Ressence: Type 2 e-Crown Concept. Introducing the new e-Crown Technology. With the new Type 2 e-Crown Concept watch, Ressence is not only launching a new timepiece but also a new, intriguing technology called e-Crown. A working prototype of the Ressence Type 2 e-Crown Concept watch will be first showcased at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2018 (Geneva, January 15-19). Production versions will be available in stores as of June 2018. Pricing and other technical specifications will be available at a later time. Ressence at SIHH 2018.
With the new Type 2 e-Crown Concept watch, Ressence is not only launching a new timepiece but also a new, intriguing technology called e-Crown.
e-Crown stands for electronic crown. The technology, developed by Ressence, replaces the crown’s function by an automated time setup system.
This electro-mechanical embedded system interfaces the mechanical base movement with the proprietary display module (ROCS) developed by Ressence.
Once the user sets the time of the Type 2 e-Crown Concept via the lever on the case back, there will be no need to think about setting or adjusting the watch anymore.
e-Crown will monitor at least once a day the time indicated by the graphical hands on the dial. The disc’s positions will then be adjusted automatically (if needed) as long as the movement of the watch is running. When the watch is not worn and the movement stops, e-Crown will put itself in sleep mode and wake up as soon as the watch is back on the wrist. e-Crown will then automatically set the mechanical watch to the right time (based on the registered time).
The e-Crown technology is also able to set and register multiple time zones. In some way, e-Crown acts as an electro-mechanical assistance the same way an automated gearbox does in a car.
The different e-Crown functionalities are managed by a miniaturised electro-mechanical system (or e-Crown cluster) composed of 87 components that only need 1,8 joules of energy per day. Most components meet aerospace or medical standards and were custom-built for Ressence. A four-layered 0,25mm thick flexible custom-built PCB carries and connects all the components together.
The Type 2 e-Crown Concept is thinner and lighter also introducing an all‑new generation of ROCS (Ressence Orbital Convex System), the in-house developed horological module composed of grade 5 Titanium co-planar discs and rings of different sizes. Each of the time indications of the Type 2 e-Crown Concept is generated by the ROCS from the information provided by the automatic base movement. On Type 2 e-Crown Concept, all discs are mounted on jewel micro-ball bearings for a slimmer architecture and the gaps between the discs are reduced to 35 microns for a seamless design.
The e-Crown technology is controlled by simply tapping the glass of the Type 2 e-Crown Concept. A double tap awakes the embedded system while a single tap pilots the selector in the mode menu. Located on a sub-disc, the selector always indicates in what mode you are in. You can set and display two time zones manually via the lever on the case-back or connect via Bluetooth with the e-Crown app.
This app offers the user a geolocation and a drop-down menu of cities. It is then possible to choose, pre-set and finally send the time zones information to the Type 2 e-Crown Concept. Accurate to the second, it has never been more user-friendly to change time zones on a fully mechanical watch. If set via the app, the Type 2 e-Crown Concept will even change winter or summer time automatically.
Furthermore, the e-Crown app offers you the comfort of being notified when to service your watch as it will monitor the accuracy on a daily basis.
Moreover, e-Crown can be switched off or on without affecting the watch which remains fully mechanically based. In fact, three main working modes can be set. In full e-Crown mode (e-Crown + App setting) the watch is set and adjusted to the second by your smart-phone. In semi e-Crown mode (e-Crown + Manual setting) the watch is set and adjusted to the minute. In mechanical mode (no e-Crown + Manual setting) the watch runs without any assistance.
It is very important to mention that the Type 2 e-Crown® Concept is a fully self-sufficient mechanical watch relying on two natural sources of energy: wrist movement and outside light.
The automatic base movement is powered by a self-winding rotor while the e-Crown is powered by a kinetic generator and photovoltaic cells. The kinetic generator, made of grade 5 Titanium, surrounds the base movement and has its own barrel.
The custom-build and developed triple junction photovoltaic cells are hidden under 10 micro-shutters (one shutter measures 2x3mm) located around the selector sub-disc. They will open automatically when the energy balance is low and can be controlled via the app.
A working prototype of the Ressence Type 2 e-Crown Concept watch will be first showcased at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2018 (Geneva, January 15-19). Production versions will be available in stores as of June 2018. Pricing and other technical specifications will be available at a later time. ressencewatches.com
This electro-mechanical embedded system interfaces the mechanical base movement with the proprietary display module (ROCS) developed by Ressence.
Once the user sets the time of the Type 2 e-Crown Concept via the lever on the case back, there will be no need to think about setting or adjusting the watch anymore.
e-Crown will monitor at least once a day the time indicated by the graphical hands on the dial. The disc’s positions will then be adjusted automatically (if needed) as long as the movement of the watch is running. When the watch is not worn and the movement stops, e-Crown will put itself in sleep mode and wake up as soon as the watch is back on the wrist. e-Crown will then automatically set the mechanical watch to the right time (based on the registered time).
The e-Crown technology is also able to set and register multiple time zones. In some way, e-Crown acts as an electro-mechanical assistance the same way an automated gearbox does in a car.
The different e-Crown functionalities are managed by a miniaturised electro-mechanical system (or e-Crown cluster) composed of 87 components that only need 1,8 joules of energy per day. Most components meet aerospace or medical standards and were custom-built for Ressence. A four-layered 0,25mm thick flexible custom-built PCB carries and connects all the components together.
The Type 2 e-Crown Concept is thinner and lighter also introducing an all‑new generation of ROCS (Ressence Orbital Convex System), the in-house developed horological module composed of grade 5 Titanium co-planar discs and rings of different sizes. Each of the time indications of the Type 2 e-Crown Concept is generated by the ROCS from the information provided by the automatic base movement. On Type 2 e-Crown Concept, all discs are mounted on jewel micro-ball bearings for a slimmer architecture and the gaps between the discs are reduced to 35 microns for a seamless design.
The e-Crown technology is controlled by simply tapping the glass of the Type 2 e-Crown Concept. A double tap awakes the embedded system while a single tap pilots the selector in the mode menu. Located on a sub-disc, the selector always indicates in what mode you are in. You can set and display two time zones manually via the lever on the case-back or connect via Bluetooth with the e-Crown app.
Furthermore, the e-Crown app offers you the comfort of being notified when to service your watch as it will monitor the accuracy on a daily basis.
Moreover, e-Crown can be switched off or on without affecting the watch which remains fully mechanically based. In fact, three main working modes can be set. In full e-Crown mode (e-Crown + App setting) the watch is set and adjusted to the second by your smart-phone. In semi e-Crown mode (e-Crown + Manual setting) the watch is set and adjusted to the minute. In mechanical mode (no e-Crown + Manual setting) the watch runs without any assistance.
It is very important to mention that the Type 2 e-Crown® Concept is a fully self-sufficient mechanical watch relying on two natural sources of energy: wrist movement and outside light.
The automatic base movement is powered by a self-winding rotor while the e-Crown is powered by a kinetic generator and photovoltaic cells. The kinetic generator, made of grade 5 Titanium, surrounds the base movement and has its own barrel.
The custom-build and developed triple junction photovoltaic cells are hidden under 10 micro-shutters (one shutter measures 2x3mm) located around the selector sub-disc. They will open automatically when the energy balance is low and can be controlled via the app.
A working prototype of the Ressence Type 2 e-Crown Concept watch will be first showcased at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2018 (Geneva, January 15-19). Production versions will be available in stores as of June 2018. Pricing and other technical specifications will be available at a later time. ressencewatches.com
COMMENTS