Daniel Engelberg’s bold geometric worlds aren’t just hanging on walls anymore – they’re keeping time. Known for his Inside Out series, where concentric circles and subtle gradients draw the eye into an illusion of depth, the Munich-based painter and sculptor has teamed up with Belgian watchmaker Ressence to bring his work to life in constant motion. Limited to just 40 pieces in two striking colorways – warm pink DE1 and vivid turquoise DE2 – the TYPE 8 Daniel Engelberg transforms the watch dial into a gallery-worthy work of art in perpetual motion.
Engelberg’s Inside Out works begin far from the watch bench. In his Munich studio, the artist mills each piece from a sheet of wood, then builds it up layer by layer with acrylic paint, forming concentric circles in gradient tones that radiate from a deep black core. Finally, he seals the entire sculpture under a glossy coat of epoxy resin. The result is a hands-on, meticulously crafted piece that creates an illusion of depth and a satisfying visual rhythm. This architectural sense of space, paired with joyful color, finds new life on the TYPE 8’s watch face, turning timekeeping into a visual experience.
Translating Engelberg’s meticulous, wood-and-resin creations to the confines of a 42.9 mm dial required Ressence to rethink scale without losing any of the depth or vibrancy that defines his work. Working from the Inside Out series, the Belgian watchmaker adapted each concentric form into laser-engraved discs of Grade 5 titanium, preserving the subtle gradients and crisp geometry while reducing them to fractions of a millimeter. On the watch face, Engelberg’s signature geometry is further accented by crisp white markings – a new element that adds contrast, enhances time legibility, and introduces a fresh layer of visual rhythm. Powered by Ressence’s patented Orbital Convex System (ROCS), which allows the two dials to orbit one another, Engelberg’s canvases become kinetic art. “For the first time, my work is animated – truly alive,” reflects Engelberg.
Each watch features rubber straps that match its dial color – pink for DE1 and turquoise for DE2 – with a leather option available for more formal occasions. The collaboration marks another chapter in Ressence’s history of partnering with independent artists, including Shantell Martin, Stefan Sagmeister, and Alain Silberstein. As they continue to explore “art in motion,” Ressence reaffirms its belief that fine watchmaking can be both a technical achievement and a medium for creative expression.
To learn more about the TYPE 8 DE watches by Daniel Engelberg for Ressence, visit ressencewatches.com.
Photography courtesy of Ressence.