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Ressence Type 5 46mm Titanium

Ref. TYPE 5B

The Type 5 is where Ressence moved from the lifestyle experiment of the Type 3 into something built explicitly for water. It meets ISO 6425 in full, and the engineering required to get there produced two details that have no equivalent elsewhere in watchmaking. The first is the dial itself: 37.5 ml of oil fills the upper chamber entirely, and because that oil and the domed sapphire above it share an identical refractive index, the display reads with no distortion and no reflection at any angle — including underwater, which is the whole point of the exercise. The second is what the oil system demands: a crown would compromise the seal, so there is none. Winding and time-setting happen by rotating the sapphire caseback, and a dedicated compression lock system moves between set and lock positions to protect the gasket at depth. The result is a case with no projections anywhere on its circumference, which also means no pressure point against the wrist regardless of which hand you wear it on. At 46mm the proportions are substantial, but grade 5 titanium brings the whole thing to 87 grams — less than many 40mm steel watches — and the crownless profile sits flatter against the wrist than the 15.5mm thickness alone would suggest. The seven micro-bellows regulating internal pressure against temperature change are invisible in use and only become apparent when the small oil temperature gauge on the dial shifts; it is the kind of mechanical detail that rewards the second year of ownership rather than the first hour.

Reference: TYPE 5B
Brand: Ressence
Collection: Type 5Case Size: 46 mmCase Thickness: 15
Case size: 46mm
Case thickness: 15.5mm
Lug width: 22mm
Case material: Titanium
Case shape: Round
Dial: Black
Crystal: Sapphire
Bezel: Unidirectional rotating
Movement: Automatic
Calibre: ETA 2824
Water resistance: 100m
Bracelet / strap: Leather strap
Strap colour: Black
Clasp: Buckle
Lume: Luminous
Condition: Pre-owned
Retailer: Goldsmiths

Additional specifications

Lug-to-lug: 51.5mm
Power reserve: 36 hours

Learn more about Ressence

Benoît Mintiens is an industrial designer, not a watchmaker. He spent his career designing trains, aircraft interiors, and consumer products, and founded Ressence in Antwerp in 2010 after concluding that the wristwatch had a fundamental design problem nobody had addressed: hands sit above the dial, casting shadows and creating visual clutter, and the arrangement exists only because that is how it has always been done.

His solution was to remove the hands entirely. The Ressence Orbital Convex System uses discs rotating within discs — the whole dial turns, with satellite subdials counter-rotating on it to keep their indications upright. The result is a completely flat surface with no hands above it, and time displayed by markings that continuously reorganise themselves.

The Type 3 went further, filling the upper section of the case with oil. Because the refractive index of the oil is close to that of sapphire, the display appears painted directly onto the crystal with no visible depth, and remains legible from any angle underwater. Managing thermal expansion of the fluid required a bellows system Mintiens developed specifically.

The watches have no crown; setting and winding are done by turning the caseback.

Ressence remains independent, produces a few hundred pieces annually, and has won multiple GPHG awards.

2010: Benoît Mintiens founds Ressence in Antwerp.
2013: The Type 1 introduces the Orbital Convex System.
2015: The oil-filled Type 3 eliminates visual depth in the display.
2018: The Type 2 adds an electromechanical setting module.

Also in 5 collections

This watch appears in Automatic Watches (1,324), Leather Strap Watches (941), Watches 44mm and Over (928), Titanium Watches (145) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (100).

2-year Goldsmiths warranty

What the specifications mean

A mechanical watch for everyday wear.

Strengths

100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
51.5mm lug-to-lug keeps the 46mm case wearable
Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
Luminous hands and markers for low light

Worth knowing

46mm is a large watch with real presence
15.5mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
36-hour reserve means winding it after a day off
Leather does not suit regular contact with water

Best forSwimmingFormal wear

Less suited toSmall wristsUnder a shirt cuff

Compare alternatives

Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.

Type 5 46mm Titanium compared with 2 alternatives from other brands
Specification	This watchType 5 46mm TitaniumTYPE 5B	Gerald CharlesMaestro GC Sport TennisGC2.0-TX-TNSB-24GR-RSV	ZenithDefy Extreme Glacier 45mm95.9201.9004/25.I001
Price	£23,950	£20,040	£24,200
Case size	46mm	46.8mm	45mm
Water resistance	100m	100m	200m
Movement	Automatic	Automatic	Automatic
Strap	Leather strap	Fabric strap	Titanium bracelet
Power reserve	36 hours	50 hours	50 hours
	This watch	Costs less	Rated deeper

Your new watch

Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch

Can I swim with it?

Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.

Will the glass scratch?

Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.

Does it need a battery?

No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.

How long does it run for when it's not worn?

About 36 hours fully wound — so it will usually stop if you leave it off overnight.

What size strap does it take?

22mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.

Will it fit my wrist?

Lug-to-lug is 51.5mm, which suits wrists from roughly 17.5cm (7 inches) upward.

Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.

Is it a men's or women's watch?

Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.

Cheapest place to buy

Goldsmiths at £23,950, pre-owned. No UK retailer we track lists this reference new.

Is this available new?

Not from the UK retailers we track. This reference is listed as pre-owned only, at £23,950 from Goldsmiths. Goldsmiths test every pre-owned watch for authenticity, timekeeping and water resistance, and warrant it for 2 years — the same term they give on a new watch.

Who are Goldsmiths?

Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.