Introducing: The Ressence Type 3 BB2 In Nearly All-Black Attire

In January 2022, Ressence introduced the Type 3 BBB, a “Black, Black, Black” version of its oil-filled mechanical watch. My colleague Dave dubbed it “the brand’s best model yet.” However, Ressence limited the production of the watch to that year only. If you were looking for an all-black Ressence Type 3 after that, you were out of luck; there was just the regular non-DLC-coated production model. But that changes now as the Belgian brand has introduced the Ressence Type 3 BB2, another Type 3 with a matte black mid-case and almost monochrome dial.

The Type 3 is a clear example of how Ressence combines its minimalist design philosophy with state-of-the-art technology. Yes, the watch might run on an ETA 2824-2 base movement, but everything else between the smooth and domed sapphire crystals is high-tech wizardry. What do you think of an oil-filled dial with a dedicated self-equilibrating pressure-balance system and a magnetic transmission? Let’s take a good look at the new (almost) all-black Ressence Type 3 BB2.

The Ressence Type 3 BB2

The Ressence Type 3’s outer shell consists almost completely of sapphire crystal. Both the case back and the crystal over the convex Grade 5 titanium dial are made of highly domed sapphire. Sandwiched between them is the Grade 5 titanium mid-case, which holds the strap on both ends. On this new BB2 version, the mid-case has received a matte black layer of DLC (diamond-like carbon). It stands in great contrast to the smooth surfaces of the sapphire crystals.

Surrounding the black dial is 3.57ml of clear oil to improve readability from all angles. It looks almost like an OLED screen. The edges of the four biaxial satellites (or sub-dials) are practically invisible. These displays follow Benoît Mintiens’s minimalist design approach, with the indications on them kept to a bare minimum. There are no hashes in between the numerals at each five-minute interval, and instead of 11 numerals for the hours, there are now only six along with five stick markers and the Ressence logo. This all makes the Ressence Type 3 BB2 look even cleaner than previous versions.

All the visuals on the dial have been engraved and filled with Super-LumiNova for better readability in the dark. In addition, the indicator for the oil temperature has blue and red highlights, while the weekend indicator features green, making the watch look a bit more playful.

A middle-of-the-road ETA 2824 surrounded by state-of-the-art tech

The power source for the Ressence Type 3 BB2 is the ETA 2824-2, a typically basic automatic movement found in many watches. In this case, though, it’s highly modified to power the Ressence Orbital Convex System (ROCS) 3.5 display module. In between the movement and the ROCS, there’s a magnetic transmission to ensure the movement doesn’t come in contact with the oil inside the dial. The Type 3 BB2 also features bellows that extend and compress depending on the temperature and volume of the oil.

That’s why, along with the dials for the hours, minutes, (180) seconds, day, and date, there’s also an oil temperature indicator. The ideal temperature lies somewhere between 10 and 40 degrees Celsius. When the oil temperature is below or above that ideal range, the hand points toward the blue or red parts, respectively.

To kick-start, wind it, and set the Ressence Type 3 BB2, you use the turning case back instead of a more conventional external crown.

Initial impressions

I’m usually not a fan of all-black watches. They simply don’t look as attractive to me as their non-blacked-out counterparts. In the case of the Ressence Type 3 BB2, though, I do see the added value of the all-black outfit. It almost makes the dial look like an actual screen instead of a fully mechanical module. I also like that the black mid-case is now matte instead of glossy as it was on the Type 3 BBB. Finally, the colorful accents are a great reminder of Mintiens’s playful way of thinking.

The Ressence Type 3 BB2 comes on a black synthetic honeycomb strap with a matte black DLC-treated buckle. It costs €38,200 excluding VAT and is available right away. For more information, visit the official Ressence website.

If you’re interested in Ressence and its watches, stay tuned. In September, we’ll be recording an episode of Fratello Talks with Benoît Mintiens, the brand’s founder.

What do you think of the BB2, the new (almost) all-black version of the Ressence Type 3? Let me know in the comments below.