Introducing: The Ressence Type 2N Night Blue

Quick Take When it comes to black-tie dressing, most guys stick to the tried and true. But a daring few prefer to zag, just a bit, and opt for a cool-yet-cultured midnight blue with a contemporary necktie instead of the classic bow. Ressence appeals to that same mindset – it's resolutely modern and unabashedly enthusiastic about breaking outdated rules, without taking iconoclasm to extremes. With the addition of a chic new shade of deep blue to its Type 2 collection, the Belgian brand elevates staid gray and anthracite options to a new level of sophistication and elegance in a polished grade 5 titanium case. The N stands for Night Blue, and the accent colors on the dial have been updated accordingly in complementary subtle tones. Initial Thoughts What if fine watchmaking were a 21st-century invention? What would it look like? Ressence at once poses and answers these questions by applying cutting-edge technology in the context of fine mechanical watchmaking. The result is the Type 2 – a hybrid watch that seeks to blend the best of both worlds: mechanical and electronic. Launched as a concept piece in 2018, the Type 2 rolled into production the following year. The piece is equipped with Ressence's patented e-Crown technology – an embedded electro-mechanical system that interfaces the mechanical base movement with the brand's proprietary ROCS module. Essentially, the e-Crown replaces a traditional crown by setting the time automatically, assuring the time display is always as reliable as the one on your smartphone. The e-Crown digitally registers the time you set manually via the case-back lever system by overwriting the previously programmed time for a selected time zone. You can also reset a time zone via a Bluetooth link with the smartphone app, which is designed for optimal convenience with a scroll-down list of global cities that you can select for both time zones. The set time zone becomes a reference point that is continually monitored and automatically adjusted to the exact primary and secondary times, while maintaining an entirely mechanical timekeeping system. Two taps on the domed sapphire crystal wakes up the Type 2, and single taps allow you to designate one of four modes: Time zone 1, Time zone 2, e-Crown off, and Bluetooth connection. The current mode is indicated by color on the smallest dial display. When the e-Crown is turned off, the watch is strictly mechanical and requires manual setting. After the watch sits idle for 12 hours, it automatically stops the mechanical movement (stop-seconds function) before the power reserve is drained. Type 2 then remains suspended in this arrested state until you pick it up again, as long as one month later, triggering a restart that instantly corrects the time and jumps into action again. If the e-Crown's energy runs down, a back-up system of 10 tiny shutters on the dial open to reveal custom-made photovoltaic cells that draw energy from light, making the Type 2 self-sufficient. To truly appreciate a Ressence watch, you have to see one in motion. The mesmerizing dial rotates with the sub-dials – regulator-style with separated hours and minutes, plus a small seconds – staying oriented north-south for easy readability. It may take a few minutes to orient yourself to the display system, but once you get it, it becomes instantaneous. Legibility at night is further amped up with ultrabright blue Super-LumiNova. The Basics Brand: Ressence Model: Type 2N Night Blue Diameter: 45mm Thickness: 12mm Case Material: Grade 5 titanium Dial Color: Convex grade 5 titanium dial (75mm diameter) with 3 eccentric biaxial satellites inclined at 9.75° (hours) and 17° (seconds and e-Crown selector) on jewel micro-ball bearings (gaps between discs are 35 microns) Lume: Engraved indications filled with grade A bright blue Super-LumiNova Water Resistance: 1 ATM Strap/Bracelet: Ardillon buckle on strap (22/20mm) The Movement Caliber: Patented ROCS – Ressence Orbital Convex System – driven by the minute axle of a specially customized 2892/A caliber Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds e-crown Functions: Second time zone, mechanical power saver, self-setting, time monitoring Power Reserve: 36 hours Winding: Self-winding and via case-back lever Frequency: 28,800 vph Jewels: 45 Gears: 37 Pricing & Availability Price: $48,800 Availability: Now Shop Talk As you may know, the HODINKEE Shop is an Authorized Dealer for Ressence , so if you're looking to pick up the Type 2N Night Blue, you can register your interest now in the Shop .The Type 2 comes down with an elegant case of the blues.