Ressence TYPE 11: Exploring the RW-01 Movement

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I have been following Ressence since the very beginning, and I say this without reservation: few independent brands today carry the clarity of vision that Benoît Mintiens brings to each new piece. The TYPE 11, unveiled for Watches and Wonders 2026, is the brand’s most complete watch to date. It introduces the RW-01, Ressence’s first entirely proprietary movement, and delivers a level of integration between engine and display that this team has been building toward for over a decade. This is, genuinely, a milestone.

The Dial: Convex Titanium in Motion

The dial of the TYPE 11 operates as a three-dimensional kinetic surface. Ressence machines it entirely in Grade 5 titanium with a convex profile at a 100mm radius. Three eccentric satellites sit within a titanium Grade 5 frame, each carrying a specific function, hours, minutes, seconds, and power reserve, all orchestrated by the ROCS 11.1 module. Ressence engraves every index into the surface and fills the recesses with Grade A Super-LumiNova for low-light legibility, achieving all of this without hands, crown, or conventional markers.

The TYPE 11 launches in three colourways, Pine, Sky, and Latte, each one matching its seconds marker and the bi-tonal ceramic micro-balls of the power reserve disc. That power reserve indication deserves a closer look: Ressence patented a system of ceramic micro-balls in two contrasting tones. As the movement winds, the lighter balls progressively emerge while the darker ones recede, reversing as power depletes. The result transforms a functional data point into something immediate and tactile, a distinctive visual language that replaces the conventional arc indicator entirely.

The Movement: RW-01, Engineered for ROCS

The RW-01 represents a decisive step forward for Ressence. Ressence developed it in collaboration with a specialist Swiss partner, and it carries COSC certification, running at 28,800 vibrations per hour with 60 hours of power reserve across twin mainspring barrels. The movement incorporates 67 gears, 40 jewels, and 18 ball bearings within a total 439-component architecture.

What separates the RW-01 from any third-party calibre the brand previously modified is its triangular architecture. Three circles define its geometry: two barrels and a central reference balance wheel, a shape that consciously echoes the motif of a Ressence dial. Consequently, the boundary previously separating the movement from the ROCS module disappears entirely. In earlier Ressence watches, the two systems required a complex interface between the motor and the display mechanism; now, components integrate across both, producing a more efficient and cohesive mechanism. Additionally, the ROCS 11.1 gains titanium ball bearings in this generation, increasing robustness and refining the precision of the display.

The caseback lever handles both manual winding and time-setting, and Ressence eliminated the winding zone entirely, allowing the watch to wind freely in either direction without restriction. A viewing window on the caseback offers a discrete glimpse of the RW-01 in action. As Mintiens puts it: “Our movement is not designed to be a showpiece. It’s an engine, built to drive the ROCS reliably and efficiently.” That honesty, frankly, is refreshing.

The Case: Grade 5 Titanium, Resolved

The TYPE 11 case measures 41mm in diameter, 11mm in thickness, and 45mm lug to lug, good proportions that feel deliberate and resolved. Ressence uses polished Grade 5 titanium throughout, shaping it into a pebble-form silhouette with integrated lugs. A double-domed sapphire crystal sits above the dial carrying an anti-reflective coating on its inner surface, a technical choice that minimises glare without compromising the external hardness of the crystal.

Water resistance reaches 3 ATM, suitable for everyday exposure. Four strap options accompany the watch: leather, rubber, a leather-rubber hybrid, and a titanium Milanese mesh that combines low weight with exceptional breathability. The complete assembly weighs just 49 grams including the strap, a figure that speaks directly to the material discipline Ressence applies at every stage.

A Brand Arriving at Its Own Standard

The TYPE 11 enters the market in May 2026 at CHF 23,000 excluding taxes. That positioning reflects both the watch’s technical ambition and its identity as the definitive point of entry into the Ressence world. Ressence calls it the Watch of the Now, and after spending time understanding its architecture, I believe them completely. With the RW-01 finally integrated into the ROCS as a single unified system, the brand has built the watch it always had in mind. For anyone who has followed Ressence since 2010, the TYPE 11 is not just a new reference; it is an answer to a question this brand has been asking since the very beginning.

Ressence TYPE 11

Ressence TYPE 11 Technical Specifications

NAME: TYPE 11 L – TYPE 11 P – TYPE 11 S · CHF 23,000 (excluding taxes)

Functions

Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Power Reserve

Movement

Patented ROCS 11.1 – Ressence Orbital Convex System, driven by the in-house Ressence Werk RW-01
Self-winding
60 hours power reserve
28,800 vibrations per hour
40 jewels
67 gears
18 ball-bearings

Dial (ROCS)