Ressence, the rebirth of the essential
It is a watch with a Swiss movement but a Belgian design. A mechanical watch that puts into perspective the tradition of Swiss watches, their classic watch movement. Objective: rethink the very concept of watches, propose a new type of watchmaking. This is the challenge of Benoit Mintiens and his watches.
If Benoit Mintiens’ name is not known in watchmaking it is precisely because it does not come from watchmaking but from design. The Ressence watch is his work, the “Type” his watch collections. The original case of a Ressence Type is round, usually in titanium and topped with a dome-shaped sapphire crystal. This box can sometimes be made of steel and cushion-shaped.
From the dial of the Ressence watches, their design is not reminiscent of the classic watch display system. Everything is based on a Swiss invoice movement completed with an ROCS module, for Ressence Orbital Convex System. This is a display system that sets the complete dial in motion. Above all, it is a unique design exercise in watchmaking. Within the titanium case, the ROCS module (Ressence Orbital Convex System) designed by Benoit Mintiens for Ressence watches allows a revolution of all the hands and the dial itself.
ROCS around the clock
The Ressence Type watch has a moving dial. It is driven by a patented system. It is most often based on a Swiss movement commonly found in watchmaking, from trendy watches to luxury watches. The ROCS module (Ressence Orbital Convex System) designed by Benoit Mintiens for Ressence watches offers him a totally new dynamic for watchmaking – a design exercise that may surprise but is on the contrary very intuitive. Under the sapphire crystal, within the titanium case, the movement and its ROCS module offer an intuitive reading of hours, minutes, seconds and the day of the week.
The titanium case offers perfect protection for everyday life. It also protects many luxury diving watches. This is a type of case that is frequently found in watchmaking but which protects the Type de Ressence watch with elegance and consistency, each of its curves being worked on with genuine design care. In the end, the Type de Ressence watch is a global concept, from the case to the dial, from the hands to the glass, a concept of fine watchmaking that boldly renews its watches.
Dial in immersion
Benoit Mintiens de Ressence recently pushed this audacity to the point of imagining a waterproof watch case that contains an oil-soaked dial and display. The presence of this oil is a unique concept in watchmaking, as the oil is by nature incompatible with any mechanical movement. Benoit Mintiens has therefore imagined a case in two waterproof parts where only the axes necessary for the display of hours and minutes are connected, the rest of the movement being protected from the dial in oil bath by a membrane system. This luxury watch with oil-bath dial gives the dial a unique depth.
An oil visible under water
This system also has the advantage, especially valid for a diver’s watch, of being able to read the time underwater, without reflection on the glass, protected from impacts with the titanium case. A truly innovative concept in watchmaking, this Type of Ressence watch represents both a singular design effort and an innovative watchmaking concept, a first for a luxury watch that, from the dial to the movement or movement, including the display, the case, the movement and the ROCS module, is resolutely off the beaten track! Today, Benoit Mintiens’ Ressence watches are on display at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie all the way to Paris, and are highly prized by the most discerning collectors.
Chronopassion is AUTHORIZED RETAILER of RESSENCE since 2011,date of the brand’s birth.
Les Collections de Montres Ressence: A New Watchmaking Language between Design and Innovation
Ressence redefines the art of traditional watchmaking with a revolutionary approach that combines sleek aesthetics and advanced engineering. Founded in 2010, the Ressence brand is synonymous with cutting-edge watchmaking technology, with watches that challenge established codes while offering unrivalled legibility and comfort. Let’s discover the main families of Ressence watches, each testifying to the creativity and avant-gardism that characterize the brand.
Type 1: The Essence of Purity and Ergonomics
The Type 1 collection embodies Ressence’s minimalist design and ergonomic approach. Type 1 watches are characterized by their absence of a crown, offering a perfectly symmetrical and uncluttered case. Thanks to the Ressence Orbital Convex System (ROCS), the rotating dials offer fluid, intuitive legibility. Type 1 Slim and Type 1 Squared, with their lightweight cases and dynamic dials, are designed for exceptional wearing comfort and timeless aesthetics.
Type 2: Innovation in Mechanical Intelligence
Type 2 is a technological feat featuring the e-Crown® system, a first in the world of mechanical watchmaking. This system enables the watch to set itself automatically to a pre-programmed time via a simple double-tap on the crystal. The Type 2 combines the beauty of a traditional mechanical movement with intuitive functionality for uncompromising precision. This model is ideal for high-tech enthusiasts who want an innovative, connected watch while preserving the nobility of mechanical watchmaking.
Type 3: The Perfect Harmony of Aesthetics and Performance
The Type 3 collection is a fusion of art and technology. Featuring an oil-filled case, this watch offers a unique visual effect that gives the impression that the dial is floating under the glass. Thanks to this oil-filled display technology, the watch becomes legible from all angles and in all light conditions. Type 3 is a bold statement, perfect for those seeking an exceptional watch that combines style and ingenuity.
Type 5: Underwater Innovation
Designed with diving enthusiasts in mind, Type 5 is Ressence’s first watch to be water-resistant to 100 meters. With an oil display that optimizes underwater legibility, this watch is a high-performance, elegant diving tool. The Type 5 model stands out for its rugged appearance and revolutionary design, allowing it to be used for both immersion and everyday wear, without sacrificing comfort and elegance.
Type 8: The Art of Ultimate Minimalism
The Type 8 collection celebrates the absolute simplicity of watchmaking. With its ultralight titanium case and exceptionally pure dial, Type 8 embodies Ressence’s quest for the essential. Perfect for those who prefer a sober, uncluttered design, the Type 8 combines contemporary style with intuitive functionality. This watch stands out for its uncompromising minimalist approach, ideal for lovers of modern design and simplicity.
CONCLUSION
Ressence collections are at the forefront of watchmaking innovation, pushing the boundaries of design and technology to create unique and intuitive timepieces. Whether you’re attracted by the purity of Type 1, the mechanical intelligence of Type 2, the underwater elegance of Type 5, or the radical minimalism of Type 8, each Ressence watch is an invitation to redefine the way we read time. Discover our collections and let yourself be seduced by a bold, contemporary vision of watchmaking.
