We met up with Benoît Mintiens, CEO of Ressence during Watches & Wonders and he showed us the novelty. Here is Benoît to explain the novelty and our hands-on impressions.
New and reviewed: Ressence Type 7 with video
The Ressence Type 7 is available in the midnight blue shown in the video or in an 80 piece limited edition Anniversary model in a green dial. Both retail at the same price of CHF 36,000 before taxes.
YouTube Video: Watching the CEOs – Benoît Mientiens on the Ressence Type 7
The case dial and hands
This is the first time Ressence has introduced a watch with an integrated titanium bracelet. For the Type 7, this now makes a complete titanium watch – case, dial and bracelet are made in grade 5 titanium. We also note that the movement is not in titanium. Other than these, only the bezel of the blue model is in ceramic and the one in the green is aluminium.
The typical Ressence dial is atypical. But the Type 7 sports a convex dial with eccentric satellites for the hours, minutes, running indicator and GMT display.
All are angled to the other and all are continuously moving. This signature dial features is oil-filled, and legibility is excellent, with a display that appears as if projected directly onto the sapphire glass.
On the wrist, the 40mm case with the integrated bracelet feels exceptionally comfortable. The entire watch is lightweight, and wraps around the wrist beautifully. With no sharp edges to the case or the bracelet, the tactile feel of the watch is nice. The bracelet has a micro-adjustment system catering up to 7 small steps in total.
The movement
The movement remains built over an ETA base, but Benoît tells us that he practically remakes most of the parts, only keeping the most basic ETA base train. The movement powers the dial display system by the use of magnets, as the dial is kept in oil, but the movement remains in air.
The movement finish is not visible as the is used for winding the watch and setting the time on both timezones.
Concluding thoughts
This is another step in the Ressence journey. Their watches always have a very organic feel to it. With the unusual display which somehow remains very familiar. Perhaps due to the fact that though both the hour sub-dial and minute sub-dial wander around the dial, the relative positioning of the hands remain familiar. The running indicator runs slowly on the Type 7, making one revolution in 120s, but is enough to show that the watch is running.
Ressence Type 7 Specifications
Case: 41mm diameter x 14mm height – grade 5 titanium case, brushed & polished – seperate sealed chambers for ‘dial’ and movement – double-domed sapphire crystal – solid widning and setting caseback – fixed bezel in ceramic (Night Blue) or aluminium (XV Aquamarine) – 50m water-resistant – 123 grams
Dial: convex grade 5 titanium dial in blue or teal – three eccentric biaxial satellites inclined at 9.75° (hours & temperature) and 17° (running indicator & GMT display) – white hands, markings & numerals – red, yellow & green details
Movement: modified ETA base – automatic winding – 28,800vph – 37 jewels – 36h power reserve – patented ROCS 7 module, in-house – driven by minute axle – magnetic transmission between air & oil chambers – compensating bellow system – 37 jewels – 37 gears – 8 jewel ball bearings – 391 components
Bracelet: integrated Grade 5 titanium bracelet, brushed & polished – micro-adjustable deployant clasp – optional leather or rubber straps
Function: Hours – Minutes – GMT – Runner – Oil temperature
Availability: Type 7 RN Night Blue – Permanent collection
Type XV Aquamarine – Limited to 80 pieces to celebrate the brand’s 15th anniversary
