Innovation in action….

Amidst all of the excitement of the “big boys” at Baselworld it can be easy to overlook the smaller, independent brands.  Particularly those one-off watch guys who happen to be trying to break into the watch industry with a catchy new design or concept.  Although many a man has come along with a good concept and a prototype or two, there is far, far more to the watch game than just another good idea.   But, as one who almost always sides with the proverbial “underdog”, I admire those brave and venturesome souls who are willing to give it a go.  Benoit Mintiens is one such man who decided to give it a go.  Mintiens comes at watch design from a very unconventional point of view, as you might expect from a Belgium-based industrial design consultant (!), but his outcome is most impressive.

As founder of Ressence Watch, Mintiens made his debut at Baselworld 2010 with his “platform watch” — a watch featuring a rotating dial plate and time scales without any amount of superimposition (ie no hands cross or go over the others).  Intrigued upon seeing his concept — unlike anything I had seen before — I contacted Benoit with the hope of gaining a deeper understanding of what is behind Ressence Watch.  Thankfully and quite kindly, he obliged.  What follows is my interview with him, with images of his new watch concept shown throughout.

1) Kyle Stults (KS):  Tell us about the name “Ressence” – what is its origin/meaning?

Benoît Mintiens (BM):  Ressence comes from renaissance ( rebirth + period in history ) and essence.

The philosophy of the brand is one of rebirth, like the spring.  Dare to put givens into question, and rethink it from another perspective.  Values like humanism are key.  The product watch should be more than a shinny status symbol, it should reflect your inner-personality, the way you look at things, it is ( a part of ) you.

Essence is quite straight forward.  One person had a very good metaphor when he saw the watch, he said ‘it’s the mac of the watches.  In a (watch) world that is adding superficiality every year, my vision is one of reducing to the essence, giving time, but without being boring ( I hope ).  The design of the watch is reduced to a time-indicator, like a iphone is reduces to a screen. It’s about content and not about the container.

The patented display system features a revolving module driven by a modified automatic Swiss caliber. The revolving dial plate points out the minutes, the lunatic sub-dials inside the main dial plate indicate the hours, seconds and am-pm. The sub-dials orbit around a virtual axis similar to the moons around Saturn.   The movement is an automatic mechanical (modified 2824 caliber base), with a patented module system designed & developed by Ressence — ceramic bearing, aluminum frame and dial-satellites, triple bi-axial off-centered integrated & flush mounted orbiting satellites and adjustment system in the crown.  The case is either titanium or steel, 42mm diameter, with a 3D convex sapphire crystal on both sides with vertical flush mount interface on case.

times displayed on the dial are:

10:10am           –               01:50am                  –            11:45pm

Still Mystified?  I’ll decode it for you:

2) KS:  Your Type 1001/2 watch – is it merely a prototype? What is your inspiration for the concept?

BM:  During the fair I presented 3 working prototypes.  Now I start production.

Inspiration is difficult to finger point. I am a consultant in industrial design, it is my job to be creative within boundaries.  I remember the moment I designed the watch 3 years ago. Since it has been work work work to get it done.  Creativity is 5% of inspiration and 95% hard labor.

3) KS: How many do you plan to produce?

BM:  It is a niche product.  The design is not neutral and does not express values that most people want their watch to express.  Their is no brand on the front, no shiny metal, no expensive exotic leather, etc.  the watch breaks with established references.  Another aspect is the price.  It is too expensive for mass production, and the concept will always be expensive to produce.

4) KS:  What will be the approximate price?

BM:  No price yet, but during the [Baselworld] fair I announced between 10k and 15k€ but with great reserve!  I will tell you when it’s ready.

5) KS:  Where do you hope to distribute / sell your watch?  Where can one order/purchase the 1001/2?

BM:  Now I launch a zero-series.  A few watches that will have the good finish.  I will sell them to the people that supported me during the development phase by ordering one without knowing the result and even the price… I will also use this series to show the retailers and off course do all the tests with it to get it qualified for sales.  After that I will produce for retail.

6) KS:  What is next for Ressence?

BM:  I have a lots of ideas but shhhhh, it’s secret

KS:  Thank you Benoit, and the very best of luck to you!

You can learn more on the Ressence Watch website.

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