Ressence has been at the top of the “Best Mechanical Watches for Apple Watch Lovers” list for a while now, as many of the brand’s designs appear more digital than any other analog watchmaker.
Now, the Antwerp-based brand’s position on my theoretical list is etched in stone with the release of the Type 3 Marc Newson, which, for those unfamiliar, was designed by and named after the designer of the Apple Watch himself.
Marc Newson is an Australian industrial designer whose illustrious career has included everything from automotive and aviation design to furniture and art installations.
Creating the Apple Watch’s look was not his first foray into horology, as he had previously designed the divisive, cult-favorite Ikepod watches of the 1990s. That flying saucer case design was an inspiration for Ressence founder Benoît Mintiens, and in a promo conversation, Newson reveals that he recognized common aesthetic values with Mintiens long before they met.
In one regard, Ressence is the perfect watch company for Newson to work with because its analog designs resemble a digital screen more closely than any other mechanical watch.
On the other hand, Ressence is revered for pushing the limits of mechanical watch engineering in the digital age and championing the relevance of the craft beyond nostalgia, style and status.
