The TYPE 7 is a Rugged Reimagining of Ressence’s Magic Formula

Some exhibitors at Watches and Wonders invest vast sums of money in extravagant booths, distracting gimmicks, and celebrity spokespeople, while others (whether by choice or necessity) simply let the watches speak for themselves. Ressence is a watchmaker that falls into the latter camp with a confidence likely bolstered by a sense that its new TYPE 7 timepiece would be enough to turn heads without all the fanfare. It’s certainly one of the releases my thoughts have returned to time and again since having made the trek from Geneva back to Australia’s sunny shores.

The thing is, Ressence makes watches like nobody else. Last year, the Man of Many office had the good fortune to spend some time with the firm’s TYPE 1° Round in its Multicolour and Night Blue incarnations. Both of these timepieces represent genuine outside-of-the-box watchmaking, and the latter immediately cemented itself as a bucket-list watch for me — it’s unquestionably one of the most sublime pieces of watchcraft I’ve ever come across. 

Turning our attention back to the TYPE 7, this watch takes much of what makes the TYPE 1° Round so unforgettable and gives it a completely different vibe by pairing it with the hard-wearing qualities of a tool watch. With the introduction of a 41 mm Grade 5 titanium case and an integrated bracelet made from the same material, the TYPE 7 maintains the unmistakable dial design language that makes Ressence such a singular watchmaker, all while offering the durability needed to confidently take your TYPE 7 into environments you wouldn’t dare expose your TYPE 1° Round to. 

While I’m not sure I would have bought the idea of this pairing on paper, having tried the TYPE 7 on during my time in Geneva, I can confirm that it works very well. The bracelet offers exceptional comfort while delivering a more heavy-duty aesthetic quite unlike anything Ressence has delivered before. 

Beyond its rugged form factor, the TYPE 7 sees Ressence expand its offering in other ways. In a first for the brand, this timepiece boasts a GMT, which only adds to its credentials as the perfect choice from the Ressence range for more adventurous types. Seamlessly integrated into the watchmaker’s signature rotating dial, this take on the second-time zone indicator is a far cry from those found in more conventional watch designs, while still empowering the wearer to track time across two locations. 

Another point of interest is that the TYPE 7 boasts Ressence’s signature oil-filled dial. This feature causes the watch’s dial to appear as if it’s projected directly onto the sapphire crystal. This provides superb legibility and gives the watch a slightly uncanny look, almost like there’s some sort of magic going on that exists beyond the bounds of the horological arts. 

None of this would matter if the watch didn’t run like, well, clockwork. Fortunately, Ressence’s patented ROCS 7 movement does a stellar job in this regard, and again its approach unconventional. This mechanism relies on a unique magnetic transmission system to keep time, deploying a series of micro-magnets—connected like an invisible bridge—to transfer information across a Grade 5 titanium membrane. This is driven by the minute axle to ensure the dial’s numerous elements orbit one another in perfect synchronisation. 

As has always been the case with Ressence watches, the TYPE 7’s display has a hypnotic effect that recalls those most primal of time-keeping elements: the planets and other bodies in motion throughout our solar system. Whether intended by the Ressence team or not, the dance that plays out upon its dials is a fitting tribute to the way humans have marked the passage of time for millennia. But now that dance is staged upon either a Night Blue or XV Aquamarine background (the latter being a limited-edition release celebrating 15 years of independent watchmaking) and is housed within a novel Grade 5 titanium case and bracelet. 

With that, I hope it’s easy to understand why the Ressence TYPE 7 has been so consistently on my mind. While I imagine nothing will eclipse the Night Blue TYPE 1° Round in my affections any time soon, this is still a remarkable effort from Ressence that should expand its appeal to those looking for a timepiece with a little more grit.

Ressence TYPE 7

• Movement: Self-winding ROCS 7 with GMT
• Dial: Night Blue, XV Aquamarine
• Case: Grade 5 titanium
• Diameter: 41 mm
• Thickness: 14 mm
• Bracelet: Grade 5 titanium
• Water-resistance: 5 ATM
• Power reserve: 36 hours
• Price: AUD$85,000 (approx)