With the new Ressence TYPE 11, the Belgian brand takes a step that goes beyond a simple collection update. This model represents a mature synthesis of Ressence’s vision: a contemporary watch that feels familiar, recognisable, and above all coherent within an established design language.
Described by Benoît Mintiens as the “watch of the present”, the TYPE 11 neither looks towards an extreme future nor retreats into the past. Instead, it positions itself firmly in the present, interpreting the codes of classical watchmaking through a radically different approach, where form, function, and time display converge into a single system.
DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE: TITANIUM, CLASSICAL PROPORTIONS AND THE RESSENCE LANGUAGE
The design of the Ressence TYPE 11 stands out for its rare balance: a classical presence reinterpreted through unconventional technical solutions. The 41 mm Grade 5 titanium case introduces, for the first time, proper lugs into the brand’s design language, while maintaining the characteristic rounded, almost organic silhouette reminiscent of a pebble shape.
The convex titanium dial, protected by a domed sapphire crystal with internal anti-reflective coating, houses the ROCS – Ressence Orbital Convex System, the visual core of the watch. Here, time is not displayed through traditional hands, but via rotating orbital discs that indicate hours, minutes, seconds, and power reserve in a continuous and fluid manner.
Available in Pine, Sky, and Latte colourways, the TYPE 11 plays with refined contrasts, emphasised by the ceramic spheres of the power reserve and a colour-matched seconds indicator. Completing the watch are four strap options, including a titanium Milanese bracelet, a rare solution that combines lightness, durability, and breathability.
A NEW INDICATION: THE PATENTED POWER RESERVE
One of the most distinctive elements of the Ressence TYPE 11 is its patented power reserve indication, designed to be both intuitive and immediate. The movement delivers approximately 60 hours of autonomy, yet what stands out is the way this energy is visualised.
A system of bi-colour ceramic micro-spheres moves across a dedicated disc: as the watch winds, lighter spheres gradually emerge while darker ones recede. As power depletes, the process reverses. This is not merely a technical solution, but a visual language that transforms a functional indication into an experience.
CALIBRE AND INTEGRATION: THE UNION OF MOVEMENT AND DISPLAY
The true turning point of the Ressence TYPE 11 lies beneath the dial. For the first time, the brand introduces a proprietary movement: the Ressence Werk RW-01, developed specifically to work in harmony with the ROCS – Ressence Orbital Convex System.
This automatic, COSC-compliant calibre departs from traditional round movements, adopting a triangular architecture defined by three circles: two barrels and a central balance wheel. This is not merely a technical choice, but a direct response to the logic of the dial, creating structural coherence between what generates time and what displays it.
The philosophy is clear: the movement is not intended to be a visual showpiece, but an efficient engine designed to power the display system. And this is precisely where the TYPE 11 marks a fundamental shift for Ressence.
In previous models, the ROCS module and the base movement were separate, requiring a complex interface between the two. With the RW-01, this separation disappears. Movement and display become a single architecture, sharing components and design logic.
The result is a more efficient, coherent, and refined system, where the ROCS itself evolves through the introduction of titanium ball bearings, enhancing precision, robustness, and fluidity. This is not an incremental update, but a true total integration, redefining how Ressence conceives time.
USER EXPERIENCE: NO CROWN, EVERYTHING VIA THE CASEBACK
True to its philosophy, the Ressence TYPE 11 eliminates the crown entirely. Time-setting and manual winding are performed via a lever on the caseback, while the automatic rotor ensures energy is maintained during wear.
This approach is not merely aesthetic; it enhances ergonomics and preserves the purity of the case design, reinforcing the brand’s minimalist identity. The caseback also features an opening that allows a view of the movement, maintaining a careful balance between functionality and discretion.
CONCLUSIONS AND AVAILABILITY
The Ressence TYPE 11 will be available from May 2026, with a price of approximately CHF 23,000 (excluding taxes).
Beyond its technical specifications, this model represents something more. It is neither a futuristic exercise nor a nostalgic revival, but a conscious expression of the present. A watch that interprets the codes of classical watchmaking through a proprietary language, where design, mechanics, and time display converge into a unified system.
With the TYPE 11, Ressence consolidates its identity: an approach where complexity is not showcased, but hidden behind an apparent simplicity. A difficult balance to achieve, yet one that finds here one of its most complete expressions.
By Jacopo Giudici