Ressence Introduces its First Dive Watch: the Ressence Type 5

A dive watch by definition needs to be a hulking slab of steel with a thick crystal that protects a clearly marked dial, correct?

Not necessarily, according to Benoît Mintiens, founder and designer of the Belgian-based Ressence, which today debuts a new watch with a design that re-defines what divers can safely wear underwater. With his new Ressence Type 5, Mintiens replaces the heavy steel case with a moderately sized (46mm by 15.5mm) lightweight titanium case and, with the Ressence patented oil-filled, disc-based dial display, enhances the visibility of the dial.

The Type 5 dial can be see from any angle underwater, he says. Typically, when under the water, a traditional diver’s watch needs to be viewed straight on to be read easily. Otherwise refraction turns the glass into a mirror, he adds. His oil-filled Ressence Type 5 eliminates this refraction almost entirely, allowing the diver to read the numerals from any angle underwater.

And isn’t it time for a diving watch to be legible under water? challenges Mintiens.

But greater visibility is not his only aim with the Type 5. The watch’s case design, gently domed sapphire crystal and convex dial are together meant to evoke a more naturalistic rounded shape that mimics the hydrodynamic profile of a sea turtle.

The new Ressence Type 5 features the brand’s orbital display with hours, seconds and a new oil temperature gauge (like on Ressence Type 3) on revolving discs that orbit inside the main disc of the minute display, which itself is continuously revolving. The oil inside the watch compensates for pressure underwater while also keeping components constantly lubricated.

The Type 5’s internal architecture comprises two halves – the oil-filled upper chamber with the Ressence disc-based orbital display (called Ressence Orbital Convex System) based on minutes rather than seconds, plus the lower, dry chamber containing the automatic movement, divided from the upper half with a titanium, hermetically-sealed membrane. To transmit the primary minute information from the movement to the ROCS, the TYPE 5 uses connected micro magnets. Ressence has installed a number of protective measures to ensure the magnetic fields these create do no harm to the regulator. The watch compensates for changes that might occur with the use of oil, as its volume in the watch will fluctuate with temperature. Ressence fits the watch with a system of seven small bellows that compress when, with rising temperature, the oil volume increases, or expand if the temperature drops and the volume decreases. This system is directly connected to a fun and functional oil temperature gauge on the dial.

Like Ressence’s other models, the 46mm Type 5 has no crown. To wind and set the time on the automatic movement the wearer turns the watch over and rotates a special back-bezel that moves time forward or backward on the dial.

With the Type 5, I feel we’ve closed a virtuous circle, combining technological refinement, industrial design and fine watchmaking, says Mintiens. This new creation, graphically very strong for improved readability, is the ideal Ressence piece for the gentleman diver, whether he’s in the water or around town.

Price: $35,800.

Below are the technical specifications for the Ressence Type 5.

Functions

Hours

Minutes

Runner (90 Seconds)

Oil Temperature

Movement

Patented ROCS 5 – Ressence Orbital Convex System – driven by the minute axle of a

Customized automatic ETA 2824/2

Caseback winding and time setting with RCLS – Ressence Compression Lock System

Magnetic Transmission

Compensating Bellows System (7 Bellows)

36 hours power reserve

28,800 vibrations per hour

60 jewels

25 gears

Dial

Convex titanium grade 5 dial (125mm radius) with 3 eccentric biaxial satellites inclined at 3°

(hours), 4.75° (thermal gauge and seconds)

Engraved indications filled with blue and green Superluminova

Case

Titanium grade 5

Two separate sealed chambers with the upper one filled with 37.5 ml of oil

Domed sapphire crystals top and bottom with both sides anti-reflective coating

Unidirectional bezel

46mm (diameter) x 15.5 mm (thickness)

100 meters of water-resistance

Buckle & Strap

Ardillon Buckle in titanium grade 5

Black Barenia leather (24/22mm)