We have always enjoyed watches with a more functional, utilitarian presentation as a palate cleanser – or, as something we can put on and not worry about too much if you’re not sure what the day will bring. This line has previously included the 17.06 Monolith and 18.01 H41 DLC; both with scratch-resistant DLC coatings and tastefully restrained dials. The latest watch to receive this treatment is the 37.07 Monolith.
Although the 37.07 Monolith shares a lot of design elements with and is identical in size and proportions to the 37.07 Mosaic presented during last year’s 5th-anniversary releases; it feels like a completely different watch. This is almost entirely down to changing the way the watch interacts with light: whilst the Mosaic was a bright, luminous and reflective watch, those same concave polished surfaces are now matte black and hint at contour rather than reflecting large portions of their surroundings.
Lug tops, bezel and crown are now finely bead blasted and matte; the case sides and back remain brushed to best show the lug contours. This has resulted in a case that wears much thinner as the domed crystal and caseback somewhat disappear, leaving only bezel and case sides clearly defined. Even though dimensions stay identical at 38×10.9mm, the 37.07 Monolith wears visually much larger than dimensions suggest – apparent thickness is more like 7mm or less, which disproportionately emphasizes the large dial opening.
The dial shares only the central gradient mosaic pattern with last year’s anniversary release. It now has a dark grey* Super-LumiNova base layer in the centre of a blackened brass dial to match the overall colour scheme; on top of this is a printed and partially transparent mosaic. Above the brass dial is a sapphire dial with a gradient printed mask that is opaque black at the edges and composed of graduated transparency triangles at the centre, allowing the base luminous material to glow through. The use of a sapphire dial allows for our signature reflective inversion. Legibility is maintained by hands pad-printed with Super-LumiNova X1 and luminous indices on the sapphire dial.
*Note that being dark grey, the luminosity of the mosaic pattern on the Monolith is a little lower than the 37.07 Mosaic.
The 37-series cases all minimize bezel and maximize dial; they were conceived in response to customer desire for a larger watch but balanced against demographics of real wrist sizes and wearability. The Monolith visually pushes this the furthest of any of our watches; it is visually large and thin yet supremely comfortable to wear.
Finally, we complete the 37.07 Monolith with something a little different: a new strap by Jean Rousseau in a textured calf material we have not previously used as we feel it complements the central texture of the dial well but stays true to the overall idea of textural subtlety for this watch.
Pricing and deliveries
The MING 37.07 Monolith is priced at CHF 3,500 and is an edition of 250 watches exclusively available at www.ming.watch. Orders open at 1PM GMT on 12 October 2023. A 50% deposit is due at the time of order, with the balance on delivery – expected to begin November 2023.
MING 37.07 Monolith Specifications
Ref. 37.07 Monolith – CHF 3,500
Functions:
o Hours and minutes
o Hand winding
Case, dial & hands:
o 38mm diameter, 10.9mm thickness, 44.5mm lug-to-lug
o 316L stainless steel, DLC coated with a brushed-blasted finish
o Domed sapphire crystal front and rear, with double-sided antireflective coating
o Two-part dial with circular brushed, printed and luminous metal base and a gradient sapphire dial with both surfaces printed
o 100m water resistance
o 20mm lug width
Movement:
o Sellita for MING SW210.M1, anthracite skeletonized bridges with contrast rhodium circular brushing
o Manual winding with ~40h power reserve at full wind
Straps:
o Leather strap by Jean Rousseau Paris
o 20mm width, curved bars with quick release
o Fitted with 3rd generation tuck buckle with micro adjustment
Leather travel pouch handmade in Kuala Lumpur by Studio Koji Sato
2-year warranty against defects
Made in Switzerland
Pricing and availability
o CHF 3,500 – 50% non-refundable deposit for order confirmation
o Deliveries expected to commence November 2023
o 250 watches available exclusively via www.ming.watch
MING continually aims to improve product where possible to improve aesthetics and functionality; to this end, we reserve the right to make minor changes prior to final delivery
About MING:
Horologer MING was founded and funded by six enthusiasts from around the world under the leadership of Ming Thein, a photographer, designer, business strategist and above all, a lover of watches. Together, the MING team draws from extensive collecting experience ranging from vintage to avant-garde; from quality affordables to six-figure commissioned independent pieces.
Our goal with MING has always been to make the watches we ourselves want, and to bring back that sense of excitement and discovery through deliberation and refinement in every detail while also delivering value beyond the price point. We neither pretend to have history nor are we burdened by it. We will be the first to admit that we don’t build in-house but rather on the strengths of dedicated partners like Manufacture Schwarz-Etienne, Agenhor and Jean Rousseau. All our watches are assembled, regulated and tested in Switzerland, with final quality control completed personally in Malaysia.
MING is our way of sharing our experience with enthusiasts – budding aficionados and seasoned collectors alike – who want to discover watchmaking substance beyond brand. We are proud to have our efforts recognized at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, with multiple finalists and the 17.06 Copper winning the 2019 Horological Revelation prize.
In 2021 we also launched the Special Projects Cave, an invitation-only program to create small runs of experimental pieces that are concept-driven and unencumbered by regular production constraints or economics. 2023 marked the fifth anniversary of the brand, with over 50 references released.
We’re always happy to hear from fellow enthusiasts – please contact us at hello@ming.watch, and follow our journey @mingwatches on Instagram.
MING is a registered trademark in Switzerland and Malaysia and represented by Horologer MING SA in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland and Horologer MING Sdn Bhd in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.