Founded in 2017 by Ming Thein, a designer and entrepreneur with a passion for horology, MING has rapidly carved out a niche in the independent watchmaking world. Defined by its innovative approach to materials, mechanics, and aesthetics, the brand is renowned for blending refined design principles with cutting-edge technologies. MING’s accolades, such as the 2019 Horological Revelation Prize and the 2024 Sports Watch Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), testify to its status as a trailblazer in the industry. The MING 37.09 Bluefin, the latest offering, exemplifies the brand’s ethos. It reimagines the dive watch genre, building on the success of its predecessors, such as the 18.01 H41. With its bold innovations and commitment to craftsmanship, the Bluefin is both a technical marvel and a visual delight.
Streamlined Durability
The 37.09 Bluefin’s case is crafted from 316L stainless steel and measures a balanced 38mm in diameter with a thickness of just 12.8mm. This sleek profile belies its robust capabilities, with a water resistance of up to 600 meters. MING achieves this impressive rating through meticulous engineering, including the innovative use of domed sapphire crystals. These crystals, front and rear, not only enhance the watch’s aesthetic appeal but also contribute to its structural integrity, enabling the Bluefin to withstand pressures far beyond the needs of recreational diving.
The case’s alternating polished and brushed finishes provide a refined look, while the near absence of a traditional bezel allows the Bluefin to wear elegantly on the wrist. The integrated crown at 4 o’clock is a masterstroke of design and functionality, allowing for the rotation of the internal timer scale without compromising the watch’s sleek silhouette or usability underwater.
A Sapphire Marvel
The dial of the MING 37.09 Bluefin is where innovation truly shines. Crafted from sapphire, the dial employs a proprietary metallization process to achieve its deep blue hue, which shifts dynamically under varying lighting conditions. This interplay of light and colour, a hallmark of MING’s design philosophy, imbues the dial with a captivating depth.
The rotating timer scale, a feature typically found on external bezels, has been ingeniously moved inside the watch. Controlled via the luminous-filled crown, this scale is unidirectional with a precise 60-click mechanism, ensuring reliability and safety during underwater activities. The hour indices, made from luminous Hyceram, are positioned on the underside of the top crystal, further enhancing legibility and depth.
Super-LumiNova X1, applied generously across the hands, indices, and timer scale, ensures unparalleled visibility in low-light conditions. The result is a dial that is both practical and a visual treat, redefining the expectations for dive watches.
A Trusted Powerhouse
Powering the 37.09 Bluefin is a customized Sellita SW300-1 movement. Known for its reliability and performance, this calibre has been tailored by MING to include skeletonized bridges and an anthracite rotor, adorned with circular brushing for added visual appeal. The movement offers a robust 50-hour power reserve, hacking seconds for precise time-setting, and bidirectional automatic winding. These features, combined with its central running seconds, make it a fitting choice for a dive watch of this calibre.
MING 37.09 Bluefin – A Testament to Independent Watchmaking
The MING 37.09 Bluefin encapsulates everything that makes independent watchmaking so exciting: originality, innovation, and an uncompromising commitment to quality. From its unique internal rotating dial to its ingenious use of sapphire and luminous materials, the Bluefin redefines what a dive watch can be.
In a crowded market, the Bluefin stands out as a beacon of creativity and technical excellence. Its recognition at the GPHG is well-deserved, cementing MING‘s place among the most visionary brands in contemporary horology. For collectors and enthusiasts alike, the 37.09 Bluefin offers a bold declaration of what independent watchmaking can achieve.
MING 37.09 Bluefin Technical Specifications
37.09 Bluefin – CHF 4,950, 2-year warranty against defects / Made in Switzerland
o 500 watches for 2024 available exclusively via www.ming.watch
Functions
o Hours, minutes and seconds
o Internal 60-click timer scale on unidirectional rotating dial, via crown at 4
o Automatic winding
Case, dial & hands
o 38mm diameter, 12.8mm thickness, 44.5mm lug-to-lug
o 316L stainless steel, with a polished-brushed finish
o Domed sapphire crystals front and rear, with double-sided antireflective coating
o Super-LumiNova X1 indices inside top crystal, and on sapphire dial
o Super-LumiNova X1 coated hands
o 600m water resistance
o 20mm lug width
Movement
o Sellita for MING SW300.M1, anthracite skeletonized bridges and rotor with contrast circular brushing
o Automatic winding with ~50hr power reserve at full wind
o Hacking seconds for setting
Straps
o New moulded FKM rubber strap
o 20mm width, curved bars with quick release
o Fitted with ‘flying blade’ tuck buckle with micro adjustment
MING continually aims to improve products where possible to improve aesthetics and functionality; to this end we reserve the right to make minor changes prior to final delivery
