For its latest limited edition, Ressence goes back to the very ground beneath our feet—literally. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the most prominent watch and jewelry retailer in the UAE, the independent Belgian brand unveils the Ressence Type 9 S75: a lightweight mechanical watch featuring a dial made from real Emirati desert sand. Fusing tradition, geography, and forward-thinking horology, this collaboration marks a new kind of storytelling on the wrist.
A History of Cultural Dialogue
Ressence, founded in 2010 by industrial designer Benoît Mintiens, has consistently challenged the conventions of watchmaking with its minimalist, orbital displays and mechanical ingenuity. Over the past decade, the brand has engaged in a fruitful creative partnership with Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, producing limited editions that honor the UAE’s artistic and architectural heritage. From Arabesque patterns to Girih geometry, these watches subtly express cultural identity without compromising Ressence’s modernist aesthetic.
The Type 9 S75 continues this legacy with its most elemental inspiration yet: sand. Not just metaphorically, but materially—collected from all seven Emirates, it’s an unprecedented material choice that anchors the watch in place, time, and meaning.
Titanium, Sand, and the Orbit of Time
Housed in a 39mm polished Grade 5 titanium case, the Type 9 S75 weighs just 40 grams, delivering a barely-there feel on the wrist. Its crown-less silhouette preserves Ressence’s commitment to seamless form. Time-setting and winding are operated through a bi-directional rotating caseback, reinforcing the idea of direct interaction with the object.
At the heart of the watch lies the ROCS 9 (Ressence Orbital Convex System), powered by a customized ETA 2894/2 calibre. The ROCS module replaces traditional hands with rotating titanium discs that carry the indicators for hours and minutes. These discs are coated with locally sourced sand, bonded to the metal to create an earthy, mineral texture that rotates smoothly across the dial surface.
Legibility is enhanced through engraved markers filled with Grade A green Super-LumiNova, a deliberate contrast to the warm-toned dial. The movement beats at 28,800 vph and offers a 36-hour power reserve, with the entire dial inclined at 9.75° for optimal visibility.
A Watch Rooted in the Desert
The Type 9 S75 speaks to collectors who value material storytelling and conceptual design. The camel leather strap, soft and understated, is a respectful nod to regional craftsmanship and lifestyle. Combined with the dial’s textured look, it creates a tactile and visual experience unlike any other Ressence before it.
Though deeply rooted in Emirati culture, the watch retains the universal language of Ressence—clarity, innovation, and emotional resonance. It’s ideal for connoisseurs of independent horology and collectors who seek pieces with a strong sense of place.
Thoughts, Pricing and Availability
The Ressence Type 9 S75 is limited to just 20 pieces, each priced at CHF 15,500 (excluding taxes). Availability is exclusive through Ressence and Seddiqi, emphasizing the intimate, commemorative nature of this edition.
While many brands mark milestones with logos or plaques, Ressence celebrates 75 years of partnership by inviting us to literally wear the land. It’s subtle, poetic, and unmistakably Ressence. And if a watch can carry both time and terrain, perhaps it can carry memory, too ! For something more colorful but as crazy technically, here is something that will talk to you : H. Moser & Cie’s Spiced Aqua collection.
