RESSENCE | TYPE 1 SLIM “AYRTON & FINLAY” A UNIQUE TITANIUM AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH MULTI-COLOR ROTATING DIAL AND DAY OF THE WEEK INDICATION, DESIGNED BY RESSENCE AND RAYMOND RAMSDEN, TO BE SOLD TO BENEFIT THE COVID-19 RESEARCH PROGRAMME OF THE KU LEUVEN AND UZ LEUVEN UNIVERSITIES, MADE IN 2020 " | Ressence | Type 1 Slim ""Ayrton & Finley"" 獨一無二鈦金屬自動上弦腕錶，備多彩迴轉錶盤及星期顯示，由Raymond Ramsden及Ressence設計，為KU Leuven及UZ Leuven大學造福Covid-19研究而製，2020年製"

This unique Ressence watch is being offered to support the Covid-19 Research Programme being run by KU Leuven University in Belgium. It was designed by Raymond Ramsden who outbid 465 other participants in the #WatchAgainstCovid19 watch design competition launched by the independent watchmaker and Sotheby’s in April 2020. Participants were invited to create their own interpretation of one of Ressence’s latest models, the Type 1 Slim.

The winner, Raymond Ramsden from Yorkshire, England described his design as “optimistic” and “very planetary” in an interview to the New York Times (11 June 2020).

The main blue colour represents the medical staff, key workers and all the people who, by their work and dedication, supported society through the coronavirus pandemic. The red hand symbolises human interaction and the importance of washing hands to limit its spread.

The blue subdial is the planet we share.

The yellow subdial is the sun giving warmth, light and life.

The white subdial is the moon: aspirations, romance, and dreams.

The red 19 marker is a discreet reference to the coronavirus

The winner had been asked to provide an inscription for the engraving on the back of the case. Raymond chose “Ayrton & Fin” - the names of his sons 

Ressence has a history of creating much sought-after limited editions, which always sell out within hours of their launch. The brand was founded in 2010 by Mintiens, an industrial designer who had a portfolio of designs to his credit – high-speed trains, aircraft cabins, medical devices, leather goods and even hunting guns – before he ever designed a watch.

His approach to fine-watchmaking is entirely fresh, undeniably contemporary and with one goal in mind: improving the functionality of the mechanical watch in the 21st century context. The brand has built its international reputation by revolutionising the way time is displayed on a watch. On a Ressence watch, time is broken down into individual sub-dials displaying hours, minutes, seconds and days. These sub-dials or discs orbit around one another, a patented three-dimensional complication called ROCS, or the Ressence Orbital Convex System.

The purpose is a more efficient way of telling time. Information is displayed on a single surface, much like words on a piece of paper, making for improved readability. Winners of the 2013 Horological Revelation Award at the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie, Ressence takes a distinctive approach to the craft of contemporary Fine Watchmaking, combining Swiss-made calibres with unmatched self-engineered innovation to reimagine how mechanical watches can function and interact with users in the modern age.