A Deep Dive into Ressence's Journey: An Exclusive Interaction with Founder Benoît Mintiens

Ressence, a brand synonymous with innovation and modernisation in the world of horology, is headed by Benoît Mintiens, who continually strives to push the borders of conventional watchmaking. Marking the company’s 15th year, Mintiens recently shared his journey, from the importance of watch trade shows like Watches and Wonders, to the challenges he faced in constructing a company that wasn’t solely reliant on one persona.

Despite the digital age, Mintiens emphasises the significance of human interaction in propelling the industry forward. He believes that the tangible encounters with watches and their makers continue to stir the zeal for mechanical timepieces. Moreover, he draws attention to the unexpected “show business” aspect of running a watch brand, a necessary evil that’s unexpected by many in the industry.

On the treacherous path of watchmaking, Mintiens highlights how consumers often opt for a brand instead of the product. He further explains how independent brands navigate on the fringes of the industry’s ecosystem, exhibiting the potency of disruption that stems from designers and engineers ready to contest time-honoured norms. Mintiens’ dialogue provides an insightful view of the struggles behind maintaining an independent high-end watch brand and balancing the true cost of constant innovation.