which is a drop in replacement for the 2824 but with better specs.

[@mildmannerededc]

Love the OCD of the slight pause when demonstrating the hacking so you could stop the second hand right at 15sec. #orangeandblackdevotee

[@styraxopoponax8294]

Pretty impressed by the micro-adjust system, so I looked up their whole line. Kinda turned off by the rest of their offerings, but this one is quite nice.

[@tomhohum4275]

What a nit picker!! You have to understand what they were going for. It’s a modern take on a utilitarian watch never meant to be dressed up. I absolutely love mine in green. For the price it’s excellent

[@freestatefellow]

Huh. Looks like a nice watch, but my Bertucci scratches the same itch. And quartz is probably a better choice for me.

[@hkl614]

thank you for sounding like a Seinfeld character. hilarious

Can't unsee the "skew" :D

[@PINKFL0YD-s2h]

I should like it but I don't for some reason. Could be the nasty fake lume or the numbers which look a bit small to me.

[@Med_Flanders]

I prefer the Ripley scale to Bishop

[@destro6971]

The A2s always were a bit twitchy.

[@thomaslinton5765]

Beyond color, very different straps. Slow down and get the measurements right, please. Less caffeine.

[@clintonlewis1261]

looks good but to expensive, nice review.

[@dm3639]

You don't know Vickers? How are you gonna call out the intellectual posers at a Hahvahd baa?

[@unclejoe6811]

Formex sounds like a brand of spray foam

[@michaels3429]

As I wear my hamilton field for my first watch lol

[@TheDesius]

the price is not as good as you make it sound the watch looks similar as the Boldr Venture and you can get that one on a full titanium bracelet for only 400$ thats less then half the price of the Formex on a leather strap.

[@Redspark77]

Well the overall quality on the formex is far superior, better movement and strap.

[@jacknemo8021]

Not a diver? You okay?

[@MrBacchus18]

I'd rather save a little bit and get a SWC Bunker.

[@davidwatson3035]

You'll always be a flashing bogger to me!

[@waynesellers4078]

I really like the design of the clasp but personally I don't think the field is a great offering from formex

[@modofatak]

Peat bog with a flashlight. Find me another watch review with those words in that order.