Belgian watch manufacturer Ressence announced the arrival of the TYPE 9 IKE model to the international luxury market. The limited edition is the result of a direct partnership with Japanese artist Terumasa Ikeda. The project restricts production to just eight units worldwide. The piece integrates the European company’s signature orbital dial system with traditional Asian decoration methods.
The development of the accessory required the adaptation of centuries-old practices to a curved and dynamic surface. The dial does not require the use of conventional hands. The hours and minutes are indicated using rotating discs that operate in continuous movement. Official marketing of the restricted series began in February 2026.
Fusão between orbital mechanics and Asian craftsmanship
The visual concept of the watch is based on heliocentric theory and detailed astronomical observation. Ressence engineers designed a complex structure where marker disks simulate the continuous displacement of planets around a fixed central axis. Essa mechanical configuration creates a fluid reading of time, breaking with the static pattern of classic dials. Terumasa Ikeda’s artistic intervention takes place directly on these moving platforms, transforming each rotation into a new display of the decorative pattern.
The artist, who maintains his studio in the city of Kanazawa, applied ultra-fine fragments of mother-of-pearl on a dark base. The material reflects light in a variable way depending on the angle of incidence and the position of the user’s wrist. The aesthetic composition seeks to evoke elements of outer space. The contrast between the black background and the iridescent reflections adds depth to the equipment’s visual set.
The integration between the precision of Swiss-Belgian engineering and the delicacy of manual work required months of laboratory tests. The sharp curvature of the dial represented a technical obstacle to attaching the ornaments. The team needed to ensure that the thickness of the decoration did not interfere with the friction of the rotating discs during daily operation.
Especificações of the box and applied materials
The external structure of the TYPE 9 IKE uses grade 5 titanium in its integral manufacturing, a metal alloy widely adopted in the aerospace and medical industries. The metal receives a black DLC coating through vapor deposition. Esse chemical treatment exponentially increases the surface’s resistance against scratches, corrosion and accidental everyday impacts. The total diameter of the case measures exactly 39 millimeters, a proportion considered classic in watchmaking. The thickness reaches 11 millimeters from the bottom to the top of the crystal, maintaining a discreet profile.
The weight of the watch registers approximately 39 grams on the scale, including the original factory bracelet. The lightness of titanium contributes to ergonomics during prolonged use. A domed sapphire crystal protects internal components from dust and moisture. The sealing of the assembly withstands pressure equivalent to 10 meters of water depth.
The housing design eliminates the presence of the side crown traditionally used for adjustments. The user sets the time and provides mechanical winding using a lever built into the back of the piece. The strap that comes with the model is made of horse leather with a glossy black finish. The Ardillon type clasp also uses polished titanium in its structure.
Técnicas ancestors in dial construction
The ornamentation process conducted by Terumasa Ikeda rescues methods originating from the historical periods Heian and Kamakura in Japão. The technique known as raden involves encrusting sea shells on hard surfaces. The craftsman had to modify the classical approach to meet the geometric demands of contemporary watchmaking.
The execution of manual work follows rigorous preparation and assembly steps in the Japanese workshop:
- The mother-of-pearl undergoes a bath in a specific liquid solution to soften its natural fibers.
- The flexible material is gradually molded onto a rubber matrix with the same curvature as the watch.
- The artisan performs precision cutting of the fragments using microscale tools.
- The pieces are fixed on a base layer of newly applied black lacquer.
- Múltiplas coats of clear urushi lacquer seal the set to ensure durability.
Urushi lacquer acts as a high-resistance protective varnish after complete drying. Sap extracted from Asian trees polymerizes when exposed to specific levels of humidity and temperature. The final polishing of the surface evens out the mother-of-pearl fragments with the dark coating. The result delivers a smooth finish that does not compromise the internal aerodynamics of the machinery.
Movimento internal and rear adjustment system
The functioning of the watch depends entirely on the ROCS 9 caliber, an acronym for Ressence Orbital Convex System. The patented mechanism uses as its power base a reliable automatic movement supplied by traditional Swiss manufacturer ETA. The Belgian brand’s engineers dismantled and extensively modified the original engine to support the additional weight of the rotating discs and lacquer decoration. The main gear needed to receive special lubrication to deal with the inertia generated by the titanium components.
The system operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, which is equivalent to four hertz. Essa oscillation speed ensures accurate timekeeping throughout the day. The winding barrel stores enough energy to keep the watch running for up to 36 hours uninterrupted when off the wrist.
The ROCS 9 architecture positions the minute indicator satellites at an exact tilt of 9.75 degrees relative to the central axis. Essa angulation improves the readability of numbers from different viewing perspectives. The mechanical components rotate in the same physical plane, eliminating the axis overlap common in traditional calibers.
Disponibilidade and market positioning
Production restricted to just eight units of the TYPE 9 IKE establishes an extreme level of exclusivity for the fine watchmaking collector market. Exemplary Cada leaves the European manufacture with an individual number laser engraved on the blackened titanium chassis. Ressence’s commercial strategy targets the product specifically at a niche consumer that values the intersection of precision engineering and Asian fine arts. The model attracts buyers interested in pieces that deviate from the mass industrial aesthetic.
The collaboration with Terumasa Ikeda inserts the Belgian brand into a segment that explores cultural exchange in the creation of luxury goods. The absence of conventional elements of temporal reading reinforces the contemplative character of the object. The company maintains the model in its official catalog as a demonstration of technical capacity and innovation in industrial design.
The launch consolidates the manufacturer’s trajectory in the search for visual alternatives in measuring time. The union of cutting-edge materials with ancient artisanal processes defines the identity of this edition. The clock fulfills its primary mechanical function while acting as a physical support for Japanese artistic expression.