MING
- Founded
- 2017
- Based in
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (watches made in Switzerland)
- In our catalog
- 1 watch from $5,900 to $6,500
MING was started by a group of collectors who wanted watches that looked like nothing else. It has kept that promise, with dials made of layered sapphire, lume printed on the underside of glass and cases with sculpted lugs. The watches are designed in Malaysia and built in Switzerland, and they've built a cult following among collectors.
History
Ming Thein, a photographer and designer who had worked in strategy at Hasselblad, founded MING in Kuala Lumpur in 2017 with a small group of watch collectors. The first model, the 17.01, was an affordable Swiss-made watch with a distinctive copper-colored dial, and it sold out within hours.
Since then MING has released the 37 series (its core line), more complex pieces with partners in Switzerland and a series of experiments in lume, dial materials and case design. Production remains small.
Signature models
- 37.09 Uni: A 38 mm dive watch in black DLC steel, rated to 600 m, with a rotating sapphire dial controlled by a second crown that acts as an elapsed-time register. The name comes from sea urchin sushi.
What it's known for
MING watches often have sapphire dials with printed or engraved patterns, and lume that glows through several layers. The cases are curved and comfortable, and the designs are modern without being flashy.
Price and positioning
MING watches cost from about $4,000 to $10,000, with special pieces higher. That's the same money as Nomos's dearer models, Grand Seiko and Tudor, though a MING is far rarer than any of them.
MING watches in our library
- MING 37.09 Uni ($5,900 to $6,500)