essence continues to change the way and the why we experience watches by introducing the second piece in its X collection.

Collection X marks the first 10 years and brings the brand manifesto to life. Visually Ressence created a dedicated symbol for the collection that is the fusion of an X, or ten in Latin, and an hourglass. It sits proudly on the hour disc of the Type 5 X. Each of the four watches of the Collection X are limited to 40 pieces, with the dark olive-green colour being the common thread linking all pieces. The collection focus continues to be the better utilisation of time through design - graphically making us more aware of the importance of passing time.

Collaboration with Eugenio Amos, founder of Automobili Amos

A speed-loving racing driver, eclectic collector, Eugenio Amos is an Italian man of many passions – as long as they are related to cars and watches. Eugenio is an entrepreneur and a visionary. The best combination. A notable feat was his creation of a car that the international automotive community instantaneously felt in love with: the Automobili Amos Lancia Delta Futurista. It made its debut in 2018 at the Grand Basel motor show.

The Futurista utilises an original Delta chassis as a base and is completed with state-of-the-art technology and design practices. Italians do it better. Certainly when it comes to cars. For watches, we all know its Belgians ( ;-)). The collaboration started in the form of a question when Eugenio Amos came to visit the Ressence studio in Antwerp: “Would it be possible to make a genuine driver watch that has a function related to time and cars”? That was the challenge.

The functioning of a turbo

If you were around in the 1980s, you’ll remember that no car could be truly cool unless it had a turbo bolted to its engine. Turbocharged cars, like Group B (and A) World Rally Cars and the Lancia Delta Integrale, became automotive icons. But what does a turbo really do? In a nutshell, a turbo forces more air into the engine, increasing power and torque.

Every racer knows that it’s essential to warm up your car and turbos up before racing. Allowing the engine to run sees the oil up to temperature rise to suitable levels before taking off. The same is true when you finish a drive, you can’t simply switch the engine off immediately. You need to let it cool down. After racing, the turbos are still significantly hotter than your engine oil temperature. If you shut off the engine, the oil no longer flows, and thus pockets of oil heat up to very high temperatures, leaving behind heavier oil that won’t have ideal flow characteristics.

Racing Time. The bezel

The bezel on the Type 5X is a prominent part of the design. The markings on the bezel are original and directly related to the collaboration with Automobili Amos and the functioning of the turbos. This adjustment was key when considering the focus of being more conscious of the passage of time. The bezel is divided into two distinct parts. The first one is dedicated to the warmup of the engine (15min) - the S stands for Start, D for Drive and R for Race - while the other one is dedicated to the cooling of the Turbos (10 min). Like all rituals in life, from coffee to journaling, this is a distinct process which provides a new framework for drivers to prepare and decompress from races - on the track and in life.

The dial and sub dials have also evolved to be more car oriented and inspired by the Lancia Delta Futurista graphics. With the addition of new colours such as red and yellow, the olive-green softens and darkens in the Type 5X with the presence of oil. The Type5 was a world first, allowing divers to read time under water. Developed for water, it is now set free on four wheels.

Levati. The playful touch

On the steering wheel of the Lancia Delta Futurista, you find the “levati” button, useful for blinking at those in front of you and inviting them elegantly to get out of your way (the Italian way). The Type 5X is already highly legible from low angles thanks to the oil but the levati rubber accessory adds a new dimension of function, enabling the driver to wear his watch on the side of his wrist. A perfect fit while driving. This Limited Edition Type 5X also comes with two straps as standard. One being made by the same Alacantara found in the Lancia Futurista and a second in green rubber.