Experiencing the Appealing Minimalism of The Ressence Type 9

Founded in 2010 by Belgian industrial designer Benoît Mintiens, Ressence’s design philosophy revolves around deconstructing and displaying time in a contemporary, dynamic way, without the use of hands. Time literally circles around the dial like planets orbiting the Sun, indicated by highly graphic and revolving sub-dials animated by Ressence’s patented Orbital Convex System (ROCS). At the end of 2024, Ressence introduced the Type 9, the brand’s most compact and least expensive watch. Viewed as a sequel to the pared-down hour and minute functions of the Type 8, we take a closer look at the more wearable dimensions of the Type 9 and its soothing, monochromatic grey palette.

As the smallest model in the brand’s lineup, the Type 9 flaunts a 39mm case and is the first to feature the minute track on a fixed, external bezel. Like many Ressence watches, the case is made from grade 5 titanium. With no protruding crown to break the flow, the polished case maintains its smooth, pebble-like silhouette, which is inviting to the touch (and fingerprints). Another advantage of a crownless design is that the watch can be worn on either wrist.

Although the Type 8 and Type 9 share the same case height of 11mm, the double-domed flying saucer profile of the Type 8 is visually attenuated with the flatter caseback, the short lugs and the incorporation of an external bezel of the Type 9.

Obviously, the use of grade 5 titanium makes it an extremely lightweight watch, which for many means increased wearing comfort. Weighing in at just 39g, including the strap, it’s easy to forget you’re wearing the watch. Given the fact that it is only resistant to splashes, my concern would be about getting it accidentally wet.

Refined design informs every detail of the more compact Type 9, from the sensual, almost organic appeal of the case to the soothing simplicity of the grey dial. While Mintiens’ design language is contemporary, the dial’s layout adopts an old-school regulator display, with minutes featured on the periphery and hours relegated to a smaller sub-dial. However, that is a simplistic analogy because the beauty of Ressence watches resides in their spellbinding two-dimensional displays, where nothing is static; everything is in constant motion, like time itself.

Made from grade 5 titanium, the fixed, circular-brushed external bezel has engraved markings at 5-minute intervals and, like a regulator, is indicated by the long central hand. The domed matte grey surface of the dial (75mm radius) rotates once an hour to align the printed minutes hand with the bezel, while the smaller sub-dial for the hours rotates once every 12 hours, following the minutes around the dial in a never-ending dance.

The chapter ring for the hours is brushed to match the bezel and features Arabic numerals at 3 and 9 o’clock with the brand’s hand logo at noon. In low-light conditions, the markings on the bezel, the hour and minute hands and the hours emit a blue glow.

All the streamlined beauty and seductive tactility of the crownless case comes with a small toll. As with all Ressence models, the caseback is the “control interface” for winding and setting the time. While it may seem simple on paper, it is perhaps not as intuitive as I had expected. If the movement has stopped, you have to “kickstart” the watch by rotating the caseback with careful, 6-second clockwise turns until you feel resistance. Once you have reached the resistance/winding zone, continue turning until you hear a click, then move the caseback back and forth over a 10-minute section about ten times to activate the movement. Setting the time is more straightforward since the hands move in both directions.

The ROCS 9 module in the new Ressence Type 9 is powered by the minute axle of a customised automatic movement based on the ETA 2892/2, offering a 36-hour power reserve. Fitted with small lugs, the Type 9 comes with a grey synthetic textile strap and a titanium pin buckle.

The serene minimalism of the Ressence Type 9, along with its more compact dimensions, is praiseworthy and will certainly attract more wrists out there. Positioned as the most affordable, entry-level model at Ressence, its price tag of EUR 16,000 (incl. taxes), CHF 12,500 (excl. tax) or USD 14,900 (excl. taxes) might, however, raise a few eyebrows. More information at ressencewatches.com.