Type 3 Archives | Moss and Fog

While we have a slight fascination with designer watches, we’d never willingly pay the eye-watering prices for them.

Ressence is a Belgium-based watchmaker that admittedly have some very cleverly designed timepieces, and some of the latest even mimic the bright, graphical screens on modern smartwatches.

Their Type-3 series of watches are a fascinating piece of craftsmanship to behold. Using precise mechanical movements and an oil-filled casing, the watches show a range of graphical complications that look like they could be from the latest Apple or Google Pixel watch.

The difference? Everything is physical, and mechanical. Oh, and they cost $40,000 apiece.

It’s a unique paradigm, using traditional and novel watchmaking skills to mimic the highly graphical, modern aesthetic of a digital watch using mechanical movements. The oil-filled chambers even act as a miniature bellows-system for the mechanical pieces.

The watch faces have a unique curved face and bright surfaces to provide dials and numbers that seem to pop off of the wearer’s wrist.

See more on Ressence’s website.

Watch design is an interesting area of study, because its a small canvas, and people are always trying to tinker with the look and layout of the watchface. Not too often do you find a watch design that breaks barriers, but the Type 3 by Ressence certainly does that. Ditching physical hands for a series of rotating discs, it has a ‘you’ve never seen this before’ style, and the elements are sealed with a naphtha-type liquid that makes them appear to be projected directly onto the crystal. With no announced price, you can be pretty certain that this timepiece will be in the luxury price range. But that doesn’t mean it’s not high on the “I Want” list.