There are iconic watch designs that are instantly recognizable by the general public as being from a particular brand (think Rolex), and then there are those that are really only quickly identifiable by those in the watch community. And even there, we tend to specialize a bit in the brands or styles that we like. Then, there are those oddballs (in the very best sense of the word) that anyone who pays attention to watches can easily identify. It is in that latter category that I place the watches from Ressence, and we’ve now got a new thinner version of the Ressence Type 1 to drool over.
Ressence Type 1 Slim Specifications
Brand: Ressence
Model: Type 1 Slim
Dimensions: 42mm x 11mm
Water Resistance: 1 ATM
Case Material: Grade 5 Titanium
Crystal/Lens: Double-domed sapphire crystal with AR coating
Movement: Base 2892/A with patented ROCS (Ressence Orbital Convex System)
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour
Power Reserve: 36 hours
Strap/Bracelet: Leather strap (20mm/20mm) with ardillon buckle
Price & Availability: $20,600 USD
Ressence Type 1 Slim Analysis
I think many of us may tend to overlook the Ressence Type 1, as it’s “just” an air-filled version, whereas the oil-filled Type 3 gets more attention. And I get that, as there is no denying how cool the oil is. There is very much an argument to be made for the Type 1, though. You take the more innovative parts of the brand DNA – the ROCS system along with the display method – and strip it down to the basics. Not that the watch itself is basic – it’s 107 parts for the ROCS system, on top of what’s in the base ETA 2892 movement. It’s just that the extraneous things are stripped away.
Ressence Type 1 Slim Conclusion
This leads to a, if not cleaner look, one that I’ll call crisper. It also allows the watch to slim itself down to just 11mm thick, which is fairly impressive when you consider what’s stacked on top of the automatic movement. It’s a shame the WR rating is only 1 ATM, but that’ll keep the German silver dial protected from splashes and the like. With the slimmer profile and the lightweight titanium case (a total weight of 68g), you’ve got yourself a watch that is certainly going to melt away on your wrist – at least, until you sideswipe out from under your cuff to dazzle your watch buddies. While the Ressence Type 3 is the luxury liner, I’m all for the scrappy cruiser we’ve got in the form of the Ressence Type 1 Slim which has a price of $20,600. Learn more at ressencewatches.com
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