Established in 2009 and conceived by Belgian industrial designer Benoît Mintiens, Ressence lives by the credo “less is more”, and the brand’s name is a contraction of “Renaissance of the Essentials”. Its unique time display might be described as circles turning within circles. Use the video link inside, because words and still images alone cannot convey the eyecatching functionality. Find prices inside as well.
Unlike many brands that add depth and layers to their dials, Ressence displays time on a flush-mounted revolving dial that places all graphical elements in one plane. The mechanical display system features a revolving module driven by a Swiss automatic caliber ETA 2824-A2. The ETA movement is used because it can generate the force needed to move the multiple disks, which weigh considerably more than standard hands. (Ulysse Nardin similarly selected ETA movements to power their famous Trilogy of Time pieces, the Astrolabium, Tellurium and Planetarium, as they were the only ones sufficiently powerful to drive the multiple complications).
The patented Ressence system features a large revolving dial disk on which the largest “hand” or indicator is painted, pointing to the outer 60 minute track. The entire dial on this watch revolves. Inside the main minutes disk, three smaller disks each revolve independently, indicating the hours, seconds, and a.m./p.m. Looking at the image below, the dial on the left indicates that it is 10:10 a.m. The dial in the center displays 1:50:40 a.m. Note that the positions of the three subdials has changed, as the main dial rotated from the 10 minute to the 50 minute position. The dial on the right shows 11:45:25 p.m., and again the positions of the three subdials has changed. As the “minute hand” makes one complete revolution per hour, the entire display is always in motion.
The Ressence ZeroSeries is offered in four versions, listed below with the prices:
Type 1001: Aluminum alloy, black mat, anodized, white SL graphics – $14,900
Type 1002: Titanium grade 5, satin finished, black graphics – $17,200
Type 1003: Titanium grade 5, natural warm color, black or white graphics – $17,200
Type 1004: Aluminum Alloy, slate gray, anodized, white SL graphics – $14,900
Ressence timepieces are available at these U.S. retailers:
· Tourneau at 510 Madison Avenue in New York City
· Tourneau Bal Harbour in Florida
· Radcliffe Jewelers in Maryland
The images below may be enlarged with a click.
Technical Specifications for the ZeroSeries:
Case
Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 13 mm
Stainless Steel 316
Weight of Type 1001 & Type 1004: 110 gr. (3.87 ounces)
Weight of Type 1002 & Type 1003: 125 gr. (4.41 ounces)
Caliber
Modified 2824-A2 caliber
Hour, minute, second and am/pm indicators
Patented system designed & developed in-house
Triple bi-axial off-centered integrated & flush-mounted orbiting satellites
40 jewels
Glass
Double 3D sapphire glass with anti-reflective coating inside
Thickness varies from 1.10 mm to 1.90 mm in the center as it is curved
Dia:
Type 1001: Aluminum Alloy, black mat, anodized, white Superluminova graphics
Type 1002: Titanium grade 5, material color, and satin finished, black graphics
Type 1003: Titanium grade 5, natural warm color, and blasted, black or white graphics
Type 1004: Aluminum Alloy, slate grey, anodized, white Superluminova graphics
Strap
Alligator, genuine carbon fiber or calf skin
Quantity
Limited to 50 pieces for the ZeroSeries
The series are indicated on the back & with a color code in the lift-up crown
Guarantee
2 years
