Since the 1970s, BMW has, from time to time, engaged renowned artists to use one of their cars as a canvas for artistic expression. These Art Car collaborations have made an indelible mark on the culture in ways expected and unexpected in the decades since the project began. Examples like the M1 done by Andy Warhol, and the M3 GT2 by Jeff Koons have since become icons of conceptual art within the automotive space. In the watch world, we may be witnessing a similar movement taking shape with Ressence. What began with Alain Silberstein, and continued with Shantell Martin, now welcomes a new vision from German artist Daniel Engelberg.
Engelberg is known for his use of vibrant color palettes and well defined shapes oriented in a manner meant to challenge your sense of depth perception. This is often achieved via the use of rings and a carefully selected range of hues across a set of values that give the effect of depth. As you might imagine, this is a concept that would work quite well within the domed, circular confines of the Ressence Type 8 dial, and that’s exactly what’s been done here in a range of blue hues that drop to a black center to host the rotating hour display.
There are two variations of this Type 8 being created, the DE1 with a pink perimeter, and the DE2 featuring turquoise. The central component, which rotates along with the minute hand display, remains the same for both examples. The result is a stunning work of art down to the smallest of details, set within a world constantly in motion thanks to the Ressence Orbital Convex System (ROCS) technology at work within.
The dial has dramatic curvature, and is framed by a lugless case that measures 42.9mm in diameter, and 11mm in thickness. That shape actually allows this watch to wear unlike anything else, and the fact that it’s made of titanium, means that it wears exceptionally light and easy on the wrist. That all feels beside the point with this watch, but it’s still worth noting and appreciating. The dial execution is the real draw, and the more space it gets, the better.
Ressence and Daniel Engelberg have created something exceptional here, and further pushed the boundary that separates their respective genres into the grey. “This project is a true application of art to a watch,” says Ressence founder, Benoit Mintiens. “It’s an almost literal integration of an artwork into a watch dial. Here, the dial and Daniel’s painting speak the exact same graphic language, an organic geometry that feels meant to be.”
The Ressence Type 8 Art Watch DE1 and DE2 are limited to just 40 examples being planned for production, which will be priced at CHF 19,000. Ressence
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