Name: Ressence Type 5 Type 5
Brand: Ressence
SKU: Type 5

The Type 5 takes Ressence's oil-filled display concept and waterproofs it to 300 meters, which sounds straightforward until you consider what that actually requires. The ROCS 5 module is pressurized with oil, and getting that system to survive depth meant engineering a pressure-compensation valve that equalizes internal and external pressure as you descend. No other watch on the market works quite like it.

What it is

Ressence launched the Type 5 in 2015 as a direct response to enthusiasts asking whether the oil-filled Type 3 could be taken diving. The answer was yes, but it required a complete rethink of the case architecture. Benoit Mintiens, the Belgian designer behind the brand, had to solve the problem of a sealed, oil-filled module inside a case that also needed to flex with external water pressure.

The solution is a flexible membrane and compensation valve that keeps the internal oil pressure matched to ambient pressure at depth. It remains the most technically demanding reference Ressence has made.

Buying notes

The oil in the ROCS 5 module is the whole watch, and it ages. Yellowing over years is well-documented on older examples; inspect the dial carefully and ask for photos in natural light before buying secondhand. The compensation valve is a proprietary Ressence system and cannot be serviced by anyone outside the brand's authorized network.

Battery replacement (the e-Crown variant) and any oil-related service must go back to Ressence directly, which means long turnarounds and costs that surprise buyers used to mainstream service pricing. The 46mm case is genuinely large; wrist time before buying is strongly recommended.

Market read

The Type 5 trades in a thin secondary market. Prices have held reasonably well given the low production volumes, but liquidity is slow compared to Rolex or even other independent brands with broader collector bases. Expect to wait for the right buyer at full price.

The more recent e-Crown versions command a premium over early mechanical-crown examples.

Service expectations

The base movement is an ETA 2824-2, but service cannot be treated like a standard ETA job. The ROCS 5 oil-filled module requires factory-level disassembly and re-sealing with the correct fluid, and only Ressence's own service center has the tooling and oil specification to do it correctly. Budget accordingly and plan for a multi-month service interval.

Editorial copy is AI-drafted from primary sources and reviewed by Grail Atlas before publication. Where the text is uncertain about a fact, it says so. Email corrections@grailatlas.com if something reads wrong. Signals on this page (community, OSINT) are clearly separated from the editorial sections.

GPHG 2019EnteredPlongée category

Entry to the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève is voluntary and made by the brand. An entry is a watch registered for that year's competition, not a jury verdict, and several large houses including Rolex, Patek Philippe and Omega do not take part at all.

Mass-produced#1 in familyOfficial press photos

What it was up against

Plongée, GPHG 2019

The Plongée category at GPHG 2019 held 13 entries. These are the other 12.

Filter the full GPHG field for Plongée, 2019

Live pricing is coming soon. Get notified when it is available for this reference.

Mid-tier supplier movement · caliber Customised ETA 2824/2 + ROCS 5 module (oil-filled upper chamber, 37.5 ml)

Large case: suits wrists 7 in+ (18 cm+)

46 mm case. A bold, statement-size wear. Best suited to larger wrists where the case sits flush.

Not yet rated

Community + OSINT signals haven’t landed for this reference yet. We don’t publish a rating against zero signal: the number would mean nothing. Editorial body + caliber + market value still surface above; ratings appear once the signal corpus does.

Search pre-owned listings

Chrono24

eBay (sold listings)

WatchBox

Authentication

The Type 5 has the largest oil volume (37.5ml) of any Ressence model; oil clarity and bubble-free status are the primary purchase inspection points.

Known issues in the market

37.5ml oil volume; any reduction in clarity or bubbling indicates a seal issue.
Previous service history should be confirmed; Ressence is the only authorized service center for the oil system.

Area	What to check	What is correct	Red flag
dial	Oil chamber clarity and volume	Clear, bubble-free oil filling the entire dial chamber	Cloudy, yellowed, or bubbled oil; seal degradation
dial	ROCS 5 indication rotation	All indications rotate correctly within the oil chamber	Stuck or incorrectly rotating indications; ROCS 5 module fault
caseback	Ressence serial and reference	Serial and reference correctly engraved	Missing or incorrect engravings; non-genuine caseback
movement	ETA 2824-2 base with ROCS 5 module	ETA 2824-2 architecture with ROCS 5 module	Non-ETA 2824-2 base; movement discrepancy

Common legitimate replacements

ROCS 5 oil system; Ressence authorized service only.

Expert resources: Ressence authorized service only; ressencewatches.com Type 5 documentation.

Authentication guide

Last reviewed June 2026

The Type 5 adapts the oil-fill technology for diving: a 46mm titanium case with 100m water resistance and 37.5ml of oil in the chamber. The larger oil volume relative to Type 3 is a verification point. Designed for actual dive use.

Known reproduction risks

toggle

LOW

No known replica. The oil-filled dive variant is Ressence's most distinctive sport piece; the oil technology is non-replicable and immediately verifiable.

Any Type 5 without the oil-fill liquid depth is either oil-depleted or not authentic
A bezel that rotates bidirectionally is not original Type 5 specification

For a pre-owned Type 5 intended for actual dive use, commission a water resistance pressure test before entering the water. Oil seal condition degrades over time and previous owner habits may have stressed the seals.

Dial variants by era

toggle

Era	Description	Identifiers
2015 to present	Oil-filled display with black or blue sub-dials optimized for underwater legibility. 46mm titanium case with a unidirectional dive bezel. The oil volume is larger than Type 3 (37.5ml vs. 3.57ml), producing an even more pronounced liquid depth effect.	Unidirectional dive bezel on the case Oil-filled display with pronounced liquid depth (larger oil volume than Type 3) Type 5 designation on caseback 46mm titanium case 100m water resistance verified Rubber or leather strap standard

Service part flags

toggle

Dive bezel

Original: The Type 5 has a unidirectional rotating bezel for dive timing. It should rotate freely in one direction and lock in the other. A bidirectional bezel or a stuck bezel indicates service need or non-original bezel.

Replacement tells

Bezel that rotates bidirectionally
Bezel with a different graduation or marker style than Ressence specification

Oil chamber

Original: The larger oil volume (37.5ml) in the Type 5 produces a more prominent liquid depth effect. Oil condition standards are identical to Type 3.

Replacement tells

Cloudy, discolored, or bubble-filled oil
Oil depth that appears equivalent to Type 3 (suggesting an oil loss)

Case back markings

toggle

2015 to present

Ressence Type 5 designation
Individual serial number
Ti material designation
100m water resistance
ROCS 5 module reference

Movement tells

toggle

Water resistance testing should be performed by a qualified watchmaker before any dive use of a pre-owned Type 5.
The larger oil volume in the Type 5 has a longer replacement interval than Type 3, but oil degradation timelines depend on use and storage conditions.
ROCS 5 module service requirements are identical to ROCS 3; Ressence or authorized service only.

Sources: Ressence official.