AHCI - BaselWorld 2013 : Ressence

BaselWorld 2013 : Ressence

BaselWorld 2013 : Ressence

Of course we remember the Ressence watch from designer Benoit Mintiens. We have been following this watch for several years now with its rotating dial filling entirely the case diameter without any bezel. This year Mr. Mintiens has taken this design to the extreme with a new model, the Type 3, which has such a successful design that I have named it my BaselWorld 2013 Best of the Fair for Design.

By filling the space between the dial and the crystal with a transparent liquid it appears that the dial is really on the surface of the crystal. The effect is massive and surprising. Once again we see that Mr. Mintiens is an industrial designer by profession and the entire piece is satisfying both in its looks and in its feel in the hand and on the wrist.

One of the things we notice immediately is the lack of a crown on this watch. The entire back of the case takes this function. Depending on the position of the back and whether the dial is facing up or down the watch can be wound (not really necessary, as it is an automatic) and the time and date set.

Of course for the development of this watch a reliable separation of the watch movement from the liquid-filled display portion was of great importance. There are many details that need to be carefully taken care of such as the thermal expansion of the liquid and transfering the movement in a guaranteed leakproof way. To this end the watch consists of two compartments that are separated by a titanium membrane. On one side of this membrane is the liquid filled display compartment. On the other side is the watch movement. The movement is transfered from the watch compartment to the display compartment by magnetic coupling through the titanium membrane.

All in all well thought out and visially compelling.
The Ressence Type 3 is the worthy winner of my "BaselWorld 2013 Best of the Fair for Design" award.