Side by side

Formex Reef 42 mmvsVario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

Reef 42 mm
FormexReef 42 mm
MSRP $2,414
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound
VarioEmpire Art Nouveau Handwound
MSRP $888

At a glance

12 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Reef 42 mm42mm
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound38mm
Power Reserve
Reef 42 mm56h
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound40h
Water Resistance
Reef 42 mm300m
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound50m
MSRP
Reef 42 mm$2,414
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound$888

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Category
Diver
Dress
Diameter
42mm
38mm
Thickness
11.4mm
11mm
Lug-to-Lug
47mm
38mm
Lug Width
22mm
20mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
300m
50m

Crystal & Dial

1 specs
Lume
Super-LumiNova
None

Movement

3 specs
Caliber
Sellita SW300-1
Miyota 6T33
Type
Automatic
Manual
Power Reserve
56h
40h

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$2,414
$888

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What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

Formex Reef 42 mm

The Formex Reef 42 mm is widely praised for its comfortable bracelet featuring a micro-adjust clasp, COSC-certified Sellita movement, and excellent build quality. Owners appreciate the gradient dial's visual appeal and the overall wearability. Some owners note the seconds hand does not perfectly align with markers, and one owner found the lugs' taper hinders third-party strap fit. The bracelet's length and sporty design are noted as limiting versatility by some. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the Formex Reef 42 mm highly for its impressive wearability and value at the price point.

Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

Owners widely praise the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound for its detailed, multi-layered dial featuring applied numerals and guilloche patterns, its elegant Art Deco-inspired design, and the enjoyable winding feel of the Miyota 6T33 handwound movement, often visible through an exhibition case back. The 38mm case size is considered a positive by many, and the included leather strap is noted for its comfort and quality. Some owners find the differing fonts on the sub-dials and perimeter less appealing, and the absence of a constant seconds sub-dial is flagged as a drawback. On balance, owners rate the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound highly for its distinctive Art Deco styling and detailed dial at its price point.

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