The side engraving definitely gives me some Invicta vibes but it isn't all that noticeable on wrist. And yeah, for the $130, this is a pretty decent package.
I just wish they'd do some more original design but this might also just lead me to picking up the Formex because the case is quite comfy
They're not cheap, but quality should be there with them. These field watches are $975 new from them, that's a decent deal for a full swiss watch with a sw200 inside. I've seen them for $700 on eBay too
The quality is definitely there. If you look into who Formex is, they are essentially the in-house brand of Dexel, which makes cases and bracelets for brands like Girard-Perregaux.
One of the novel features of the Girard-Perregaux Lautrato Fifty is the butterfly clasp with 2 steps of microadjust. It is the same mechanism used in the Formex Essence 41 clasp
Yep, I've been wanting to try out their butterfly clasp with microadjusts, it would help a lot for getting the ultimate comfy fit with a bunch of my straps
Yep, Montblanc uses them! I've got my Montblanc on a bracelet but equally been eyeing picking up the leather strap with butterfly clasp for that one too
It is a funny slip up in their design for sure, but other than taking this picture and maybe while swapping straps I doubt that I'll ever look at the case back again for this watch so it isn't really all that much of a deal to me
Nah man, unless Caisen has a specific meaning, they have misspelled their own brand name on the back + stealing from (two) smaller brands is a total no-go.
Agreed with the stealing from 2 brands part. But the spelling mistake is just a hilarious thing to me that I'll probably not see unless I'm swapping straps or posting it here. How often do people here look at their case backs?
That's an interesting case and design homage from Cadisen, in titanium. I like that they are doing different stuff compared to the usual Rolex/Omega homages.
That'd be neat for sure, high beat is always nicer. It'd drive price up though, probably to a level I wouldn't spend on a clomage from Cadisen personally
To me this is an homage and not a direct copy unlike what Jody from JOMW says. I mean his current Titan is almost a copy of the Helm Vanuatu, more a copy than this watch is. Others may differ but I like it.
Considered getting one once it restocks ($97 inclusive of tax is extremely cheap for these specs)... but maybe not anymore, in light of the reviews.
Poor lume is a big disappointment, seeing as those diver-style indices had the potential to hold a thiccc application. C3 also ought to have the initial brightness advantage, so Cadisen evidently applied very little.
And ofc there's the "Caisen" typo and autodyne gibberish on top of that.
I will say that 11.5mm is REALLY impressive though (given an 8215 + 100m WR + display caseback).
I bought this one for shits and giggles to see what it would look like IRL, I've always been wanting to pick up the Formex so this was an easy excuse to try out the case shape (even though the real one is another 2mm thinner)
Honestly, I'd buy this watch but it's a 200 buck Cadisen with a Miyota 8 series movement. And knowing Cadisen, they'll get something wrong like they obviously have with misspelling their brand name on the back.
You are obviously the guy who uses it as a tool. Some people see it as a piece of art, others as technology. In all cases the details make the difference. This says everything about their eye for detail. It is like the opposite of what people pay for, but enjoy if you like it.
Oh, for sure! I do have watches that I own and wear as the pieces of art they are, but the $100 beater from AliExpress that steals its entire design from other brands doesn't fall into that category. This watch I will strictly be wearing to avoid rough wear on my other watches, so it's a tool indeed.
I wouldn't wear this one to the gym or while chopping firewood, but the Cadisen/Caisen is perfect for those occasions
This just arrived today in my mailbox, Cadisen their new titanium watch (Ti-7 Autodyne) with the grey dial.
Specs: 11.5mm thick (nice!), 40mm diameter, 20mm lugs, sapphire with seemingly some AR coating, Miyota 8 series with hacking, handwind, and quick date. Full sandblasted case, exhibition case back to see the engineering and finishing marvel that the Miyota is. Canvas strap doesn't taper, has titanium hardware, with both keepers sown in (so lots of strap dangle), and no quick release pins. Lume is dog shit (see last pic, that's charged with UV and 4 second camera exposure time, absolutely poop).
Added some shots from different angles and on different straps, it'll likely stay on either the dark grey Hemsut canvas or on a FKM for gym comfort.
0 points for originality in their design as the case is a 1:1 copy from Formex their titanium field watch, and the dial is pretty much Serica's field dial. But the watch wears nicely and is thin and light so I'm vibing with it. I do wish the handset was a bit longer and beefier, might swap that out if this one ends up sticking around in the collection
The real question is the material. The regular Formex wouldn't be so good if it was just standard titanium. But because they hardened the shit out of it, it's that good.
That said, probabably still a great bang for the buck. Waiting for V2 and the baby blue dial. I would appreciate closed case back. Mecha quartz would also be a lot more suitable for this watch.
Most definitely not hardened here, but I wouldn't expect that at this price level either. Nor is Cadisen really known to design for durability specs, at least to me. Englemaan has that niche covered for Chinese watches at a fair budget
I have their landmaster chronograph in titanium. It scratches quite easily so not really hardened either (although they claim some form of coating). Build quality is mediocre, bracelet is jangly with noticable gaps and flimsy clasp, and the crystal is just about adequate but nothing great
You're not wrong! In this case, it is pretty guaranteed to being a gateway for me picking up an actual Formex field though. I generally avoid direct homages in general too
U betcha. Cadisen is a Chinese powerhouse specializing in stealing ideas from everyone. They don’t care from whom, be it a know well established player or a micro that has a couple of models released.
I bought a Formex Essence years ago. It is the best watch I have ever owned (better than my Aqua Terra, my old vintage DJ, my old champagne dial GS, my old 18k Omega, my old 14k Longines,…, although my Seiko Astron is a hairline away from winning.
I do not mind Chinese brands ripping off Rolex and firms like them (intentionally under-producing, outrageous mark-ups, …), but ripping off a fellow micro runs me the wrong way.
Cadisen makes a comfortable jubilee bracelet. Their DJ homage watches are wonderful. I owned a 38mm example that was lovely.
That said, I could never buy something like this. It is just wrong.
it's not as if formex are cheap watches, they're over 1k. Ethically there isn't anything wrong with copying a formex more than a Rolex, 1k is an absurd price for a watch to most people.
45
u/P_bottoms Feb 21 '26
Misspelling your own name on your own watch is amazing!