t all started with a personal gift. Formex CEO Raphael Granito wanted to create something special for his mother and surprised her with a diamond-set bezel on an Essence 39 Mother-of-Sky. When images of the watch were shared, the response was overwhelming. Customers began reaching out, asking whether they, too, could have a gem-set Formex of their own.

What began as a one-off creation has since evolved into a bespoke gem-setting programme, offering natural gemstones including diamonds, rubies, tsavorites and sapphires, all set in Switzerland by an independent specialist. “Most of the requests come directly from clients,” says Formex CEO Raphael Granito. “They want something more personal, and gem-setting gives us a way to create a watch that feels genuinely unique without changing the DNA of the Essence.”