Ressence / TYPE 8 .1 DE1 – TYPE 8.1 DE2

Art in motion: Ressence meets Daniel Engelberg

Ressence links Daniel Engelberg’s “Inside Out” series to the minimalist TYPE 8 with the TYPE 8 .1 DE1 and TYPE 8.1 DE2, each limited to 40 pieces. His concentric graphics become part of the orbital time display, so art and function share the same visual language.

TYPE 8 DE1 carries a pink dial, while TYPE 8 DE2 is rendered in turquoise. Both reinterpret Engelberg’s illusionistic circles through Ressence’s patented ROCS 8 Orbital Convex System, where rotating discs replace hands and the artwork appears to move as hours and minutes orbit.

Key Highlights

• Two editions, TYPE 8 .1 DE1 and TYPE 8.1 DE2, each limited to 40 pieces.
• Dials derived from Daniel Engelberg’s “Inside Out” works with concentric geometry and visual depth.
• Ressence ROCS 8 orbital display with hours and minutes only, driven by a self-winding calibre.
• 42.9 mm Grade 5 titanium case and dial with a total weight of 40 grams.
• CHF 19,000 excluding taxes, available from August 2025 via Ressence’s online store and select retailers.

The art watch, distilled

Ressence has long treated its watches as graphic canvases, with collaborations involving Shantell Martin, Stefan Sagmeister and Alain Silberstein. The TYPE 8 Daniel Engelberg continues this approach by aligning dial, artwork and display in a single geometric composition.

Engelberg’s architecture- and sculpture-informed practice appears on the Grade 5 titanium dial as layered circles that suit the orbital layout. A darker centre anchors the design while gradients radiate outward, mirroring the motion of the ROCS 8 discs.

Laser-engraved discs just 0.5 mm thick are filled with blue Grade A Super-LumiNova, so structure and depth remain visible in low light and the “Inside Out” graphics stay legible at night.

TYPE 8, reimagined in colour

Mechanically, TYPE 8 DE1 and DE2 follow the core TYPE 8 concept: orbiting hours and minutes only, with the ROCS 8 module driven by the minute axle of a customised automatic base calibre.

The movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, offers a 36-hour power reserve and uses 31 jewels. Beneath the dial sit 20 gears and four ball bearings, for a total of 188 components that support the orbital discs and maintain smooth rotation across the domed surface.

The polished titanium case measures 42.9 mm in diameter and 11 mm in thickness, yet the watch weighs just 40 grams thanks to the lightweight metal and domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. Ressence’s crownless construction means winding and setting take place via the rotating caseback over a 12° range in both directions, with water resistance rated to 1 ATM.

Four gem-set interpretations

The two references are distinguished by dial colours and coordinated straps while remaining faithful to the TYPE 8 architecture.

• TYPE 8 DE1 pairs a pink dial with a soft pink rubber strap.
• TYPE 8 DE2 matches its turquoise dial with a blue-green rubber strap.
• Both watches are supplied with a complementary blue leather strap.
• A titanium ardillon buckle maintains the light feel of the TYPE 8 family.

Why it matters

This collaboration reinforces Ressence’s view that watches can carry contemporary cultural ideas as convincingly as they display time. By integrating Engelberg’s “Inside Out” language into the mechanics of the ROCS display, the TYPE 8 DE1 and DE2 turn “art in motion” into a literal description and extend the brand’s dialogue with creative voices in design and art.

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