Belgian watchmaker Ressence has always operated in the space between industrial design and horological innovation, but their latest collaboration with Ahmed Seddiqi pushes that boundary into something we’ve never quite seen before. Celebrating the UAE retailer’s 75th anniversary, the new S75 variant of the Type 9 is not just a homage to the desert but incorporates sand from all seven Emirates, all amidst Ressence’s signature orbital time display.
Sand as Substance, Not Just Style
There’s something almost primal about using sand to mark time, considering how the hourglass was humanity’s first portable timekeeper. Ressence founder Benoît Mintiens and Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi actually ventured into the UAE’s dunes together to collect the raw material. The sand, sourced in equal proportions from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, gets bonded to the Type 9’s rotating titanium discs using an adhesive process so that it won’t shift or wear away.
Just like the desert surface itself, the dial changes character with every angle and light source. Those microscopic grains catch and scatter illumination in ways that traditional watch finishes simply can’t replicate, creating a texture that’s somehow both ancient and futuristic. It’s worth noting that three small patches of the dial remain sand-free since they house the jeweled bearings for Ressence’s ROCS 9 module. After all, this watch is still a mechanical marvel at the end of the day.
Familiar Territory, Fresh Execution
Starting at $15,900, the Type 9 platform represents Ressence’s most accessible entry point. Though “accessible” is relative when we’re talking about a 39mm grade 5 titanium case housing a heavily modified ETA movement, topped with their patented orbital display system. At just 11mm thick and 40g in weight, it’s also their most compact creation. And yet, with the S75 variant, the dramatic material changes are still able to transform the watch’s entire personality without touching its architecture at all.
Ressence’s ROCS (Ressence Orbital Convex System) is still intact and remains as hypnotic as ever, with hour and minute indications orbiting the dial rather than rotating around a central axis. The S75 keeps the Type 9’s crown-free design, requiring users to wind and set the watch via the rotating caseback, which, albeit charming, has been noted as unnecessarily tedious for daily wear.
Completing the regional theme, the S75 is adorned with a camel (color, not the animal) leather strap and titanium buckle that matches the sandy dial perfectly.
This is the fourth collaboration between Ressence and Ahmed Seddiqi, following three Type 1 variants inspired by regional art. However, this Type 9 is our favorite of the bunch. For a watchmaker that continues to impress without veering far from its design ethos, this is something we’ve truly never seen before.
Spec Sheet
Model: Ressence Type 9 S75
Case Material: Grade 5 titanium
Case Size: 39mm
Case Thickness: 11mm
Movement: ROCS 9 module with customized ETA 2892-2 base
Power Reserve: 36 hours
Water Resistance: 10m (splash resistant)
Band: Camel-color leather strap
Limited Edition?: Yes, 20
Price: $19,500
Pricing & Availability
With only 20 pieces produced exclusively for Ahmed Seddiqi’s 75th anniversary celebration, the Type 9 S75 carries a price tag of $19,500 before taxes — nearly $4,000 more than the standard Type 9. The watch is showing that it’s sold out from Ressence’s website, but you can keep your eyes peeled for this to show up on the secondary market in the coming months.
Recap
Ressence Type 9 S75
Celebrating UAE retailer Ahmed Seddiqi’s 75th anniversary, Ressence made a new variant of its Type 9 watch using sand from all 7 Emirates.
