Ressence x Shantell Martin Pièce Unique

Life and joy. Joy to live. Enjoy life. Drawing on a dial. A dial as a canvas. A canvas for art. Art on the wrist. Wrist in motion. Motion at its minimalist. Minimalist drawn line. A line that tells time. TimeForArt.

ENJOY LIFE – This is the mantra that artist Shantell Martin inscribed onto a unique Ressence TYPE 1 Squared, crafted for the TimeForArt 2024 auction.

Known for her monumental murals, like the one at the World Trade Center’s Oculus station, and live performances, Shantell Martin has made a mark in the art world through diverse projects. She's held solo exhibitions at venues like the Rockefeller Center in New York City and the Vardan Gallery in Los Angeles. Martin has also ventured into unique collaborations, from choreographing for the Boston Ballet to creating a meditative walking path in Times Square. Her art extends into design with brands like Vitra and Max Mara. Now, she has accepted Ressence’s scale challenge to draw directly onto a watch dial.

Featuring a white dial and only black hands, carved into Ressence’s signature flush rotating discs, this special TYPE 1 Squared serves as the perfect blank canvas for Martin's celebrated black-on-white drawings. Free from traditional hands, this watch reads time like words on paper, making its surface an ideal space for art and time to coexist.

Art in motion

With just two words, – enjoy life – this one-of-a-kind wrist piece invites the wearer to experience each moment, with the spontaneity and freedom of Martin's fluid line. On a Ressence dial, Shantell’s signature line moves continuously, from abstraction to clear drawing and clear drawing to abstraction, presenting a dynamic ever-changing watch face. Alive, and always evolving, this unique dial is reminding us that life is to be experienced, not controlled, or held back, and that the journey, not just the destination, is to be embraced.

TimeForArt auction

The TimeForArt auction benefit contemporary artists and support culture, making this project not just a piece of art but a contribution to the broader creative community. The second edition of this biennial auction, organized by New York's non-profit Swiss Institute, will take place on December 7th, 2024, as part of The Phillips New York Watch Auction, in association with Bacs & Russo and under the hammer of auctionner Aurel Bacs.

We don't see the final result as just a watch, but rather as a piece of art on your wrist. It's a unique interaction between visual storytelling and mechanical ingenuity, where the simple act of telling time becomes an artistic expression.” says Benoît Mintiens, Founder of Ressence.

Working with Shantell felt like a natural fit for us," he continues. "Her minimalist approach, fluid lines, and the profound freedom of expression in her art resonate deeply with Ressence. Shantell's work captures our ethos perfectly—it's about being true to oneself, creating something that is striking and meaningful without shouting for attention."

He concludes, "TimeForArt represents a unique opportunity to showcase how the worlds of watchmaking and contemporary art can intersect and inspire each other, a vision we share at Ressence."

I love that a watch can become, and is, in many ways a vessel for art, innovation, and connection. You can clearly see this with the Ressence brand, which is what makes this collaboration so special and unique." says artist Shantell Martin.

About Shantell Martin

Born in London in 1980, Shantell Martin is a multidisciplinary artist who lives and works in Los Angeles, California. She is recognised for her fluid, freehand lines that reflect themes of identity, selfexpression, and human experience. Her work often takes shape in public spaces, digital performances, and everyday objects, where she draws inspiration from the context and surroundings she engages with. Known for transforming every surface into storytelling canvases, Martin's lines seem simple but invite deep reflection and interaction with the viewer.

Shantell Martin’s art is a metaphor for life — continuous, evolving, and spontaneous. Whether creating large-scale murals, like at the Oculus at the World Trade Center or Rockefeller Center, or collaborating with brands like Vitra and Max Mara, she explores themes of identity and self-expression. Her partnerships with celebrated figures such as Kendrick Lamar and Kelly Wearstler further underscore her impact in the art world. Even when working on diverse projects, like choreographing for the Boston Ballet or creating a meditative walking path in Times Square, Martin stays focused on encouraging people to follow their own path and embrace their uniqueness. Her art is deeply introspective and thought-provoking.

Discover Shantell Martin’s work at shantellmartin.art and on Instagram.

Technical specifications

Ressence x Shantell Martin

Reference: TYPE 1² SHA

Unique piece 1/1

Case

• Material: Glass pearled grade 5 titanium
• Diameter: 41 mm
• Thickness: 11 mm
• Double-domed sapphire crystal top with anti-reflective coating inside
• Manual winding over 12° and set up via lever
• 1 ATM splash-resistance

Dial and hands

• Convex German silver dial (250mm diameter) with 3 eccentric biaxial satellites inclined at 3° (hours) and 4.75° (seconds and day)
• White coating, no indexes, no numbers
• Black permanent marker with 0.1mm tip

Movement

• Patented ROCS 1.3 - Ressence Orbital Convex System - module driven by the minute axle of a customised 2892 base calibre
• Caseback winding and day/time setting 
• Self-winding movement
• Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
• Number of jewels: 40
• Number of gears: 27
• 2 ball bearings
• Power reserve of 36 hours

Functions/Indications

• Hours
• Minutes
• Seconds
• Day

Strap and buckle

• Black calf leather strap(20/20mm)
• Glass pearled grade 5 titanium ardillon buckle

MSRP: Up for auction

For more information, please visit ressencewatches.com and phillips.com