Take it Daily..!

What We Know

Earlier this year at Watches and Wonders, Belgian brand Ressence introduced the first watch in its collection with an in-house-designed RW-01 movement, the Type 11. That should theoretically mean a farewell (at least for most things going forward) to the base ETA movements that have powered all Ressence models to date, each paired with the brand’s unique orbital Ressence Orbital Convex System (ROCS) module.

Today’s release of the Type 10, timed right alongside WatchTime New York, features the first oil-filled watch from Ressence to feature a proprietary movement. At a high level, the Type 10 might initially feel like a mix of several previous Ressence designs, but the final product somehow feels quite fresh. Much of it is due to the case and bezel. The silhouette of the 41.5mm case in grade 5 titanium gives this Type 10 a cushion-like shape, and it is paired with a flush-integrated rubber strap. It’s a new feel for a Ressence. The entire case is coated for a glossy, dark blue hue, and that coloring extends all the way to the strap, buckle, and, of course, the dial. Ressence says this is a DLC coating, but to my knowledge, it’s not possible to achieve a colored coating with the specific process—I believe this coating to be something different. If I had to guess, I’d say that it’s a ceramic coating of some sort. There is ever-so-slightly a squared-off aspect to the design, with the bezel at twelve and six o’clock flattening out on its edge for a look that complements those blockier lugs. Interestingly, the bezel insert is segmented, comprised of multiple brushed segments split up by sandblasted and lumed inserts for the ten-minute marks. Ressence’s founder Benoît Mintiens tells me that this allows for the slightly different angle of brushing on each segment to break up the light in a unique way.

The dial takes clear inspiration from the dial of the oil-filled Type 7, down to the same complications. Aside from the hours and the minutes, there is a 120-second “runner” subdial which essentially serves as a running indicator rather than a small seconds, and underneath, it serves as essentially a friction brake in the oil to prevent the dial from misalignment during sudden shocks.

A window for the temperature indicator that shows green in the watch’s normal operating range of 25C° +- 10C°, and a GMT subdial sits in the remaining space. Here, the GMT subdial is much more simplified in its design compared to the one on the Type 7—rather than the numerals for the 24 hours around the disc, the indication is graphical in this case, with a clear marking of midnight as well as day/night for the second time zone.

Of course, since the dial is entirely oil-filled, it appears extremely clear and looks as if the entire surface of the dial is projected onto the crystal itself. If you’ve never seen an oil-filled watch, it is a very fun sight to see. But oil-filled watches are typically quartz, and Ressence’s mechanical oil-filled watches are the exception to the rule. To achieve this, the upper and lower halves of the movement are isolated through a thin titanium membrane. 

Up top is the oil-filled section, with the orbital dial, while the bottom half features the mechanical RW-04 caliber. The caliber side drives a disc integrated with tiny magnets, which pushes along a receiving disc that sits in the oil side without needing to be physically connected to the actual mechanical caliber itself. It’s been done for many years at the brand, but it never stops feeling like a magic trick. As with the RW-01 caliber, the new automatic RW-04 caliber features an upgraded power reserve of 60 hours and is designed in-house at Ressence, while being produced in Switzerland through a partner. Like the Type 7, the Type 10 has a water resistance of 50 meters, achieved through a multi-part caseback that also functions as a screw-down gasket. To turn the middle section of the caseback in order to set the time and wind the watch, you’ll need to unscrew the outer perimeter of the caseback first. It sounds complicated but is much easier to do in person. 

The new Ressence Type 10 is limited to 100 pieces and priced at CHF 45,000.

What We Think

We’re entering a new era of Ressence, even if the designs still stand largely within the framework established by the brand’s founder in the early days. But I think much of the new evolution, especially in the changes to more bespoke movements, is a largely positive and inevitable direction to take. I never took issue with the ETA-based movements that Ressence used in the past (and still offers in most of the collection), as most of Ressence’s bespoke contributions are extremely evident in the final result. But as I noted in my review of the Type 11, this should theoretically quell much of the complaining from others about the idea of spending five figures on an ETA-powered watch.

Regarding the new Type 10, I think the design is very nice. It might seem familiar, but having seen it in person right before launch, I have to say that the new case design gives this Type 10 a very different charm compared to many of the brand’s other designs. It is also very graphical in execution, and I quite like the decision to omit any numerals from the entire design, making for a very stealthy dual-time watch. Yes, that means the ability to read the precise time goes out the window, but Ressence has always been a design-first brand rather than one of chronometric practicality, so this design is very pleasing to me.

The biggest thing to point out, and one that sadly does this watch no justice online, is that 41.5mm case diameter. I cannot stress enough that, in person, this watch wears significantly smaller than how it might seem with that measurement. The blockier case has extremely small lugs as well as a rubber strap that downturns quite a bit from the ends of the case, and on my smaller 6.5″ wrist, it still had plenty of clearance on either side. For better or for worse, this means that the Type 10 is a watch that you have to see in person before making a judgement call on. But even if you’re well-versed in the world of Ressence, I think you’ll find this watch a nice new addition to the lineup.

The Basics

Brand: Ressence
Model: Type 10
Diameter: 41.5mm
Case Material: Grade 5 titanium
Dial Color: Blue
Indexes: Printed
Lume: Yes
Water Resistance: 5 ATM
Strap/Bracelet: “Integrated” rubber strap

The Movement

Caliber: In-house calibre RW-04 with ROCS10 module
Functions: Hours, minutes, 120-second runner/shock absorber, second time zone, oil temperature indication
Power Reserve: 60 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 VpH
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Magnetic transmission from air to oil, expansion membrane for oil volume changes, caseback winding and time setting

Pricing & Availability

Price: CHF 45,000
Availability: November 2026
Limited Edition: Yes, 100 pieces.

For more, click here.