Ressence TYPE 10 DN: A Monochromatic Vision Of The Future

A Deep Blue Titanium Case, An Oil-Filled Display And 538 Components Come Together In Ressence’s Latest Interpretation Of Mechanical Timekeeping.

Introducing the new the Ressence TYPE 10 DN (Dark Night), a limited-edition watch that brings together the independent Belgian brand’s distinctive approach to displaying time, its oil-filled technology and a design inspired by the way forms evolve in nature. Limited to 100 pieces, the TYPE 10 DN presents a monochromatic interpretation of the TYPE 10, with its case, dial and integrated rubber strap sharing the same deep blue tone.

The TYPE 10 project began in 2022 as a series of sketches by Ressence founder Benoît Mintiens. Over the following four years, separate ideas gradually developed into a more integrated form. The result is a watch conceived as a continuous object, with flowing surfaces, precise edges and a case that appears to extend naturally into the strap.

One Continuous Dark Blue Form

The TYPE 10 DN is built around the idea of visual continuity. Its polished Grade 5 titanium case features a hard HarDeCo coating, while the integrated rubber strap and dial follow the same Dark Night colour scheme. The double-domed sapphire crystal blends into the overall shape, with the oil-filled display helping the dial appear closer to the crystal’s upper surface.

Rather than using conventional hands, Ressence relies on its patented Ressence Orbital Convex System (ROCS), which displays time through rotating discs. In the TYPE 10 DN, the effect is reinforced by the oil-filled display, which visually reduces the separation between the different elements and makes the indications appear across one continuous surface.

The fixed bezel is constructed from 24 individual titanium segments. Their alternating finishes — including sandblasted luminous inserts and larger linearly brushed surfaces — introduce subtle changes in the way light moves around the minute track. The brushing direction shifts by 30 degrees from one segment to the next, creating a series of small reflections as the watch moves on the wrist.

Mechanical Complexity Behind A Clear Display

Beneath its minimalist appearance, the TYPE 10 DN contains 538 components. At its centre is the RW-04, a self-winding calibre designed in-house by Ressence specifically for the TYPE 10. Made up of 252 components, the movement provides a 60-hour power reserve and operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour.

The RW-04 drives the patented ROCS 10 module, which contains 196 components within the oil-filled display. The complete watch also incorporates 49 gears, 47 jewels and eight ball bearings: seven with jewels and one made from stainless steel.

The purpose of this mechanical complexity is to deliver a display that feels intuitive rather than technical. Hours and minutes are presented alongside a second time zone, while a 120-second runner serves a dual role: it is part of the visual display and also helps stabilise the magnetic transmission against shocks.

Bringing Oil And Air Together

One of the defining features of the TYPE 10 DN is the way it combines two separate environments inside the same watch. The mechanical movement operates in air, while the ROCS display moves through 2.95 ml of silicone-based oil in a separate, hermetically sealed chamber.

The two sides communicate through magnetic transmission. The RW-04 drives a disc fitted with micro-magnets on the air-filled side, while a corresponding disc moves within the oil-filled chamber. The magnetic sets sit just 0.2 mm apart, separated by a 0.1 mm titanium membrane. This arrangement transfers movement without a physical shaft passing between the chambers.

Temperature changes present a further challenge, as the oil expands and contracts. An expansion membrane compensates for variations in volume and helps prevent gas bubbles from forming as the oil cools. Ressence states that every oil-filled watch is tested for one hour at 60°C and one hour at -5°C before shipping.

The TYPE 10 DN also displays the oil’s temperature through a colour-coded indication. Green represents the normal operating range, around 25°C ±10°C, while the extremes of the scale indicate when the system approaches its limits.

Designed To Be Worn

Despite its 538 components, the TYPE 10 DN weighs 82 grams. Its Grade 5 titanium case measures 41.5 mm in diameter and is fitted with double-domed sapphire crystals on both sides, with an internal anti-reflective coating. The case back sapphire offers a view of the RW-04 movement, while the Ressence Compression Lock System provides water resistance to 5 ATM.

An integrated rubber strap continues the Dark Night colour scheme, paired with a polished Grade 5 titanium buckle with a hard-DLC coating. Together, the materials and integrated form support the watch’s intended role as a daily companion, balancing its technical construction with a light feel on the wrist.

The Ressence Approach: Simplication

Ressence describes its design philosophy as “Simplication”: the idea that complexity should serve clarity rather than dominate the experience. The TYPE 10 DN illustrates this principle by concealing an elaborate mechanical and magnetic system beneath a display designed to feel coherent and immediately understandable.

Founded by Benoît Mintiens in Antwerp in 2010, Ressence has built its identity around the ROCS display, oil-filled dials and a distinctive approach to ergonomics. The TYPE 10 DN continues that direction, presenting time through a three-dimensional arrangement of rotating discs rather than conventional hands.

The Ressence TYPE 10 DN is limited to 100 pieces and is priced at CHF 45,000, excluding taxes. Availability is scheduled to begin in November 2026.

Technical Specifications

For more information, please visit the official Ressence website.

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