Introducing The All-New Ressence Type 9 In Warm Gray And Fresh Aqua
The all-new Ressence Type 9 is a sleek creation in either warm gray or a fresh shade of aqua blue. Its pebble-like titanium case measures 39mm wide, making it the smallest Ressence timepiece ever. The watch is a slimmed-down and refined version of the Type 8 and shows only the hours and minutes. It’s not exactly a classic dress watch with just two hands, but you could see it as a contemporary equivalent of it.
When Ressence introduced the Type 8 in 2022, it was the brand’s most minimalist watch. It was (and still is) crafted from Grade 5 titanium with a case spanning 42.9mm in diameter. The Type 9 is nearly 4mm smaller. However, the thickness, at 11mm, is the same. Both watches also only show the minutes and the hours, but the Type 9’s smaller diameter and reimagined polished titanium produce a more sophisticated and refined look. The sleek, tapered shapes and curves flow uninterrupted thanks to the absence of a crown. You can set and manually wind the Type 9 if necessary by turning the case back. Just turn slowly. That’s what the case back tells you, anyway.
The all-new Ressence Type 9 is a study in minimalism
As mentioned, the Type 9 comes in two colors — warm gray and fresh, watery blue. Apart from being the smallest Ressence watch in the young brand’s history, it also marks another first: the minute indicator is not on but outside the dial. The fixed bezel features engraved indexes that help create a compact watch with an equally compact look. The Type 9 looks like a future-proof dress watch. Traditional horological finishes, titanium-circled details, and fluid lugs that integrate smoothly with a sleek 20/18mm strap create a dressy aesthetic that goes well with informal yet chic attire. This is a watch that defines the somewhat vague term “casual chic” you see mentioned as a dress code on the majority of event invitations.
ROCS inside
The Type 9 is a pebble-shaped watch with ROCS (the Ressence Orbital Convex System) inside. Powering this brand-signature two-dimensional time display is a traditional mechanical automatic movement based on an ETA caliber 2892-2 with a 36-hour power reserve. That base movement underwent extensive customization, including many newly fabricated parts to suit Ressence’s needs. The patented ROCS 9 module is driven by the minute axle and uses a series of jewel ball bearings to ensure long-term oil-free operation.
The Type 9 is a graphically stripped-down timepiece that certainly doesn’t look naked or boring. Its disc indications are more sober than ever, with the hour disc featuring just the numbers 9 and 3. The bezel takes minimalism a step further by marking only every five minutes. This design decision is proof of a less-is-more approach. Fewer indications emphasize the ultra-clean and sober dial, unadorned in an exotic, original, and striking way with heaps of sophistication. The use of a lightweight alloy and the creation of a smaller case led to a watch that weighs just 39 grams, so it’s not just minimalistic in design but mass as well.
The Type 9 Grey will be available worldwide from late November 2024. The blue Aqua version will follow in February 2025. Both watches have a price of CHF 12,500 before taxes. What do you think of them? Are these the Ressence watches for you, or do you prefer the brand’s bigger, more complex creations? Let us know in the comments below.
