TYPE 9 Ikeda

The TYPE 9 IKE is where ancient mastery meets interstellar imagination. Created in collaboration with Japanese artist Terumasa Ikeda, this eight-piece limited edition transforms Ressence’s most minimal watch into a moving canvas. Ikeda draws on centuries-old urushi lacquer and raden (mother-of-pearl) techniques, honed in Kanazawa, yet the result feels unmistakably futuristic. His intricate layering and ultra-fine inlays interact with Ressence’s rotating, convex dial to produce something that feels like a signal, a coded transmission from another civilisation.

Inspired by the TYPE 9’s orbital display, Ikeda saw a planetary system. The concept of heliocentrism, truth pursued through observation despite resistance, resonated deeply. He translated the brand’s patented ROCS display into an artistic language of depth and motion, building delicate layers that shift and shimmer as the dial turns. Working with raden on a curved surface was painstaking; the ultra-thin shell, fragile as eggshell, had to be softened and gradually shaped to follow the watch’s contours without breaking.

The watch itself remains pure Ressence: stripped back, focused, essential. A full black DLC-coated titanium case, bezel, dial components, and caseback create a stark architectural frame for the luminous, ever-changing composition within. Turn it over, and Ikeda’s signature completes the story.