Lacquer and mother-of-pearl lend a new expression to the timepiece.
WATCH & JEWELRY / WATCH NEWS
March 31, 2026

Lacquer and mother-of-pearl lend a new expression to the timepiece.

Ressence TYPE 9 IKE

Ressence, the independent luxury watch brand from Belgium, has unveiled the special edition "TYPE 9 IKE," a collaboration with craft artist Terukasa Ikeda. This is a new era of timepiece, merging Japanese traditional crafts with next-generation mechanisms.

Text by Kosaku Waseda

Elevating Timekeeping to an Art Form

The most remarkable feature of the "TYPE 9 IKE" is the layered lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlay on the dial. Terukasa Ikeda, who is based in Kanazawa, has created a futuristic world reminiscent of science fiction by embedding extremely thin slices of high-quality mother-of-pearl into the dial.
The combination of this exquisite decoration with Ressence's signature patented "ROCS (Ressence Orbital Convex System)"—a unique mechanism where multiple discs rotate in a curved path—and the mother-of-pearl inlay creates a dynamic expression where stillness and motion converge.
The concept Ikeda sought to embody through his mother-of-pearl work is "heliocentrism."
Ikeda states, "When I first saw the rotating display of the TYPE 9, it reminded me of space and the galaxy. When astronomers proposed heliocentrism, there was much resistance and discomfort, and this model also captures that tension of challenging established notions."
Mother-of-pearl, used in the mother-of-pearl inlay technique, is naturally a material that is close to flat, and it is prone to cracking when processed thinly. To overcome this challenge, Ikeda developed a unique method: he thinned the shell to its absolute limit, immersed it in liquid, and then gradually shaped it on a rubber sheet to achieve its placement on a curved surface. The creation of each piece reportedly takes about a month.
While digital technology is incorporated in the laser cutting of the shell and the design of the patterns, the final placement of the decorative elements is entirely done by hand. Ikeda's approach, which fuses tradition and technology, is also symbolized by his studio itself, located in a renovated traditional Kanazawa townhouse.
The TYPE 9 series is a flagship model within Ressence's collection, dedicated to the pure experience of telling time. In the "TYPE 9 IKE," a black DLC-coated titanium bezel, case, dial, and case back have been employed, intentionally contrasting with its inherent purity. This makes the mother-of-pearl display, which shimmers differently depending on the angle of light, stand out. Ikeda's signature is engraved on the case back, emphasizing its character as a work of art.
Benoît Mintiens, founder and creative director of Ressence, commented on the collaboration with Ikeda: "When I first saw Terukasa Ikeda's work, I was deeply captivated by the beauty of his fusion of traditional techniques and a futuristic worldview. I am confident that by combining this artistic expression with Ressence's mechanisms, one can experience a sense of 'cultural heritage from the future' that has never existed before."
Ikeda is a craft artist who creates works that bridge the past and present, using traditional materials such as lacquer, cypress, mother-of-pearl, and gold leaf. In today's information-saturated world, he believes that "beauty resides not in visual form, but in the relationships that arise between people, objects, and the 'in-between.'" For Ikeda, this piece is an extension of that philosophy.
The TYPE 9 IKE is a limited edition of 8 pieces worldwide. This piece, where craftsmanship and mechanism, tradition and future intersect, demonstrates new possibilities for artistic expression in mechanical watches.
Terukasa Ikeda
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1987. Graduated from Kanazawa College of Art, Department of Crafts, Lacquer and Woodwork Course in 2014. Completed his Master's program at Kanazawa College of Art in 2016 and graduated from the Kanazawa Utatsuyama Craftsmen's Studio in 2019. Currently independent in Kanazawa City.
Ressence TYPE 9 IKE
Case Material | Titanium (Black DLC coating)
Case Size | Diameter 39mm, Thickness 11mm
Glass | Double-domed sapphire crystal, double anti-reflective coating
Movement | Automatic winding ROCS9 (Ressence Orbital Convex System) module (Cal.2892-2), 31 jewels, 28,800 vph, 36-hour power reserve, 20 gears, winding and time setting via case back
Dial | DLC-coated dial, hand-finished mother-of-pearl and Japanese lacquer (black lacquer), two satellites arranged eccentrically on jewel ball bearings (hour display satellite tilted at 9.75°), engraved indexes filled with Grade A Super-LumiNova
Strap | Black shiny horse leather strap (20/18mm), moisture-resistant leather lining, titanium buckle
Water Resistance | Splash-proof, 1 ATM
Price | ¥6,512,000 (incl. tax)
Inquiries

Ressence

Frequently Asked Questions about Ressence Watches

Q. Please tell us the brand story of Ressence.

Ressence is an independent luxury watch brand founded in Antwerp, Belgium, in 2010 by Belgian industrial designer Benoît Mintiens. The brand name is a portmanteau of "Renaissance" and "Essence," embodying the philosophy of "designing for the future based on past experience and current technology." The watch designs are created in Antwerp, while manufacturing takes place in Fleurier, Switzerland. Since its inception, the company has aimed to "disrupt the status quo of mechanical watches," establishing a unique style without hands, crowns, or brand logos. They developed the patented ROCS mechanism, which displays time through the rotation of multiple discs, and in 2013, won the "Horological Revelation Prize" at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève.
Q. Who is the craft artist Terukasa Ikeda, who collaborated on this project?
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1983. He studied lacquer and woodwork at Kanazawa College of Art, and after completing the Kanazawa Utatsuyama Craftsmen's Studio program in 2019, he became independent in Kanazawa City. He creates works that connect the past and present using traditional materials such as lacquer, cypress, mother-of-pearl, and gold leaf. Guided by the philosophy that "beauty resides in the relationships that arise between people, objects, and the 'in-between,'" he pursues expressions that fuse tradition and technology.
Q. What unique innovations have been applied to the mother-of-pearl inlay technique used in the "TYPE 9 IKE"?
Mother-of-pearl, used in the mother-of-pearl inlay technique, is naturally a material that is close to flat, and it is prone to cracking when processed thinly. To overcome this challenge, Terukasa Ikeda developed a unique method: he thinned the shell to its absolute limit, immersed it in liquid, and then gradually shaped it on a rubber sheet to achieve its placement on a curved surface. While digital technologies such as laser cutting are incorporated into the production process, the final arrangement of the decorative elements is entirely done by hand, with each piece requiring approximately one month to create.
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