Ressence Type 8 DE

In a market often characterized by incremental updates and heritage-driven designs, the announcement of a new timepiece that genuinely merges distinct creative fields is a significant event. Ressence, in partnership with the German artist Daniel Engelberg, has introduced the Type 8 DE, a duo of watches that serve as kinetic sculptures for the wrist. This collaboration is not a superficial application of art onto a dial, but a fundamental integration of two design philosophies, resulting in a vibrant and dynamic method of time-telling that challenges conventional horological aesthetics. The release comprises two models, the DE1 in a striking pink and the DE2 in a vivid turquoise, each a testament to a shared vision between a watchmaker and an artist.



The story of Ressence is intrinsically linked to its founder, Benoît Mintiens. An industrial designer by trade, Mintiens established the brand in 2010 with a clear and ambitious mission: to redefine the essence of contemporary watchmaking. His approach was guided by the principle of "Less is More," a philosophy aimed at stripping away the superfluous elements that have long defined traditional wristwatches. From the outset, Ressence sought to reimagine the very interaction between a mechanical timepiece and its owner. This ambition manifested in the brand's revolutionary display system, which eschewed traditional hands in favor of rotating discs that present the time on a flush, two-dimensional plane, making the act of reading the time as intuitive as reading text on a page.



This foundational innovation, known as the Ressence Orbital Convex System (ROCS), has been the bedrock of the brand's identity. The initial Zero Series introduced this concept to the world, immediately setting Ressence apart as a forward-thinking entity. Subsequent creations built upon this legacy of deconstruction and ergonomic design. The Type 1 further refined the user experience by eliminating the crown, resulting in a perfectly symmetrical and truly ambidextrous watch. The Type 3 pushed the boundaries of legibility even further by filling its case and dial module with oil, a groundbreaking technique that cancels out refraction and makes the dial appear as if it is projected directly onto the surface of the crystal. This achievement was recognized with the Horological Revelation Award at the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2013.



The evolution continued with the Type 2, which introduced the world's first automatic self-setting crown, and the Type 8, a model that distilled the Ressence aesthetic to its most essential form. The Type 8, with its focus purely on hours and minutes, represents a pinnacle of minimalist design and graphical simplification. It is this pure and uncluttered platform that serves as the canvas for the new artistic collaboration. By providing an unadorned stage, the Type 8 architecture allows the artwork of Daniel Engelberg to become the central focus, fully expressing its color and motion without distraction.



At the other end of this creative partnership is Daniel Engelberg, a sculptor and painter based in Munich whose work is defined by a unique synthesis of both disciplines. Educated at the Academy of Fine Arts in Nuremberg and Munich, Engelberg has cultivated a rigorous formal language and an exacting attention to craft. His process is meticulous, involving milling pieces from wood, applying vibrant acrylic paints, and sealing them under a lustrous layer of glossy epoxy resin. This method produces artworks of remarkable precision and structural rhythm, qualities that stem from his early inspirations in architecture and construction.



Central to Engelberg's artistic identity is his "Inside Out" series, the very collection that directly inspired the Type 8 DE watches. In this series, he explores the illusion of perspective through the use of concentric circles and subtle color gradients that radiate from a deep black core. The effect is powerful, creating a compelling sense of depth on a completely flat surface. These compositions are both minimal and emotionally resonant, marrying clean geometric form with a joyful and optimistic use of color. It is this distinctive aesthetic, this ability to create an architectural sense of space and pull the viewer inward, that has captured the attention of design enthusiasts and art collectors across Europe.



The collaboration between Ressence and Daniel Engelberg represents a natural and organic convergence of their respective worlds. Benoît Mintiens notes, "It’s a perfect example of two universes working together organically." This wasn't a matter of simply shrinking an existing painting to fit a watch dial. Instead, it was a deeper integration where, as Mintiens explains, "the dial and Daniel’s painting speak the exact same graphic language, an organic geometry that feels meant to be." The project became a true application of art to a watch, a fusion that respects the integrity of both the artistic vision and the horological medium.



The result of this synergy is a pair of watches that are perpetually in motion. The Type 8 DE1 presents an eye-catching pink palette, while the DE2 offers a vivid turquoise scheme. On the wrist, the dials are not static. Powered by the ROCS 8 movement, the discs that comprise the dial orbit one another continuously. The largest disc, displaying the minutes, completes a full rotation every hour. Nestled within it, the smaller satellite disc for the hours completes its own rotation. This constant, fluid motion animates Engelberg's design, transforming the concentric circles into a dynamic visual experience. The gradients of pink and turquoise seem to shift and flow, creating an ever-changing interplay of light and color that is genuinely mesmerizing.



This kinetic quality fulfills a unique ambition for the artist. "For the first time, I have a work of art that is animated," Engelberg states. "Seeing my design in constant motion on a Ressence watch, drawing the eye into an illusionistic depth, is truly special. It’s as if the art comes alive every minute." The watch becomes more than a time-telling device; it is a piece of living art, a small, personal exhibition that is always with the wearer. The optical illusion of depth that is central to Engelberg's "Inside Out" series is amplified by the physical construction of the watch, whose convex dial enhances the visual pull.



The case of the Type 8 DE serves as a sleek, modern frame for the artwork within. It measures 42.9mm in diameter and a slender 11mm in thickness, proportions that ensure a comfortable and contemporary presence on the wrist. The case is crafted from Grade 5 titanium, a material chosen for its combination of high strength and low weight. The finish is a sophisticated mix of polished and satinated surfaces, which catches the light in a subtle, understated manner. The construction utilizes a "sandwich" architecture, capped by domed sapphire crystals on both the front and back, contributing to its clean, pebble-like feel.



True to Ressence’s crownless design philosophy, all adjustments are made via the case-back. A gentle rotation of the case-back allows for both manual winding of the movement and the setting of the time, an intuitive and elegant solution that maintains the perfect symmetry of the case. This system is not only functional but also enhances the tactile connection between the owner and the watch. While designed as a piece of art, it maintains a degree of practicality with splash resistance, making it suitable for daily wear.



The dial itself is a marvel of micro-engineering. It is a convex disc of Grade 5 titanium with a precise 75mm radius. This curved surface is crucial for creating the unique visual effect of the display. The entire dial assembly runs on a jewel ball bearing for smooth, low-friction rotation. The satellite disc for the hours is inclined at a specific angle of 9.75 degrees, a calculated detail that ensures it remains correctly oriented as it orbits the main dial. For low-light conditions, the engraved indications for the hours and minutes are meticulously filled with 100% Blue Grade A Super-LumiNova®, ensuring that the watch remains perfectly legible.



At the heart of the Type 8 DE is the patented ROCS 8 movement. This sophisticated module is what brings the dial to life. It is driven by the minute axle of a robust and reliable base calibre, a customized and reinforced ETA 2892/2. The movement is self-winding, alleviating the need for daily manual winding, and it provides a power reserve of 36 hours. It operates at a standard frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, ensuring accurate timekeeping. The complexity of the ROCS module is hidden behind its simple output, comprising 20 gears, 31 jewels, and 4 ball bearings, all working in concert to produce the seamless, orbiting display of time.



To complete the vibrant aesthetic, the watches are presented with straps that perfectly complement their dials. The DE1 is paired with a soft, playful pink rubber strap, and the DE2 comes with a matching turquoise rubber strap. These straps enhance the joyful and contemporary character of the watches. Recognizing the need for versatility, Ressence also includes a complementary premium blue leather strap with each watch, allowing the owner to easily adapt it for more formal occasions. The watch is secured with a polished Ardillon buckle, also crafted from Grade 5 titanium, maintaining the material consistency of the design.



This project is not an isolated event for Ressence but rather the latest chapter in the brand's ongoing dialogue with contemporary art. This "art in motion" philosophy underscores the belief that a watch should engage its wearer on an emotional level. Previous collaborations have included the Type 1 Squared White featuring the fluid line drawings of Shantell Martin, the Type 3X with Stefan Sagmeister which embedded his "Now is Better" philosophy into the dial, and the Type 1 S REV, a symbolic exploration of "Carpe Diem" with the legendary Alain Silberstein. These projects affirm Ressence’s view of its Swiss-made watches as canvases for cutting-edge creativity.



This collaboration reinforces the distinct path that Ressence has forged in the watchmaking industry. It deliberately steps away from the classical codes of Swiss horology, which often prioritize the visible decoration of the movement itself. Instead, Ressence focuses all of its innovative energy on the dial side, on the user's experience of reading time. It is a vision that is less concerned with celebrating the past and more focused on designing for the present and future, proving that profound mechanical complexity can be used to achieve ultimate simplicity in function and form.



The seamlessness of this partnership is a testament to the shared values of Mintiens and Engelberg. Both are driven by a passion for structural clarity, precision, and the emotional power of color and form. Engelberg’s art, with its architectural precision and illusionistic depth, finds its perfect dynamic expression through Ressence’s orbital mechanics. The watch successfully takes Engelberg's art beyond the static confines of a gallery wall and places it into the dynamic context of everyday life.



These unique timepieces are being produced in highly limited quantities, reinforcing their status as wearable works of art. Only 40 pieces of the Type 8 DE1 in pink and 40 pieces of the Type 8 DE2 in turquoise will be created. This rarity ensures that each watch will be an exclusive item for the collectors and design aficionados who acquire one. The brand has made it clear that such creative encounters will become an increasingly meaningful part of its journey, a commitment to a vision of watchmaking as a vital form of creative expression.



The Ressence Type 8 Daniel Engelberg watches are priced at $22,500.00 each. This new series is scheduled to become available in August 2025. Discerning collectors and enthusiasts will be able to purchase these limited-edition timepieces directly from Ressence’s official online store or through its network of select global retail partners. With this launch, Ressence and Daniel Engelberg have confidently affirmed that fine watchmaking and contemporary art can indeed move in perfect unison, distilled here into two expressive and unforgettable kinetic objects.



Case: Polished/satinated Grade 5 titanium; 42.9mm diameter x 11mm thickness; Sandwich architecture with domed sapphire crystals; Splash resistance; Crownless design with winding and setting via the case-back.

Movement: Patented ROCS 8 (Ressence Orbital Convex System); driven by a customized and reinforced 2892/2 base calibre; Self-winding; 36-hour power reserve; 28,800 VpH; 31 jewels, 20 gears, 4 ball bearings.

Dial: Convex Grade 5 titanium (75mm radius) with eccentric satellites for hours inclined at 9.75°; Engraved indications filled with 100% Blue grade A Super-LumiNova®; Features kinetic art by Daniel Engelberg.

Strap: Includes a soft rubber strap (20/20mm) matching the dial color (pink or turquoise) and a complementary blue leather strap (20/20mm); Polished Grade 5 titanium Ardillon buckle.

Price: $22,500.00

Reference Number: TYPE 8 DE1 (Pink), TYPE 8 DE2 (Turquoise)

Notes: A limited edition of 40 pieces per color in collaboration with artist Daniel Engelberg. The dial is a kinetic artwork that constantly moves to display the time. Available from August 2025.