Ressence Type 10 DN Debuts with In-House RW-04 and Oil-Filled Display
Antwerp-based watchmaker Ressence unveiled the Type 10 DN (Dark Night), a limited edition of 100 pieces, at WatchTime New York on 16 October 2026. The model brings the company's own self-winding calibre RW-04 into an oil-filled watch for the first time. Its mechanical movement operates in air, while a separate chamber holds the rotating indications in oil.
A design developed from 2022 sketches
Founder Benoît Mintiens began exploring the Type 10 in 2022 through sketches attached to his computer screen. Over the following four years, the project moved towards a continuous shape in which the case, sapphire crystal and integrated strap follow one another without prominent breaks. The Dark Night version uses deep blue across the titanium case, moving display and rubber strap.
Instead of conventional hands, the watch displays time through Ressence's rotating discs. Oil in the upper chamber reduces the visible gap between the dial and crystal, bringing the indications closer to the surface. A bezel assembled from 24 titanium segments surrounds the display; alternating luminous and brushed sections give the minute track its markings.
How the movement drives a display through oil
The RW-04 calibre and the ROCS 10 display module occupy two independently sealed spaces. The mechanical movement stays in an air-filled chamber. Its rotating magnetic disc drives a corresponding disc in the oil-filled section without a shaft passing through the partition. Ressence specifies a distance of 0.2 mm between the sets of magnets, separated by a 0.1 mm titanium membrane.
The upper chamber contains 2.95 ml of silicone-based oil. Because the volume of that liquid changes with temperature, an expansion membrane compensates for the variation. The dial also carries a colour-coded oil-temperature indicator within the hour disc, allowing the wearer to see when the system moves beyond its normal operating range.
One calibre, several moving indications
Developed for the Type 10, the automatic RW-04 consists of 252 components and uses two barrels to provide a 60-hour power reserve. It powers the patented ROCS 10 module, which contains 196 components in oil. Ressence counts 538 components across the complete watch.
Alongside hours and minutes, the display includes a second time zone and a 120-second runner. The runner also serves as a shock absorber for the magnetic coupling, helping the oil-filled display remain synchronised with the movement when the watch is subjected to movement or impacts.
Case details, price and availability
- Case: 41.5 mm polished Grade 5 titanium with a hard coating.
- Weight: 82 g.
- Water resistance: 5 ATM.
- Winding and setting: manually via the case back; automatic winding during wear.
- Movement frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour.
- Launch price: CHF 45,000 excluding taxes.
- Availability: from November 2026, according to the launch release.
The Type 10 follows the Type 11, for which Ressence introduced its first proprietary calibre, the RW-01, earlier in 2026. The new RW-04 extends that movement programme to the brand's oil-filled display architecture. Further information is available from Ressence watches and the manufacturer's official product page.
Source: Ressence, TYPE 10 DN official press release (dated 1 October 2026; launch 16 October); Ressence, TYPE 10 DN product specifications; Ressence Press Centre.
