First debuted at Baselworld 2014, the Type 1 followed on from the Type 3, as a reinvention of the original Type 1001, with a new crown-less winding system and thinner case. In comparison to the Type 1001 with its large crown and thick case size, and the with its innovative oil-filled dial, the Type 1 expresses perhaps the most minimalist vision of the brand.
The watch is split into two modules; a lower-half comprised of a customised self-winding ETA 2824/2 ébauche, and a display module, or ROCS (Ressence Orbital Convex System). Composed of 107 parts, 27 gears and 40 jewels, the gears in the ROCS calculates the hours, seconds and day, taking only the minute as a reference from the movement. In the Type 1, there's a mechanical link between the movement and the ROCS display.
The ’N’ in ‘Type 1N’ refers to the night blue colour of the dial, which is convex German silver. The orbital display shows hours and minutes on convex discs, as well as the day of the week (with weekends shown). All indicators are filled with generous quantities of Superluminova, for maximum low-light visibility.
With a highly-domed, sapphire crystal encasing the front side of the watch, the Type 1 has an almost pebble-like appearance, clearly influenced by current industrial design trends. The case of this Type 1N is thinner still, due to the absence of a sapphire case-back, acting as a crown. Instead, there is a small retractable lever, which, when setting the time, corresponds exactly to the movement of the discs on the dial (in a ratio of 1-to-1), with each rotation. The polished, grade 5 titanium case measures 42 mm, yet wears smaller than expected, due to the absence of the external case seen in traditional watchmaking. The watch also forgoes a traditional crown, increasing the organic feel, with the user instead interacting with the retractable lever on the case-back, to wind the movement and set the time.
This Type 1N is an ex-demonstration piece, which has recently been fully serviced by the manufacture and comes with a 1 year warranty from Ressence. It’s a full-set, with box, papers, warranty card and its original blue leather strap, with corresponding tang buckle.
Viewings can be arranged in Central London by appointment only.
Closer look
| Brand: | Ressence |
| Model: | Type 1N |
| Movement: | automatic ETA 2824/2 base, modified with in-house ROCS display module |
| Functions: | day, hours, minutes, seconds |
| Features: | regulator display, winding case back |
| Case: | 42 mm x 11.5 mm grade 5 titanium |
| Crystal: | domed sapphire front |
| Bracelet: | navy blue leather Ressence strap and original buckle |
| Year: | ex-demonstration piece |
| Box & papers: | box, product literature, warranty card |
