Ressence Type 1
A day with a Ressence, traveling
Copenhagen is part of these European capitals where royalty is still standing, and where they keep on discussing in a language more than confusing only them can understand. But fortunately everyone speaks English. 6.30 a.m. the alarms goes off to hop into a plane heading to Denmark, where is my watch ?
By Eléonor Picciotto
When traveling, a question always comes up: what should I wear? Clothes, shoes and bags aside – the watch selection (for those lucky owning more than one) obliges your mind to a real stop for thinking. I need something confortable, not too heavy nor visible or recognizable just enough to query watches’ fans.
Ressence Type 3 or even the 1 are close to a perfect match
The paradox in needing the time in an airport is that you have it anywhere. On the departure and arrival screens, at the check-in counter or on the various clocks suspended at the airport. But most importantly you read the time from your cell phone you invariably have in your hand at all times finishing up your whatsapp conversations before being cut off for 2 hours, checking what happened in the last 23 minutes on Instagram before sending your last email.
According to Benoit Mintiens (Ressence founder), eyes trained, it is faster to read the time on hand dials than reading digits. And being able to read the time on your watch becomes then an accessory. Looking at your wrist becomes mechanical, without really acknowledging (or remembering) what time it is.
On my Ressence, the indications of time made of discs displaying hours, minutes and seconds, are transported from the dial to the crystal within a fluid allowing the mechanical watch to be seen as digital. On Type 3, the date can be read under the domed sapphire crystal around the perimeter of the dial at 6 o’clock.
What brand is that ?
Once arrived and after a series of appointments with people of the industry, it really is funny to observe the look on their face wondering what I am possibly wearing. The minimalistic design and material combination of titanium, sapphire, and fluids question ; “It has to be a legitimate brand…”- “Should I ask her, or it won’t sound very professional… ?”
Due to despicable weather conditions- a sweet combination of rain, wind and three degrees above zero – I cannot take advantage of the few hours I have left before heading to the airport to explore one of –apparently- one of the most beautiful European cities. Therefore, I take shelter into the variety of boutiques on Nyhavn’s pedestrian street.
After sympathizing with the salesperson who shyly asked if it is my real hair color, because hers (exactly the same) was 100% fake, she goes on asking, “you seem to like cool watches, with what I can see on your wrist, do you want to see our selection- you must adore them.”
I thanked her gratefully saying that I was running out of time not to upset her.
After all, not everyone can understand that it is not because you are a brand reference in jeans that you shall be in watches.
Stop trying to do it all – keep doing what you are best at and you’ll do just fine. At the end of the day, no-one seems to have guessed the value of a Ressence.
Intended effect – I doubt that the customs will stop me.
For once, thankfully.