Ressence

Template:Hersteller-Menue2 Template:Image Ressence is a Belgian watchmaker active since 2010.

Overview

The Belgian industrial designer Benoît Mintiens founded the Ressence brand about 2010. The name is a combination of the words "Renaissance" and "Essence". The watches are equipped with a completely new dial, which, including subdials, moves in a circular motion that is said to be analogous to the motion of time.

The company's first watch was launched at Baselworld in 2010. The Ressence Zero Series features the brand's now-trademark revolving minutes dial, with subdials for hours, seconds, and AM/PM. The design was reminiscent of the Harry Winston Opus X, designed by Jean-François Mojon and Chronode, which also appeared at that event and had a dial that revolved once each day. The Ressence Zero Series movement is powered by the well-known ETA 2824 automatic movement and includes a traditional crown for setting. The watches were assembled by Ludivic Ballouard.

The next major advance for Ressence was unveiled in 2013. Although the dial of the Ressence Type 3 is similar to the earlier Zero Series, it is flooded with oil between the dial and domed sapphire crystal. This causes the dial to appear to float near the surface. The dial is isolated from the movement using magnets, with added anti-magnetic protection added as well. The watch features new complications as well: Date and day is displayed, and the crown is replaced by a dial on the back of the case. Turning the case clockwise winds the movement, while inverting the case causes the movement to be set. Once again, the ETA 2824-2 movement is used. An update to the Type 3 appeared in 2015 at Baselworld, adding an oil temperature gauge on the dial. The white-dial Type 3W was introduced in 2019.

In 2014, Ressence introduced the Ressence Type 1. Although similar to the original Zero Series, the Type 1 has the caseback winding and setting mechanism of the Type 3 and no crown. For 2017, Ressence introduced a cushion case version of the Type 1 at SIHH.

In 2016, the Ressence Type 5 dive watch was introduced. It is very similar to the Type 3 but includes a rotating outer bezel as well as a special waterproofing system on the caseback controls. The Type 5 lacks the date and day of week indications of the Type 3, however, and the oil temperature gauge has been enlarged.

In 2018 at SIHH, Ressence introduced the Ressence Type 2 with an "E-Crown" concept that sets the watch using a built-in electronic watch and complex system of gears and levers to "read" the indicated time. Once per hour, the E-Crown will set the time based on the initial manual setting. It is powered by a kinetic and photovoltaic system. A Bluetooth-connected app allows the watch to be adjusted for multiple time zones. The Type 2 lacks the oil-filled crystal of the Type 3 and Type 5, making it closer in appearance to the Type 1. The Type 2 was released for sale in January 2019.

Models

Non Oil-Filled

• Ressence Zero Series (2010) - Revolving dial with crown
• Ressence Type 1 (2014-2018) - Revolving dial with caseback settings
  • Ressence Type 1 Squared (2017) - Cushion case version
  • Ressence Type 1 Slim (2019) - 11 mm version
• Ressence Type 2 (2019) - "E-Crown" settings with photovoltaic charging; revolving display

Oil-Filled

• Ressence Type 3 (2013) - Oil-filled revolving display with day and date; caseback settings
  • Ressence Type 3 (2015) - Added temperature gauge
• Ressence Type 5 (2016) - Dive watch with oil-filled revolving display with temperature gauge; caseback settings

Address

RESSENCE
Meirbrug 1
B-2000 Antwerpen
Belgium

Weblinks

• Ressence, official website