First debuted at
Baselworld 2014, the
Type 1 followed on from the
Type 3, as a reinvention of the original
Type 1001, with a new crown-less winding system and thinner case. In comparison to the
Type 1001 with its large crown and thick case size, and the
Type 3 with its innovative oil-filled dial, the
Type 1 expresses perhaps the most minimalist vision of the brand.
The watch is split into two modules; a lower-half comprised of a customised self-winding
ETA 2824/2 ébauche, and a display module, or
ROCS (
Ressence Orbital Convex System). Composed of 107 parts, 27 gears and 40 jewels, the gears in the
ROCS calculates the hours, seconds and day, taking only the minute as a reference from the movement. In the
Type 1, there's a mechanical link between the movement and the
ROCS display.
The ’W’ in ‘
Type 1W’ refers to the off-white colour of the dial and winding rotor, giving the watch an industrial feel. The orbital display shows hours and minutes on convex discs, as well as the day of the week (with weekends shown). All indicators are filled with generous quantities of
Superluminova, for maximum low-light visibility.
With two highly-domed, sapphire crystals covering both sides of the watch, the
Type 1 has an almost pebble-like appearance and is clearly influenced by current industrial design trends. The polished, grade 5 titanium case measures 42 mm, yet wears smaller than expected, due to the absence of the external case seen in traditional watchmaking. The watch also goes without a traditional crown, increasing the organic feel, with the user instead interacting with the domed, sapphire case-back to wind the movement and set the time.
This
Type 1W remains in excellent condition and comes with its box, product literature and secondary
Ressence strap, currently fitted on a grey suede strap and tang buckle. It will also be accompanied by a letter from the brand, detailing its original sale in Japan in October 2015.
Viewings can be arranged in Central London by appointment only.
