Marc Newson has teamed up with Benoit Mintiens to produce an ergonomic titanium timepiece that references his work from the 1990s.
Summary
- Industrial designer Marc Newson and Ressence founder Benoit Mintiens have partnered to release the limited-edition TYPE 3 MN, a timepiece that blends Newson’s biomorphic style with Ressence’s oil-filled engineering.
- The watch features a Grade 5 titanium case with a lugless, ergonomic design and a distinct color palette of celadon green, yellow, grey, and black.
- Limited to only 80 pieces, the model retails for $54,500 and utilizes the patented ROCS 3.6 mechanism for a unique, refraction-free display.
When two heavyweights of industrial design align, the result usually disrupts the status quo. Marc Newson has joined Benoit Mintiens, the founder of Ressence, to create the TYPE 3 MN. This release is not merely a rebranding exercise but a genuine synthesis of two distinct design vocabularies. They have produced a watch that feels both futuristic and oddly organic, limited to a strictly controlled run of 80 pieces.
The aesthetic immediate reads as Newson. He applied a specific graphic treatment to the dial involving a sharp mix of grey, black, yellow, and celadon green. For those who track Newson’s career, the reshaped hands offer a clear nod to his work in the 1990s with Ikepod. These visual cues sit within an ergonomic, elliptical silhouette. The case is Grade 5 titanium, a material choice that keeps the piece light despite its presence.
While the dimensions might sound substantial on paper—45mm in diameter and 15mm in height—the architecture of the watch manages the bulk. Mintiens and Newson utilized a lugless round design where the strap tucks directly into the inset ends of the case. The sides start downturned, allowing the pebble-like form to sit comfortably on the wrist rather than hovering above it.
What makes a Ressence watch recognizable remains the technology inside. The upper chamber of the case is filled with silicon oil. This engineering choice halts light refraction (the bending of light) and creates a magnified projection effect. The result is an optical illusion where the information appears stamped directly onto the domed sapphire crystal rather than sitting beneath it. It ensures readability from even the sharpest angles.
The engine driving this display is the ROCS 3.6 system. It handles hours, minutes, a 180-second runner, day, date, and oil temperature. The movement is self-winding with a 36-hour power reserve and relies on a magnetic transmission to connect the dry gear train to the oil-filled dial. It is a complex setup involving 44 gears, 47 jewels, and 4 ball bearings.
Adjusting the watch does not involve a traditional crown. Instead, the user interacts with a caseback winding mechanism to set the day, date, and time. It is a tactile interaction that fits the stripped-back philosophy Newson brought to the project.
At $54,500, the TYPE 3 MN is a serious acquisition. It represents a rare intersection where high-concept industrial art meets mechanical utility, resulting in a piece that looks unlike anything else currently in the showcase.
