It is impossible for us to forget the response to our maiden 17.01: to this day we receive regular enquiries even though the last of the line has long sold out. There is a certain versatility to the 17.01 that pairs well with all attires and occasions, offered at a price point that has been difficult to approach – until today, in the form of the MING 17.06. In conjunction with the launch, we are also proud to announce that the 17.06 Copper has been preselected by the jury for the finals of the 2019 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in the Challenge category, marking the second consecutive year MING has reached the finals of this prestigious competition, and possibly being the only brand to do so from its birth.
Thorough reengineering
Thanks to the partnerships and experience gained over the last two years, we are now able to offer a much higher grade watch at a small increment in price – every element across the board has been comprehensively improved. Case finishing, hands and dial, courtesy of SWC, are now superior to the 17.03; the watch is powered by a self-winding ETA 2824-2 modified for two crown positions and regulated in 5 positions; the supplied strap is handmade by Jean Rousseau in Paris, and the travel pouch is redesigned and handsewn by Koji Sato. The retail box, by Swisspack, has not been left alone either. Furthermore, assembly is now performed by La Division du Temps, a subsidiary of Manufacture Schwarz Etienne.
We reengineered the 17-series case from the ground up: the bezel is now held by screws from within the case to facilitate assembly and servicing, as well as allowing us to retain the rigid construction and no spacer ring. Clearance between the top of the canon pinion and the crystal underside is now a mere 0.30mm, making the rehaut as shallow as possible. Further minor changes have also been made to our signature recurved lug geometry to improve aesthetics and wearing comfort.
Early on in the process, some prototypes were made of stainless steel and the team liked the heft and increased wrist presence, so the 17.06 is our first series production piece in stainless steel 316L. Double lug holes have been retained to accommodate both straight and curved straps.
Two very different personalities
We are pleased to immediately offer two distinct variants of the 17.06: a texture-etched Copper dial with an alternating polished and brushed case, and a stealthier (‘Monolith’) version with a matte black dial and anthracite DLC bead-blasted case. Proportions and dimensions are identical, as are hands and dial markings, but the watches appear completely different on the wrist. Both watches have hands and dials coated with Super-LumiNova C1. However, the choice of classical or modern is up to you; the copper dial is timeless but the Monolith pairs very well with unconventional straps.
Pricing and delivery
The MING 17.06 will be available to order on 19 September, 1 PM GMT exclusively from www.ming.watch. The 17.06 Copper is priced at CHF 1,250 and production restricted to 300 pieces per annum and the 17.06 Monolith is priced at CHF 1,500 and production restricted to 125 pieces per annum. Prices include worldwide courier and deliveries begin end-October 2019.
MING 17.06 Copper Specifications
• Functions: hours, minutes
• Case, dial & hands:
o 38mm diameter, 10mm thickness, stainless steel 316L with solid caseback,
mixed brushed and polished finish
o 43.9mm lug to lug measurement
o Sapphire crystal with antireflective coating on both sides
o Rigid case without spacer rings
o 100m water resistance with triple crown gaskets
o Composite, multi-layer, three-part sapphire dial in metallic copper
o Hands coated with Super-LumiNova C1
o Dial ring printed with Super-LumiNova C1
• Straps
o Smooth calf tan with white stitching, handmade by Jean Rousseau Paris
o 20x18mm, quick release with curved fitting
o Will fit 160-210mm (6.1”-8.3”) wrist circumference
o Signed pin buckle
• Movement:
o Automatic mechanical movement ETA 2824-2 Top grade modified for MING
o 38-hour power reserve
o 28,800 bph (4Hz)
o 25 jewels
o Hacking function
o Movement adjusted to five positions with a 250-hour test program
• Leather travel pouch handmade by Studio Koji Sato
• Limited to 300 pieces per calendar year
• 2-year warranty against defects
• Made in Switzerland
• Retail price CHF1,250 inclusive of worldwide shipping
MING 17.06 Monolith Specifications
• Functions: hours, minutes
• Case, dial & hands:
o 38mm diameter, 10mm thickness, stainless steel 316L with solid caseback,
matte blasted with DLC coating
o 43.9mm lug to lug measurement
o Sapphire crystal with antireflective coating on both sides
o Rigid case without spacer rings
o 100m water resistance with triple crown gaskets
o Composite, multi-layer, three-part sapphire dial in matte black
o Hands coated with Super-LumiNova C1
o Dial ring printed with Super-LumiNova C1
• Straps
o Smooth calf black with grey stitching, handmade by Jean Rousseau Paris
o 20x18mm, quick release with curved fitting
o Will fit 160-210mm (6.1”-8.3”) wrist circumference
o Signed pin buckle
• Movement:
o Automatic mechanical movement ETA 2824-2 Top grade modified for MING
o 38-hour power reserve
o 28,800 bph (4Hz)
o 25 jewels
o Hacking function
o Movement adjusted to five positions with a 250-hour test program
• Leather travel pouch handmade by Studio Koji Sato
• Limited to 125 pieces per calendar year
• 2-year warranty against defects
• Made in Switzerland
• Retail price CHF1,500 inclusive of worldwide shipping
About MING
MING is a horological collective formed and fully 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 over 80 years of total experience collecting fine timepieces – ranging from vintage to avant-garde; from quality affordable to six-figure commissioned independent pieces.
Our goal with MING is to bring back a sense of excitement and discovery through watches that show considered deliberation and refinement in every detail, while punching far above their price point. We neither pretend to have history nor are we burdened by it; we make watches as we see fit and would want to have in our own collections. We will be the first to admit that we don’t manufacture in-house, rather our watches are built on the strength of dedicated partners like Manufacture Schwarz Etienne and Jean Rousseau Paris. All our watches are assembled, regulated and tested in Switzerland, with final quality control done personally in Malaysia.
MING is our way of sharing our experience with enthusiasts who want to discover watchmaking substance beyond brand, for budding aficionados and seasoned collectors alike. We are pleased to have our efforts recognized at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, where the 19.01 was a finalist in the 2018 Petit Aiguile category and the 17.06 Copper was a finalist in the 2019 Challenge category.
Ming Watches team are always happy to hear from fellow enthusiasts – please contact them at: hello@ming.watch, and follow our journey @mingwatches on Instagram and Facebook.
