Ressence, the watch brand that continues to challenge the status quo of mechanical watchmaking, presents the Type 5N, a new variant of the Type 5 watch, characterised by its midnight blue colour. The dial is often referred to as 'the face of the watch'. Ressence has made this definition real with a haute horlogerie complication that visually expresses the passage of time at all times. In conceiving his first horological creation, industrial designer Benoît Mintiens considered what the watch might look like if it were a 21st century invention based on current technology and cognitive science. In response, he opted for a holistic approach, placing the end user at the centre of his work. It became the ultimate criterion for evaluating an approach aimed at expressing the passage of time as intuitively as possible, with a focus on ergonomics in the service of function. Although extraordinarily innovative, the technologies implemented are confined behind the scenes. What is more important is the user's perception when looking at a watch that seems to project time indications onto the glass. Its single-surface dial is composed of discs and rings adjusted to the micron. There are no physical hands. They are replaced by lines to reproduce the graphic system by which we are accustomed to reading the time. All Ressence watches share the same inimitable DNA. Their main dial, as well as the auxiliary ones, rotates continuously, behaving like a moon around a planet. This means that the appearance of the watches constantly changes, confirming the very essence of time. A Ressence watch is the result of years of research and development. Each one undergoes an in-house certification procedure (R500H) - 500 hours of rigorous examination and testing on 6 crucial criteria. Thanks to its freedom to think unconventionally, Ressence has already won international awards, including the Watch Revelation Award at the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix (GPHG) in 2013 and the Design Star at Watchstars Awards in 2015. In 2016, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) certified Ressence as one of 64 brands in the world belonging to Haute Horlogerie. Ressence watches have so far exploited 6 technical solutions based on physical principles. Each of these innovations, never seen before in watchmaking, contributes to the very relevance of the product: readability and experience. The TYPE 5 is the only mechanical watch to be perfectly legible under water, regardless of the viewing angle. The use of oil (37.5ml) inside the upper part of the watch (dial and module) negates what is known as Total Internal Reflection. Normally, underwater, a traditional diver's watch has to be looked at straight on to be read correctly, otherwise refraction turns the glass into a mirror, but not a watch with its dial in an oil bath: this allows complete legibility whatever the angle of view. This is a world first for a mechanical watch. The use of oil is advantageous for another good reason. Since the laws of hydraulics state that a liquid cannot be compressed, oil compensates for underwater pressure (rather than protecting the watch by using an over-size case and thicker glass). There are also other advantages: oil keeps the 142 components of the ROCS constantly lubricated. And because they are suspended in a liquid, they are lighter and therefore require less energy to move, thus improving regularity and autonomy. The result is a watch that is both functional and ergonomic compared to traditional divers. The TYPE 5N is designed to withstand extreme conditions, but with the refined modern features typical of Ressence. The dial and case are in titanium. The total blue discs and rings on the dial amplify the visual impact, giving the watch a marine look. The fresh and modern look is completed by the use of extra-strong blue Superluminova. The readability of the TYPE 5N is nevertheless simple and effective during both day and night. The organic design of the TYPE 5 is inspired by nature, particularly sea turtles. The distinctive water-dynamic silhouette allows them to move easily in their environment; so what better shape for a perfectly integrated amphibious watch with its unidirectional bezel? TYPE 5 capitalises on Ressence's 6 technical solutions based on physical principles: disc display, no winding crown, use of oil, bellows system, magnetic transmission and hydraulic shock absorber. Each of these innovations, never before seen in watchmaking, contributes to the product's distinctiveness, and ultimately the readability enhances the experience of the user who, with each passing minute, observes a different dial.
Ressence Type 5N - Data Sheet
FUNCTIONS
- Hours and Minutes
- Hydraulic shock absorber (90-second disc)
- Oil temperature indicator
MOVEMENT
- Patented ROCS 5 - Ressence Orbital Convex System - driven by the minute axis of a specially modified 2824/2 calibre.
- Manual winding system and time setting with RCLS - Ressence Compression Lock System Magnetic Transmission
- Self-compensation system with oil bellows (7 bellows)
- 36-hour power reserve
- 28,800 alternations per hour
- 41 rubies, 25 wheels
QUADRANT
- Grade 5 titanium convex dial (125 mm radius) with 3 biaxial eccentric satellites inclined at 3° (hours), 4.75° (seconds and oil temperature indicator)
- Marks engraved and filled with Superluminova
CASH
- Micro-sandblasted grade 5 titanium
- Two hermetically separated compartments, where the upper part is filled with 37.5 ml of oil
- Sapphire glass with anti-reflective coating on both sides
- Unidirectional bezel
- 46 mm (diameter) x 15.5 mm (thickness)
- Water resistance 10 ATM
BUCKLE AND STRAP
- Grade 5 titanium pin buckle, Cordura or alligator strap (24/22mm)
The TYPE 5 is offered in 3 variants:
- TYPE 5B, black dial and titanium polished/satin finish
- TYPE 5BB, black dial with black DLC finish
- TYPE 5N, blue dial with polished/satin-finished titanium finish
