With each thread, a story unfolds,
The hand traces moments anew,
The delicate art of Indigo holds
Time weaves its path in threads of blue
Ressence presents the limited-edition TYPE 8 Indigo, a watch born out of the brand’s exploration into the
ancient Japanese craft of indigo dyeing.
This exceptional watch is Ressence’s contribution to The Indigo Project, an initiative led by its longtime partner, Shellman in Tokyo, to celebrate the renewal and expansion of their retail space at Isetan Shinjuku department store, becoming the largest luxury watch destination in Japan.
The TYPE 8 Indigo tells the story of time in vibrant blue, showcasing the delicate beauty of natural indigo through the intricate application of silk thread. Much like the growth rings of a tree marking the passage of years, the dial design evokes the flow of time in a visually captivating manner.
Chosen for its expansive dial surface, with only Minute and Hour discs, the TYPE 8 allows the indigodyed silk thread to take centre stage. For the first time, Ressence collaborated with Swiss Arts & Métiers artisans to craft the dial, resulting in an organic yet structured pattern. The indigo pigments reveal a spectrum of shades, from electric blues to nearly black tones, creating a vibrant, everevolving watch that offers something new with each glance.
“Applying thread to a dial is an uncommon practice in watchmaking, and for Ressence, this marks the first time we have incorporated an ‘Arts & Métiers’ craft into one of our watches.” says Benoît Mintiens, Founder of Ressence. “A 0.2mm-diameter and 2.5 m-long Indigo silk thread was selected to cover the dial in a spiral pattern, symbolising the natural rhythm of time.”
Limited to 8 pieces, the TYPE 8 Indigo will be presented at Shellman at Isetan Shinjuku Watch Shop, in Tokyo,
on November 25th, 2024.
The silk thread
Ressence’s journey to create the TYPE 8 Indigo began with a commitment to authenticity. This led to the choice of thread as the ideal medium to showcase the true essence of natural indigo. Ressence partnered with Buaisou, a company based in Kamiita-cho, Tokushima Prefecture, the heart of indigo dyeing. Buaisou cultivates their own indigo plants and manages every aspect of the dyeing process inhouse, ensuring the highest quality and respect for tradition
A legacy of indigo
Indigo is said to be the oldest dye known to mankind. Indigo dyeing is a centuries-old Japanese craft, renowned for its deep warm hue, known as ‘Japan Blue.’ Believed to be introduced to Japan via the silk trade of India or through the ancient cultures of China, its production in the Land of the Rising Sun began as early as the 6th century. The indigo plant, Indigofera, an annual plant in the Fabaceae family, is prized for its colour and medicinal properties. Its leaves are harvested and fermented over months to produce “Sukumo,” the natural pigment that has been a cornerstone of Eastern art and textile.
The Process
On a standard TYPE 8, the distance between the dial’s external surface and the inside of the sapphire is only 0.25mm, so the titanium dial is carved out to accommodate the thickness of the thread, ensuring a flush fit beneath the sapphire. Due to technical constraints, some areas of the dial cannot allow for a 0.2mm reduction in thickness. As a result, two grey pockets are visible on the outside of the main minute dial. Any exposed areas are finished in neutral grey PVD, allowing the vibrant indigo hues to stand out even more.
Arts & Métiers
The delicate task of placing and bonding the silk thread to the titanium components was expertly carried out by a renowned Geneva-based atelier. Each dial requires two days of meticulous work by a skilled craftswoman. The thread is applied in a single piece, spiralling from the outer edge inward, following the contours of the cavity. To preserve the silk’s natural visual effect, special bonding materials are used to prevent glue from seeping into the fibres and altering the colour.
Technical Specifications
TYPE 8 Indigo 
Functions
• Hours
• Minutes
Movement
• Patented ROCS 8 – Ressence Orbital Convex System – module driven by the
minute axle of a customised automatic base calibre
• Self-winding
• 36 hours power reserve
• 28,800 vibrations per hour
• 31 jewels
• 20 gears
• 4 ball bearings
Dial
• Grade 5 titanium dial (75mm diameter) running on a jewel ball bearing with eccentric satellites
rolling on jewel ball-bearings inclined at 9,75° (hours)
• Silk thread application
• Engraved indications filled with blue Grade A Super-LumiNova®
Case
• Polished Grade 5 titanium
• Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating inside
• 42,9 mm (diameter) x 11mm (thickness)
• 1 ATM splash-resistance
• Manual winding over 12° and set-up via caseback
• Rotating two directions
Buckle & Strap
• Titanium ardillon buckle
• Medium warm grey Saffiano calf leather(20/20mm)
Components
• 188 components
Weight
• 42 grams
Price
• CHF 25.000 (excluding taxes)
