Ressence TYPE 8 Daniel Engelberg: Innovation Meets Art

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The Ressence TYPE 8 Daniel Engelberg represents a fascinating convergence of horological innovation and contemporary artistic expression. This limited-edition collaboration between Belgian watchmaker Ressence and Munich-based artist Daniel Engelberg exemplifies how modern watchmaking can transcend its traditional boundaries to become a canvas for artistic creativity. With only 40 pieces produced in each of two vibrant colourways, the TYPE 8 DE1 in warm pink and the TYPE 8 DE2 in vivid turquoise, this partnership demonstrates Ressence’s commitment to what founder Benoît Mintiens describes as “art in motion”.

The collaboration emerged from a shared philosophy between Mintiens and Engelberg, both creators who view their respective mediums as vehicles for emotional engagement rather than purely functional objects. As Mintiens explains, “This project is a true application of art to a watch—it’s an almost literal integration of an artwork into a watch dial“. For Engelberg, the partnership offered an unprecedented opportunity to see his static artworks come alive through mechanical movement: “For the first time, I have a work of art that is animated“.

Ressence and the Evolution of Artistic Horology

Founded in 2010 by industrial designer Benoît Mintiens in Antwerp, Belgium, Ressence emerged from a deliberate departure from traditional watchmaking conventions. The brand name itself is a portmanteau of “Renaissance” and “essence,” reflecting Mintiens’ vision to reimagine how time could be expressed. Coming from a background in industrial design that included projects ranging from high-speed trains to aircraft cabins, Mintiens brought a fresh, user-centric approach to horology.

Ressence quickly established itself as a pioneer in what could be termed “contemporary horological art“. The brand’s inaugural collection, the Zero Series, introduced at BaselWorld 2010, immediately challenged established norms by eliminating traditional hands in favour of rotating discs. This revolutionary approach earned the company recognition as one of the most innovative independent manufacturers in haute horlogerie.

The brand’s commitment to artistic collaboration has manifested through several notable partnerships preceding the Engelberg collection. Stefan Sagmeister’s TYPE 3X “Look Up” (2020) embedded his “Now is Better” philosophy directly into the dial design, transforming the watch into a vessel for optimistic messaging. Alain Silberstein’s TYPE 1 S REV Grail Watch (2022) explored themes of “Carpe Diem” through symbolic visual elements. Most recently, Shantell Martin’s TYPE 1 Squared White for TimeForArt 2024 featured her fluid line drawings and “Enjoy Life” mantra, demonstrating how contemporary art could inhabit the constraints of a watch dial.

Daniel Engelberg: Sculptor-Painter of Geometric Precision

Daniel Engelberg, born in Munich in 1979, represents a distinctive voice in contemporary German art. His artistic education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Nuremberg under Professor Claus Bury, followed by studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich with Professor Hermann Pitz, established his foundation in sculptural practice. Engelberg’s work seamlessly bridges the gap between sculpture and painting, creating what he terms “haptische Bilder” (haptic pictures).

The artist’s methodology reflects a rigorous formal language that draws inspiration from architectural construction and industrial materials. His signature approach involves milling pieces from wood, applying vibrant acrylic paints, and sealing the works under glossy epoxy resin: a process that yields geometric artworks of striking depth and precision. This technique creates an almost architectural sense of space on a flat plane, marrying minimal form with emotional and optical impact.

Engelberg’s acclaimed “Inside Out” series, which directly inspired the Ressence collaboration, features concentric circular forms and gentle colour gradients that emanate from a deep black core. These works create an illusion of perspective that draws the viewer’s eye inward, establishing what the artist describes as a marriage between geometric clarity and joyful colours. His work regularly appears in exhibitions across Europe, and his unique blend of industrial rigour and painterly imagination has attracted collectors and design aficionados alike.

The TYPE 8 Daniel Engelberg: Technical and Artistic Mastery

Design and Artistic Integration

The most compelling aspect of the TYPE 8 Daniel Engelberg lies in how Engelberg’s artistic vision integrates seamlessly with Ressence‘s patented ROCS technology. The artist’s “Inside Out” aesthetic translates beautifully to the constantly moving dial surface, where concentric circles and colour gradients interact with the orbiting time displays. The pink iteration (DE1) offers a warm, optimistic palette, while the turquoise variant (DE2) presents a more dynamic, contemporary aesthetic.

What makes this collaboration particularly successful is how Engelberg’s geometric language speaks the same visual vocabulary as Ressence‘s technical display system. The 75mm diameter Grade 5 titanium dial serves as more than a functional component: it becomes a canvas where art and horology achieve genuine synthesis. The laser-engraved minute and hour discs, filled with blue Grade A Super-LumiNova, ensure legibility whilst maintaining the artistic integrity of Engelberg’s designs.

Movement and the ROCS 8 System

At the heart of the TYPE 8 Daniel Engelberg beats the ROCS 8 (Ressence Orbital Convex System), representing the eighth generation of Ressence’s patented time display technology. This sophisticated module is driven by the minute axle of a customised automatic base calibre, creating what Ressence describes as “a unique three-dimensional in-house module for intuitive reading of time“.

The ROCS 8 system comprises 188 components working in concert to create the watch’s distinctive time display. The system features 31 jewels, 20 gears, and 4 ball bearings, all operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour. The movement provides 36 hours of power reserve and incorporates self-winding capability. The Grade 5 titanium dial runs on a jewel ball bearing with eccentric satellites rolling on jewel ball-bearings inclined at 9.75 degrees for the hours display.

What distinguishes the ROCS 8 from its predecessors is its focus on essential timekeeping functions, hours and minutes only, embodying Ressence‘s “Less is More” philosophy. This pared-down approach allows Engelberg’s artistic elements to take centre stage without competing with additional complications.

Construction and Ergonomics

The TYPE 8 Daniel Engelberg is housed in a sophisticated 42.9mm Grade 5 titanium case that weighs just 40 grams. The case profile, which Ressence describes as “eggshell shaped,” features a distinctive skirt extending from the case body that obscures the lugs, creating a clean, almost floating appearance on the wrist.

The case construction employs both polished and satin-brushed finishes, creating visual interest whilst maintaining the watch’s contemporary aesthetic. The domed sapphire crystal features anti-reflective coating on the interior surface, ensuring optimal clarity for viewing Engelberg’s artistic elements. True to Ressence‘s design philosophy, the watch maintains a crownless profile, with manual winding and time-setting accomplished via the caseback through a 12-degree rotation system.

Water resistance is rated at 1 ATM, making this primarily a dress watch suited to the art gallery rather than the diving platform. The watch comes with two strap options: a vibrant rubber strap matching the dial colour (pink for DE1, turquoise for DE2) and a complementary premium leather strap for formal occasions.

Art, Time, and the Beauty of Everyday Objects

The Ressence TYPE 8 Daniel Engelberg transcends its role as a timepiece to become what philosopher Donald Norman might recognise as an exemplar of emotional design. In contemporary design theory, objects that serve as communication vessels between creator and user represent the highest achievement of functional art. This collaboration demonstrates how everyday objects, even something as mundane as reading the time, can become vehicles for wonder and artistic contemplation.

The significance of this piece extends beyond horology into broader questions about how art integrates with daily life. Japanese design philosophy, particularly the Mingei movement pioneered by Soetsu Yanagi, emphasised that beauty should not be confined to galleries but should permeate everyday existence. The TYPE 8 Daniel Engelberg embodies this principle, transforming the routine act of checking time into an aesthetic experience.

In our contemporary moment, when the boundaries between fine art and functional design continue to blur, collaborations like this represent important cultural statements. They suggest that luxury objects need not choose between utility and artistic expression but can achieve both simultaneously. The watch becomes what cultural theorists term “functional art“: objects that participate in daily life whilst maintaining artistic integrity.

The limited production of 40 pieces per variant ensures that each watch functions as both wearable timepiece and collectible art object. This scarcity reinforces the piece’s status as cultural artifact whilst ensuring its accessibility to collectors who value the intersection of contemporary art and haute horlogerie.

Ultimately, the Ressence TYPE 8 Daniel Engelberg stands as testament to the possibility that our everyday objects can serve as sources of beauty, contemplation, and artistic engagement. In an era increasingly dominated by digital interfaces, the physical presence of art on the wrist offers a tactile reminder of craftsmanship, creativity, and the enduring human need for aesthetic experience in daily life. Through this collaboration, both Ressence and Engelberg have created something that transcends its constituent parts, achieving what Mintiens describes as “two universes working together organically“.

Ressence TYPE 8 Daniel Engelberg Technical Specifications

TYPE 8 .1 DE1 – TYPE 8.1 DE2 – CHF19,000 (excluding taxes)

Functions

Hours
Minutes

Movement

Patented ROCS 8 – Ressence Orbital Convex System – module driven by the minute axle of a customised automatic base calibre
Self-winding
36 hours power reserve
28,800 vibrations per hour
31 jewels
20 gears
4 ball bearings

Dial

Grade 5 titanium dial (75mm diameter) running on a jewel ball bearing with eccentric satellites rolling on jewel ball-bearings inclined at 9,75° (hours)
0.5mm laser-engraved minute and hour discs
Engraved indications filled with blue Grade A Super-LumiNova®

Case