ou just heard the click. Time to hurry. Pour water in the tank. Drop the collodion plate in. Wait a few seconds. Anticipation fills the room. The air is thick with the scent of chemicals. And here it comes — the moment of truth. The first photo of the new Type 3 BB2 is revealed to you.

To launch a new oil-filled watch, Ressence chose the art of wet collodion photography, a mid-19th century monochrome technique known for its sharpness and distinctive aesthetics. This result is a portrait as striking and unique as the watch itself. An ancient photographic process to immortalise the future of watchmaking.

Meet the Type 3 BB2, awarded the ’Best of the Best’ distinction in the Red Dot Design Award 2024 – think of it as the Oscars for product design.

This black edition further accentuates the hyper-minimal look of the Type 3, as the combination of oil and dark hue makes the thin space between the discs invisible. Whenever the dial gets in motion, wonder occurs.

“An almost pitch-black Type 3 edition truly showcases the magic of our flush rotating discs, acting like a mechanical screen, tricking the viewer’s senses and provoking wonder.” says Benoît Mintiens, Founder of Ressence.

The Type 3 Black Black 2 complements the Type 3 Black, White and Eucalyptus Green. It is available worldwide immediately, via Ressence’s official retailer network.

With its distinctive edge-to-edge, front and back, sapphire crystal, evoking a sleek dark pebble, this new addition holds a bold and captivating design.

Drawing on the limited 2022 Type 3 BBB’s reduced colour palette, the Type 3 Black Black 2 features mostly white and light grey inscriptions on its dial, accented by touches of primary colour tones on weekends and oil temperature indications.

The Type 3 BB2 also presents a matt black DLC-coated titanium case, departing from its exclusive predecessor and creating subtle contrast against the glossy sapphire.

When launched in 2013, the Type 3 took the watch industry by surprise as the first ever oil-filled mechanical watch. The Type 3 cancels out the distortion caused by the refraction of light, ensuring exceptional readability from any angle. To achieve this result, the upper chamber has been flooded with 3.57 ml of oil, creating a magnified projection effect that gives the illusion of information displayed directly on the glass.

The Type 3 also remains easy to read, regardless of the lighting conditions, thanks to the filling of engraved indications with Grade A Super-LumiNova.

While the oil provides high legibility, it is also sensitive to temperature variations. To compensate for the oil’s expansion or contraction under varying thermal conditions, Ressence has developed a Bellows System. It is a self-equilibrating pressure-balance system that maintains an even pressure and prevents any negative impact on performance. This Bellows System is graphically represented by a temperature gauge on the dial, adding a unique visual element to both the Type 3 and the Type 5.

Ressence embraces a ‘Less is More’ approach, crafting meaningful mechanical watches where every design choice serves a function. Designed to be worn and enjoyed, these watches are becoming an integral part of the wearer’s journey.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Functions
• Hours
• Minutes
• Day
• Date
• Oil Temperature

Movement
• Patented ROCS 3.5 - Ressence Orbital Convex System - module driven by the minute axle of a customised 2824/2 base calibre
• Caseback winding and day/date/time setting
• Magnetic transmission
• Compensating Bellows System
• Self-winding
• 36 hours power reserve
• 28,800 vibrations per hour
• 47 jewels
• 44 gears
• 4 ball bearings

Dial
• Convex grade 5 titanium discs (125mm radius) with four eccentric biaxial satellites inclined at 3° (hours), 4,75° (oil temperature and days of the week) and 6,25° (runner)
• Engraved indications filled with green Grade A Super-LumiNova

Case
• Grade 5 titanium with black matt DLC coating
• Two separate sealed chambers with upper half filled with 3.57 ml of oil
• Double-domed sapphire crystal top and bottom with anti-reflective coating inside
• 44 mm (diameter) x 15mm (thickness)
• 1 ATM splash-resistance

Buckle & Strap
• Titanium ardillon buckle
• Black Honeycomb strap (22/22mm)

Components
• 387 components / 79 grams

Price
• CHF38,200 (excluding taxes)