September 18 2026

Ressence Type 9 Jules Wittock: A Maze That Comes Alive

MRSTATELESS Uncategorized 2026, Jules Wittock, Limited Edition, Oil Filled Dial 0

Ressence has built its identity around challenging the conventional way we read time. Instead of fixed hands rotating over a static dial, the Belgian independent watchmaker uses its patented Ressence Orbital Convex System (ROCS) to create a continuously moving display in which the indications themselves travel across the dial.

For its latest artistic collaboration, Ressence has joined forces with Belgian contemporary artist Jules Wittock. His distinctive maze designs have been incorporated directly into the moving elements of the Type 9, creating a watch where the artwork is not simply something to look at, but part of the mechanism that displays the time.

A Compact Titanium Case

Introduced in 2025, the Type 9 occupies a particularly interesting position within the Ressence collection. Measuring 39 mm in diameter and just 11mm thick, it is one of the brand’s most compact and lightweight creations.

The case is manufactured from Grade 5 titanium, with a choice between the natural titanium finish and a black DLC coating. Including its strap, the complete watch weighs only 42 grams.

The architecture is deliberately clean, with short exposed lugs and, as expected from Ressence, no conventional crown. This not only contributes to the streamlined profile but also means that the watch can be worn comfortably on either wrist.

A fixed external bezel carries the five-minute markings and also incorporates two small references, “In” and “Out”, which become particularly appropriate when considering Wittock’s maze artwork. The bezel holds a domed sapphire crystal over the dial and provides the fixed reference against which the rotating indications are read.

A Maze in Constant Motion

The defining feature of the Type 9 Jules Wittock is its dial. Rather than printing a maze onto a stationary surface, Ressence has integrated the artwork into the watch’s orbital display.

Wittock’s maze is milled directly into the titanium dial and subsequently filled by hand. Two versions are available: emerald green and black.

The green version is particularly dynamic, with the coated surface changing towards purple depending on the angle from which it is viewed. The maze itself is finished in white lacquer, creating a strong contrast with the underlying colour.

The black version follows the same concept with a monochromatic appearance.

The hour and minute hands are also white-lacquered, with the maze extending onto the tip of the hour hand. Around them sits the chapter ring, incorporating Arabic numerals at 3 and 9 o’clock, additional indices and Ressence’s hand-shaped logo at 12.

Super-LumiNova is applied to the maze, hands and other indications, extending the visual effect into low-light conditions.

Ressence’s Orbital Display

The Type 9’s time display is based on the company’s ROCS 9 system. The main dial rotates continuously, completing one revolution every hour. As it moves, the minute hand remains aligned with the external five-minute scale, effectively transforming the entire dial into a moving minute display.

A smaller hour disc travels across the main dial and completes one revolution every 12 hours. The result is a constantly changing relationship between the hour and minute indications and Wittock’s maze.

This is also where the artistic collaboration becomes more than a decorative exercise. The maze is constantly moving, being broken apart and reconstructed as the orbital discs rotate.

There is even a hidden element within Wittock’s artwork. At midnight, when the hour and minute hands align, the arrangement reveals a concealed message incorporated into the maze.

Automatic Movement and ROCS 9

Powering the Type 9 is the ROCS 9 module, driven from the minute axle of a customised ETA 2892 automatic base movement.

The movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and provides approximately 36 hours of power reserve.

As with other Ressence creations, the conventional mechanical movement is therefore only part of the story. The ROCS module is fundamental to translating the movement’s energy into the brand’s distinctive orbital method of displaying time.

Two Limited Editions

The Ressence Type 9 Jules Wittock is produced in two versions, each limited to 30 pieces.

The first combines the natural Grade 5 titanium case with the emerald green dial, while the second pairs the black DLC-coated titanium case with the black maze dial.

Both versions are priced at CHF 20,000 before taxes.