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 artisan-craftsman Akimasa Ikeda. This new timepiece fuses Japanese traditional crafts with next-generation mechanisms.
 

Text by Kosaku Waseda

Elevating Timekeeping to Art

 
The most remarkable feature of the "TYPE 9 IKE" is the layered lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlay on its dial. Akimasa Ikeda, who is based in Kanazawa, has meticulously thinned mother-of-pearl to create a dial that evokes a futuristic world, reminiscent of science fiction.
 
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 convex form—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 the "heliocentric theory."
 
Ikeda explains, "When I first saw the rotating display of the TYPE 9, it reminded me of the cosmos and galaxies. Just as astronomers faced much resistance and skepticism when proposing the heliocentric theory, this model also carries a tension that challenges established notions."
 
Mother-of-pearl, the material used for the inlay, is naturally flat and prone to cracking when thinned excessively. To overcome this, Ikeda developed a unique method: he thinned the shell to an extreme degree, immersed it in liquid, and then gradually shaped it on a rubber sheet to achieve its placement on a curved surface. Each piece reportedly takes about a month to produce.
 
While digital technologies like laser cutting and pattern design are incorporated into the production process, the final placement of the inlay is entirely done by hand. Ikeda's fusion of tradition and technology is also symbolized by his workshop itself, housed in a renovated traditional Kanazawa townhouse.
 
 
The TYPE 9 series is a flagship collection for Ressence, dedicated to the pure experience of reading time. In the "TYPE 9 IKE," this purity is intentionally contrasted by the use of a black DLC-coated titanium bezel, case, dial, and case back. This design accentuates the mother-of-pearl display, which shimmers with a different luster depending on the angle of light. Ikeda's signature is engraved on the case back, further 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 Akimasa 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, we can offer an experience that feels like a 'cultural artifact from the future,' something that has never existed before."
 
Akimasa Ikeda is an artisan-craftsman who creates works that bridge the past and present, utilizing traditional materials such as lacquer, cypress, mother-of-pearl, and gold leaf. In an era saturated with information, Ikeda believes that "beauty resides not in visual form, but in the relationships that emerge between people, objects, and the 'in-between.'" For him, this piece is an extension of that philosophy.
 
The TYPE 9 IKE is a limited edition of 8 pieces worldwide. This timepiece, where craft and mechanism, tradition and future intersect, represents a new frontier in artistic expression for mechanical watches.
 
 
Akimasa 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 degree at Kanazawa College of Art Graduate School in 2016 and finished the Kanazawa Utatsuyama Craftsmen Studio program in 2019. Currently works independently in Kanazawa City.
 
Ressence TYPE 9 IKE
Case Material: Titanium (Black DLC coating)
Case Size: Diameter 39mm, Thickness 11mm
Glass: Double-domed sapphire crystal, anti-reflective coating on both sides
Movement: Self-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 with mother-of-pearl inlay 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 a philosophy of "designing for the future based on past experience and current technology." While the watch designs are created in Antwerp, manufacturing takes place in Fleurier, Switzerland. Since its inception, the brand 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, received the "Horological Revelation Prize" at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève.
 
 
Q. Who is the collaborating artisan-craftsman Akimasa Ikeda?
 
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1983. He studied lacquer and woodwork at Kanazawa College of Art, completed the Kanazawa Utatsuyama Craftsmen Studio program in 2019, and now works independently in Kanazawa City. He creates works that bridge 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 emerge between people, objects, and the 'in-between,'" he pursues expressions that fuse tradition and technology.
 
 
Q. What unique innovations were applied to the mother-of-pearl technique used in the "TYPE 9 IKE"?
 
Mother-of-pearl, the material used for the inlay, is naturally flat and prone to cracking when thinned. To overcome this challenge, Akimasa Ikeda developed a unique method: he thinned the shell to an extreme degree, immersed it in liquid, and then gradually shaped it on a rubber sheet to achieve its placement on a curved surface. While digital technologies like laser cutting are incorporated into the production process, the final inlay placement is entirely done by hand, with each piece requiring approximately one month to create.
 
 
 
Photo Gallery