A few weeks ago we told you about the Ressence Type 8 Indigo, a high craft variation on the most simple and accessible Ressence model. It turns out that the Type 8 only held the distinction of being the brand’s entry level timepiece for a few days after the launch of the Indigo, as the new Type 9 which the brand debuted mere hours later now represents the cleanest point of entry to the brand. The Type 9 has much of the same minimalist appeal as the Type 8 (the display is as straightforward as Ressence gets and not materially different from the Type 8) but the new watch offers a significant change to the case, and should give enthusiasts and collectors with a smaller wrist something to consider if they’ve ever balked at a Ressence for being a little too big.
This is the smallest Ressence yet, coming in at 39mm in diameter in titanium. Unlike the Type 8, a 43mm watch with a flying saucer like shape, the Type 9 is more traditional and has small, short lugs to which a strap is mounted at either end of the case. The real space saving here comes from the addition of a bezel which acts as a minute track, whereas in other Ressence designs the outer minute track is simply at the dial’s perimeter. This tightens things up considerably, and also, in my opinion, offers a little more visual interest. With the minute track now outboard of the dial, options begin to open up with respect to finishing, color, materials, and so forth. The execution here isn’t particularly adventurous, but one can imagine future models that might take a more artistic approach to make full use of an entirely new watch component breaking into the design.
As it stands, the Type 9 is an exercise in tones of gray and aqua, with a small gray or aqua hours satellite in the dial’s interior separated from the negative space around it by a darker gray or aqua ring with a typically minimal Ressence hour display (their hand logo at 12, numerals at 3 and 9, and a circle at 6). These two color options reflect two distinct flavors of Ressence: one cool and detached, almost tactical, and another much more overtly playful.
That playfulness is really core to the entire Ressence project, and is most clearly seen in their innovative time display. We’ve discussed it at length (Zach’s review of the Type 8 is a great place to start if you’re unfamiliar) but the gist is that, through the use of a module built on top of an ETA movement, time (as well as the date and other functions on some models) is displayed through a series of rotating circular discs rather than traditional hands. It’s remarkably intuitive once you get the hang of it, and there’s simply nothing else quite like it on the market. It’s both ingenious on a technical level, and aesthetically rewarding on another.
We’re pretty big fans of Ressence around here for the way they combine a unique perspective on watch design with a genuinely innovative mechanical solution to displaying the time. Their watches are quirky, and they both appear and behave like nothing else on the market (the lack of a crown means that most models are both wound and set via a hinge on the caseback). While many brands in the world of high end independent watchmaking are releasing new watches that are less and less approachable in terms of price and complexity, we’re happy to see that Ressence is offering a watch that could conceivably be a better fit for more wrists with the new case, and offers entry into the brand at a lower price point. We’ll have hands-on impressions of the Type 9 hitting the site soon, so check back here for more.
The new Type 9 in gray is available now through authorized Ressence channels, and the aqua variant is expected in January of 2025. The retail price is CHF 12,500. Ressence
