The New Ressence Type 8 Daniel Engelberg Art Watches

Ever since the introduction of the brand’s inaugural production model, the Type 1, Ressence has been entirely focused on its orbital display, indicating the time in a sleek, contemporary, almost minimalist manner, without hands. The launch of the Type 8, the brand’s most focused model, only reinforced this feeling with a dial only featuring a central minutes indication and a sub-dial for the hours. However, this singular display also proved an attractive canvas for artists. The latest in line is Daniel Engelberg, a Munich-based sculptor and painter, bringing his touch to the Ressence Type 8. 

For its latest piece in the Art Watch series, Ressence gave freedom to German artist Daniel Engelberg. He mills his pieces from wood, paints them in vibrant acrylics, and seals them under glossy epoxy resin, resulting in an undeniable structural rhythm. In his signature “Inside Out” series, concentric circular forms and gentle colour gradients emanate from a deep black core, creating an illusion of perspective that draws the eye inward.

Now, taking a closer look at some of Engelberg’s work, particularly this “Inside Out” series, you can see that Ressence and he were meant to connect, as the dial of the Type 8 feels more than appropriate to receive such sculptural treatment. It’s almost like if the art pieces were done while looking at a Ressence and then trying to implement them on a dial… The base for this new series is the Ressence Type 8, a watch that is by far the sleekest and most minimalist of the brand’s portfolio. The watch is an ultra-smooth pebble made from grade 5 titanium and domed sapphire crystal, measuring 42.9mm in diameter and 11mm in thickness. Thanks to the no-crown construction and the absence of lugs, the Type 8 wears far smaller than the specs suggest. Think about it as a 39mm watch, if it were built classically.

A Ressence through and through, all operations are done by the caseback, which rotates in two directions and allows setting the time and winding the movement. The watch is extremely ergonomic and soft on the wrist, with one inherent limit to its architecture, a limited water-resistance of 10 metres only. That said, if you want to dive with a Ressence, the brand has the answer for you.

What makes these Type 8 Daniel Engelberg Art Watches special is their dials. Indeed, there are two editions released, differentiated by the coloured accents around the dial and the colour of the strap. Both implement the design of the “Inside Out” series onto the convex grade 5 titanium dial of the Type 8, which has been engraved to reveal the concentric circular forms, later filled with a dégradé of blue tones, like circular stairs or the accretion disks around a black hole, which would be represented here by the ever-revolving hour sub-dial.

To quote Ressence’s founder Benoît Mintiens: “It’s an almost literal integration of an artwork into a watch dial. Here, the dial and Daniel’s painting speak the exact same graphic language, an organic geometry that feels meant to be.” And I must say that I agree with this statement…

As said, there are two versions of the Type 8 Daniel Engelberg Art Watch, the DE1 with an eye-catching palette of pink tones, which is also found on the rubber strap, and the DE2, with a more subtle turquoise, blue green colour scheme that continues on the rubber strap – the latter being a bit more mainstream, while the pink version feels more daring.

At the heart of the display of the Ressence Type 8 is the most essential version of the patented Ressence Orbital Convex System (ROCS). It is mounted on top of an automatic ETA base movement, which serves as a timekeeper and drives the ROCS thanks to the axle of the minutes hands. The ROSC then transforms this motion with a series of gears and ball bearings, and an eccentric satellite indicating the hours.

Delivered with a complementary blue leather strap, each edition of this rather fascinating and hypnotising Ressence Type 8 Daniel Engelberg watch is limited to 40 pieces and priced at CHF 19,000 (excl. taxes). For more details, please visit ressencewatches.com.