Ressence has unveiled the Type 3 Marc Newson, an 80-piece limited edition that unites Marc Newson’s softly contoured, playful futurism with Ressence founder Benoît Mintiens’ long-running pursuit of a ‘dematerialised’ time display. Functionally unchanged from the standard Type 3, the MN edition introduces a colourway and set of visual cues drawn directly from the famed industrial designer’s archives, resulting in a new watch that feels instantly familiar.

The Type 3 MN retains Ressence’s signature oil-filled upper chamber, which eliminates optical distortion and makes the indications appear projected onto the underside of the crystal — an effect that reads almost digital at first glance.

Initial thoughts

Some collaborations seem almost predestined; the partnership between Benoît Mintiens and Marc Newson is one of them. Both men share an affinity for modern minimalism and pebble-like organic forms, so their first joint project feels like an overdue meeting of minds.

Benoît Mintiens and Marc Newson. Image – Ressence

The Type 3 MN manages to combine the best instincts of both designers, resulting in a watch that lends an Ikepod-like lug-less case to Ressence’s signature oil-filled display.

We’ll come back to the design, but one of the most impactful aspects of the Type 3 MN is its comfort on the wrist. Mr Newson is well known for his ergonomic designs; the strap he designed for Ikepod was later licensed by Apple, making it possibly the world’s most popular watch strap. Notably, the Type 3 MN will have a similar strap on the production examples; the conventional strap pictured here is only a prototype.

So despite its 44 mm diameter, the Type 3 MN wears far smaller than the numbers suggest thanks to the absence of lugs, allowing the capsule-like case to perch neatly on the wrist. The use of grade 5 titanium keeps the weight down to just 95 grams including strap and buckle, giving the watch the levity and comfort of a smaller watch.

Given the symbiotic nature of the collaboration, the Type 3 MN is priced at a reasonable premium relative to existing Type 3 variants. At CHF46,000, it sits well above where many of Mr Newson’s earlier Ikepod watches were positioned, but judged by the standards of modern independent watchmaking — especially watches with complex, proprietary display modules — it is within reason.

The Ressence-pode

Mr Newson’s imprint on the Type 3 is immediate and unmistakable. The simple palette of black, grey, white, and sharp yellow comes across as an homage to the Ikepod Megapode, the 47 mm instrument-like chronograph that debuted in 1999.

This influence carries over into the shape of the hands (or rather, the pointers). Furthermore, the stout yellow blocks marking 60 and 30, and the minute graduations around the chapter ring recall the Megapode’s slide-rule bezel.

Yet the defining visual experience remains Ressence’s own: the illusion that the indications are projected directly onto the underside of the crystal. Because the upper chamber is filled with 4.15 ml of silicone oil, and because the oil and sapphire refract light in much the same way, the boundary all but disappears. To the unaccustomed eye, the result can look uncannily like a high-resolution OLED display of a smartwatch.

As with all Type 3 models, the case consists of two sealed chambers: the upper oil-filled module containing the planetary display, and the sealed lower chamber that contains a traditional mechanical movement. There is no crown; instead, the time, date, and day are set by rotating the case back, an approach that preserves the seamless silhouette but demands a large circumferential gasket.

Due to this construction, Ressence takes a conservative approach to rating these watches for water resistance. The brand rates the Type 3 to 10 m, as opposed to the 30 m that is the typical minimum for most everyday watches. In practice, however, Ressence pressure-tests each watch well beyond its stated rating and reports no abnormal incidence of moisture-related servicing issues, likely thanks to the simplicity of the case lines and the robustness of the sealing system.

Magnetic coupling

Oil temperature is not something one normally has to think about when it comes to a wristwatch, but the Type 3 is not like other watches. The entire dial — along with the planetary gear train that drives its orbiting discs — is suspended in a sealed chamber of silicone-based oil.

The mechanical bellows. Image – Ressence

Because oil expands with heat and contracts with cold, the Type 3 relies on a system of mechanical bellows to accommodate changes in volume. These bellows are geared to the oil-temperature indicator on the dial, providing a real-time picture of the current volume of the liquid itself.

Magnetic coupling allows the dial module to remain completely isolated. This is the key to the Ressence Orbital Convex System (ROCS) 3.6 architecture, a system of planetary titanium discs and gears driven via a magnetic interface by a customised ETA 2824 located in the dry chamber below.

The magnetic coupling that links the base movement to the oil-filled ROCS module. Image – Ressence

The oil’s primary purpose is visual — cancelling optical distortion and creating the “projected” effect — but it has a useful secondary benefit: the components inside the ROCS remain permanently lubricated and cannot oxidise.

The permanent state of lubrication means that after more than a decade of producing oil-filled watches, Ressence has observed that the sealed upper module rarely requires intervention. In most services, only the base calibre needs attention.

Concluding thoughts

The Type 3 MN plays to the strengths of both Mr Mintiens and Mr Newson. The oil-filled display — which reads almost like a ship’s compass — turns out to be the ideal canvas for the busy, Megapode-like aesthetic. The colours, the pointers, and the instrument-style graphics sit naturally within Ressence’s projected, distortion-free format. In that sense, it feels like a watch that should have always existed, as the two design philosophies reinforce the best aspects of one another.

Key facts and price

Ressence Type 3 Marc Newson

Diameter: 44 mm
Height: 15 mm
Material: Titanium
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 10 m

Movement: ETA 2824-2 with in-house time display module
Functions: Hours, minutes, day, date, running indicator, and oil temperature indicator
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 beats per second (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 36 hours

Strap: Rubber strap with titanium buckle

Limited edition: 80 pieces
Availability: Available at Ressence boutiques and retailers starting December 2025
Price: CHF46,000 excluding taxes

For more, visit ressencewatches.com